The Roosevelts: An American Saga [Hardcover]

Peter Collier (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 15, 1994

The co-authors of The Kennedys and The Rockefellers reunite for an encompassing portrait of the dreams, triumphs, vanities, and achievements of the Roosevelt family, from Teddy to Eleanor and Franklin. 100,000 first printing. BOMC.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The Roosevelt dynasty that gave the U.S. two presidents was divided into hostile factions, show Collier and Horowitz ( The Kennedys ). Theodore (TR), the Republican president from 1901 to 1909, led the Oyster Bay branch of this New York family, while his cousin Franklin (FDR), a four-term Democratic president (1933-1945), represented the Hyde Park Roosevelts. Relying heavily on quotes from earlier studies, the authors deliver an entertainingly gossipy but unbalanced history of the clan that focuses on TR, FDR and their wives and children. Bestowing a heroic man mantle on TR, they justify his controversial acquisition of Panama while portraying him as a caring family man. FDR, who overcame the crippling effects of polio, is credited with shrewd political instincts but presented as emotionally withdrawn. The most unflattering portrait is of Eleanor, TR's niece and FDR's wife, who is depicted as unattractive and neurotic, a terrible wife and mother who was responsible for the problems of her five adult children. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Portraits of the Oyster Bay and Hyde Park Roosevelts, always hung separately, are now framed together by Collier and Horowitz, family biographers of the Rockefellers, Kennedys, Fords, and, recently (by Collier alone), The Fondas (LJ 1/91). The preface advertises "a family civil war with almost Homeric overtones," yet the misdeeds, squabbles, and triumphs cataloged here more readily call to mind an average TV miniseries than classical epic. Academic libraries can pass because scholars will find nothing new concerning Theodore, Eleanor, or Franklin and little of interest about the lesser-known generations that followed. The book is an optional purchase for public libraries, whose readers will enjoy a more satisfying read in any one of many more finely crafted books about either Roosevelt branch.
Robert F. Nardini, North Chichester, N.H.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 544 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; 1ST edition (June 15, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671652257
• ISBN-13: 978-0671652258
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.2 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,275,051 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Intimate Portriat of an Epic Family, July 13, 2005

By 

Robert D. Garrison "gman" (WA.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Roosevelts: An American Saga (Paperback)

This book is by far one of the best sources on the Roosevelt family. The authour makes much of the family divisions, but weaves together a masterful portriat of the two sided Roosevelt clan. The "Oyster Bay" clan (T.R.) and the "Hyde Park" clan (FDR) You'll read about T.R's early life struggles, his warm relationship with his children, and his bravery. You'll read about Franklin and Eleanor's difficult childhoods and marriage, Franklin's infidelties, Eleanor's possible lesbianism and anti-semitisim and Alice Roosevelt Longworth's famously sharp tounge. This book is hard to put down, a great read!!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE CHARACTERS ARE LARGER THAN LIFE, AND SO IS THEIR SAGA, July 18, 2005

By 

Gail Cooke (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Roosevelts: An American Saga (Hardcover)

Generally thought of as a privileged and political family, one that produced two presidents, the Roosevelts were actually a house divided. The divisions marking this political dynasty are thoughtfully and engrossingly chronicled by the co-authors of "The Rockefellers, The Kennedys, and The Fords."

The Oyster Bay Branch of the family was headed by Theodore, a loving, outgoing husband and father, who described his fourth child, Archibald, as "a cunning little polyp." As adults these children became involved in government and the workings of their communities.

Theodore's younger cousin, Franklin, was viewed by members of the Oyster Bay branch as somewhat of a playboy, whose future was uncertain. He married Theodore's favorite niece, Eleanor, with whom he shared a strained relationship and became a rigid and distant father. Franklin's children's adult lives were marked by numerous marriages and scarred by personal tragedies.

The story of the Roosevelts is a dramatic one, filled with intrigue, machinations, and intense rivalries. The characters are larger than life, but then so is their saga.

- Gail Cooke

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating multi-generational story..., March 7, 2005

By 

Cynthia K. Robertson (beverly, new jersey USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Roosevelts: An American Saga (Paperback)

Peter Collier's The Roosevelt's: An American Saga, is a fascinating look at this famous family. Most people have a general knowledge of presidents Theodore Roosevelt (TR) and Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR), but they may not be aware of the extended family history.

The saga of the Roosevelt's in America begins with the arrival of Claes Martenszen van Rosenvelt in the 1600's. But this story really belongs to TR and FDR. The two presidents were 5th cousins, and came from different branches of this prolific family. TR was part of the Oyster Bay clan, while FDR came from the Hyde Park branch. Their families weren't particularly close, although they did move in the same New York social circles. They even pronounced their names differently ("Roos-e-velt" vs. "Rose-e-velt").

TR blazed a political path as he became governor of New York, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, vice president, and then president. TR wanted his son to continue his political trailblazing, but the young Teddy Jr. was unable to do so. Along came FDR and while he belonged to a different political party, he followed TR's example almost to the letter (governor of New York, Assistant Naval Secretary and then president). But instead of bringing the families closer together, it actually drove a wedge between them. FDR was always considered a lightweight by the Oyster Bay side. Now he was looked upon as a traitor and a usurper. Some of the Oyster Bay Roosevelt's even campaigned against FDR. Eleanor Roosevelt (an Oyster Bay Roosevelt who married her Hyde Park cousin) was a bridge between the two groups, but even that wasn't always enough. While everyone tried to remain civil, it wasn't always possible. For a time, Alice Longworth (TR's oldest daughter) was banned from the White House because of her vitriolic tongue, and constant snide remarks and mimicking of Eleanor.

While the Roosevelt's had great personal successes, they also suffered their share of tragedies. Alcoholism ran in the Oyster Bay side, and Elliott Roosevelt (TR's brother and Eleanor's father) died at the age of 34 from the disease. Eleanor's brother, Hall, also met an early death from alcoholism. TR's youngest son, Quentin, was killed in World War II. Another son, Kermit, committed suicide in 1943, and his son Dirck, also killed himself ten years later. A son-in-law and daughter-in-law of FDR also took their own lives. It is often very difficult being the children of strong, dynamic and famous men, and Collier relates how hard it was for the Roosevelt children and grandchildren to live in the shadows of these great men. TR's children always strived to measure up to their Rough Rider father, but without great success. FDR's children were an undisciplined, spoiled and dysfunctional group, and had 19 marriages between the five of them. None of the children or grandchildren in the two groups was able to carry on the political legacy left by their fathers.

I truly enjoyed The Roosevelt's as it provides much little known information about this important family. Collier also shows that the story doesn't end with TR and FDR after all, although the Roosevelt's on the world stage stopped with the death of Eleanor.