The Roosevelt family dominated American politics in the first half of the 20th century. Theodore was president for 7 years as a Republican, and his distant cousin Franklin was president for 12 as a Democrat. Eleanor Roosevelt linked to both – she was Theodore’s niece and Franklin’s wife. They were wealthy New York aristocrats who felt an obligation to enter public service and did so energetically. Teddy’s “Square Deal” focused on conservation of natural resources, corporate law, and consumer protection. Franklin’s “New Deal” used public work projects, financial reforms, and regulations to rescue the country from Depression. Both promoted the United States as a leader on the world stage. Eleanor Roosevelt was a unique First Lady, acting as Franklin’s liberal conscience and later as the first US Ambassador to the United Nations.
Optional Reading: The Roosevelts: An Intimate History by Geoffrey C. Ward; Alfred A. Knopf, 2014; ISBN: 978-0-307-70023-0
