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Kermit Roosevelt was the second child of Theodore and Edith Roosevelt. He was older than younger brother Quentin grew up in the White House and delighted both their father and the public through their many aventures and and anntics. Kermit was the President's middle child and as so often with middle children is sometimes overlooked. Kermit attended Groton prepaatory school and Harvard University. After the presidency he accompanied his father on a highly publicized African Safari (1909) abd then and River of Doubt Expedition in Brasil (1913-14) which adversely affected his father's health. Kermit married Belle Wyatt Willard in Madrid, Spain (1914). They had four children: Kermit, Joseph, Belle, and Dirck. He served with the Britih and American arnmies during World War I. He was awarded the Military Cross for service. He was in France when Quentin was shot down and killed. After the War he founded the Roosevelt Steamship Company and the United States Lines. He also served in Wotld War II, but suffered from chronic depression and alcoholism which may have ben in part related to inherited predispositions. He had substantial accomplishements in dufferent fields. They were impressive, but as with other presidential kids, not enough to compre with his father's achievements. He shot himself in Alska while on milirary posting.
Kermit Roosevelt was the second child of Theodore and Edith Roosevelt. Both were ideally suited to parenthood, in contrast with the second presidential Roosevelts. Theodore and Edith have to be among the very best presidential parents. Their father was like an overgrown playmate who opened up the White House as a fantastic playground. Their mother had her feet more solidly grounded. She did all the things that mothers should and made sure the boys toed the line -- to a degree. Throughout their childhood the overiding environment of the Roosevelt family was one of lovecand respect for each other. All of the children, except perhaps for Alice, idealized their parents in different ways.
Kermit was older than younger brothers Quentin and Archie who grew up in the White House and delighted both their father and the public with their many aventures and antics. Kermit was beginning to grow up before his father was a major national figure and plunged into the White House splotlight. He was almost a tenager, 12 years old, when after the assaination of President McKnnley he arrived in the White House (1901). Kermit was the President's middle child and as so often with middle children is sometimes overlooked. The Roosevelts greatly enjoyed living in the White House. The green house complex was a special favorite. The Kermit and the two younger boys (Quintin and Archie) had great fun at the White House. Mostly the public through the press saw the outside antics on the White House grounds. Here we have an inside view. We see a modern recreation of the fun Kermit was having in their secret garden. The White House architect wanted to tear the complex dowm to restore the original historical vision. The Roosevelts would not hear of it.
Kermit like his brothers were educated at the Groton Preparatory School. He then attended Harvard.
We do not know much about his family life. Kermit after the disaterous Amazon expedition with his father married Belle Wyatt Willard (1892-1968) in a civil ceremony in Madrid, Spain (1914). She was the daughter of the U.S. Ambassador to Spain. At the time Kermit was assistant manager for National City Bank in Buenos Aires (1914-16). They had four children: Kermit ('Kim') Roosevelt (1916- ); Joseph Willard (1918- ); Belle ('Clochette') (1919-85); and Dirck (1925-53). Kermit Jr. became an American intellgence agent and played an important role in American Iranian operations. Joseph served in the U.S. Navy during World war II and became an accomplished pianist and composer. The boys must have admired his adventuresime life. Kermit shared his father's politics abd view of world affairs as well as his need for adventure. Working as a bank executive apprently did not suit his tempernent and he enlisted in the Brutish Army to fight the Germans. During the inter-War era he engaged in som major expeitons with hus bothermaning that he was away from his family for extended periods. We are not sure how this affected his family life. His akcoholism must have affected his family life. We are not sure given his family and accomplishments why he turned to drink. It was not as big of a problem when the children were younger. He had a mistress in his final years when he was drinking heavily, scandakizing the family.
Kermit lived an adventursome life. He went along with his father on an Amazon expedition. It proved to be a harrowing experience that afterwards seriously affected his father's health.
Roosevelt as war was waging in Europe worked as assistant manager for National City Bank in Buenos Aires (1913-16). He liked his father believd that America should get in to support the Allies. He apparently wanted to be closer to the War and achieved a posting to Russia (1917). Before he left for Russia, however, the Russian Revolution broke out and the United States declared war on Germany. We are not sure why he did not join the U.S. Army, perhaps he thought he could see action faster with the Brutish. He was appoinred an honorary captain in the British Army (August 1917). Presumably the British saw some good press coverage here. Unlike his brothers who trained with the newly forming U.S. Army, Kermit got no military trainin. He was involved in hard fighting in the Mddle East. The British assigned him to the 14th Light Armoured Motor Battery of the Machine Gun Corps. The British decided in ould not be advisable ti get him killd, so they put hom in charge of transport (Ford Model T cars). Astonishlu, in only a few months after arriving in Mesopotamia (Iraq) he was able to converse in passable Arabic as well as write. The British used his as a translator. The British awarded him the Military Cross (August 1918). He resigned his British Commission and joined the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) in France (April 1918). Tragicall soon after he reached France, his youngr brother Quentin was shot down over France (July 1918). Quentin was buried by the Germans with full military honors. Their father never fully recovered from the loss.
Roosevelt after the War went into business. He founded the Roosevelt Steamship Company and the United States Lines. He continued to enjoy strenous outdoor activities. Here the brothers would get together. The most famous such adventure was with Ted Senior. They went on a hunting expedition in the Himalayas (1925). At the time there was still some lingering British influence. They treked through uncharted mountain passes rising from the Vale of Kashmir. Their father would have been impressed and no doubt wanted to go with them. They passed through trails used by the famed Silk Route into western China. What they wanted as the legendary big-horn wild sheep -- the Ovis Poli. Roosevely later described the expedition
in a fasvcinating boo. [Roosevelt] Some of the trophies they took are still on display in the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago. Furthering his interest in wildlife, he served as vice-president of the New York Zoological Society (1937-39). He wrote about his expeditions and shared his father's command of language.
Kermit also participatedc in World War II. Soon after Hitler and Stralin launched World War II, Roosevelt joined the Brutish Army (October 1939). Roosevelt was friendly with Winston Churchill who Prime Mnister Chamberlain after the outbreak of the War brought into government as First Lord if the admiralty. Churchill help him obtain a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Middlesex Regiment with the assistance of his friend, Winston Churchill, who was by then First Lord of the Admiralty. His previous service ith th British must have also been a factor. He was given the assignment of leading the Finninsg Legion, a contingent of British volunteers for the Winter War in Finland. Command by a prominent americn helped defuse the impact on British-Soviet rekations. He resigned his British commision to lead the group. Before the Finish Legion could be committed, the weight if Soviet poer had forced the Finns to make peace and surrender substantial territory. Unlike the Poles and Baltics, howevr, the Finn had preserved their independence. Roosevelt served with distinction in a raid on German positions in occupied Norway. He was then posr=ted to North Africa where he saw little action. There was little action at the time. He began drinkingagain and began suffering from an enlarged liver complicated by malaria. He returned to England and was discharged on health grounds (May 1941). Roosevelt appealed his discharge, even contacting Primeminister Churchill, but the Prijme =minister upheld the medical discharge. He then returnd to America.
He began drinking heavily again to forget his problems and declining health. His wife contacted his cousin, President Franklin Roosevlt. The President through FBI DirectervJ. Edgar Hoover, had the FBI to track him down. FBI agents returned him to his family. The President gave him a commission as a major in the United States Army, and had him assigned to Fort Richardson, Alaska. There he worked as an intelligence officer and helped establish a territorial militia of Eskimos and Aleuts. He is often reported to have died during the War in the North African campaign from amoebic dysentery. Many historians now report that he shot himself. This was covered up during the War. Historians note that alcoholism and depression plagued other members of the family--most prominently his paternalmuncle Elliot (Eleanor's father).
President Roosevelt's letters are full of comments about his children. There are also many letters to them. The letters tell of intimacies with the children as well as interesting comments on world decelopments and meetings with foreign dignataries. In these letters you can see what wonderful parents the Roosevelts were, an accomplishment ofvten lacking in presidential achievements.
President Roosevelt in 1900 wrote about Kermit and Ethel's musing over a Bible lesson. "The other day I listened to a most amusing dialogue at the Bible lesson between Kermit and Ethel. The subject was Joseph, and just before
reading it they had been reading Quentin's book containing the adventures of the Gollywogs. Joseph's conduct in repeating his dream to his brothers, whom it was certain to irritate, had struck both of the children unfavorably, as conflicting both with the laws of common-sense and with the advice given them by their parents as to the proper method of dealing with their own brothers and sisters. Kermit said: "Well, I think that was very foolish of Joseph." Ethel chimed in with "So do I, very foolish, and I do not understand how he could have done it." Then, after a pause, Kermit added thoughtfully by way of explanation: "Well, I guess he was simple, like Jane in the Gollywogs": and Ethel nodded gravely in confirmation."
Del Monte, Cal., May 10, 1903: BLESSED KERMIT, The last weeks' travel I have really enjoyed. Last Sunday and to-day (Sunday) and also on Wednesday at the Grand Canyon I had long rides, and the country has been strange and beautiful. I have collected a variety of treasures, which I shall have to try to divide up equally
among you children. One treasure, by the way, is a very small badger, which I named Josiah, and he is now called Josh for short. He is very
cunning and I hold him in my arms and pet him. I hope he will grow up friendly—that is if the poor little fellow lives to grow up at all. Dulany is
taking excellent care of him, and we feed him on milk and potatoes. I have enjoyed meeting an old classmate of mine at Harvard. He was heavyweight boxing champion when I was in college. I was much interested in your seeing the wild deer. That was quite remarkable. To-day, by the way, as I rode along the beach I saw seals, cormorants, gulls and ducks, all astonishingly tame.
The White House, Nov. 4, 1903: DEAR KERMIT, Tonight while I was preparing to dictate a message to Congress concerning the boiling caldron on the Isthmus of Panama, which has now
begun to bubble over, up came one of the ushers with a telegram from you and Ted about the football match. Instantly I bolted into the next
room to read it aloud to mother and sister, and we all cheered in unison when we came to the Rah! Rah! Rah! part of it. It was a great score. I
wish I could have seen the game.
White House, March 5, 1904, DEAR KERMIT: I am wrestling with two Japanese wrestlers three times a week. I am not the age or the build one would think to be whirled lightly over an opponent's head and batted down on a mattress without damage. But they are so skilful that I have not been hurt at all. My throat is a little sore, because once when one of them had a strangle hold I also got hold of his windpipe and thought I could perhaps choke him off before he could choke me. However, he got ahead.
Glenwood Springs, Colorado, May 2, 1905: BLESSED KERMIT. I was delighted to get your letter. I am sorry you are having such a hard time in mathematics, but hope a couple of weeks will set you all right.
We have had a very successful hunt. All told we have obtained ten bear and three bobcats. Dr. Lambert has been a perfect trump. He is in the
pink of condition, while for the last week I have been a little knocked out by the Cuban fever. Up to that time I was simply in splendid shape.
There is a very cunning little dog named Skip, belonging to John Goff's pack, who has completely adopted me. I think I shall take him home to
Archie. He likes to ride on Dr. Lambert's horse, or mine, and though he is not as big as Jack, takes eager part in the fight with every bear and
bobcat. I am sure you will enjoy your trip to Deadwood with Seth Bullock, and as soon as you return from Groton I shall write to him about it. I have
now become very homesick for Mother, and shall be glad when the 12th of May comes and I am back in the White House.
The White House, May 12, 1907: DEAR KERMIT, General Kuroki and his suite are here and dined with us at a formal dinner last evening. Everything that he says has to be translated, but nevertheless I had a really interesting talk with him, because I am pretty well acquainted with his campaigns. He impressed me much, as indeed
all Japanese military and naval officers do. They are a formidable outfit. I want to try to keep on the best possible terms with Japan and never
do her any wrong; but I want still more to see our navy maintained at the highest point of efficiency, for it is the real keeper of the peace.
In 1909, after retiring from the Presidency, Colonel Roosevelt went on a hunting trip in Africa, writing as usual to his children while away. On the 'Nzor River, Nov. 13, 1909: DARLING ETHEL, Here we are, by a real tropical river, with game all around, and no human being within several days' journey. At night the hyenas come round
the camp, uttering their queer howls; and once or twice we have heard lions; but unfortunately have never seen them. Kermit killed a leopard
yesterday. He has really done so very well! It is rare for a boy with his refined tastes and his genuine appreciation of literature—and of so
much else—to be also an exceptionally bold and hardy sportsman. He is still altogether too reckless; but by my hen-with-one-chicken attitude,
I think I shall get him out of Africa uninjured; and his keenness, cool nerve, horsemanship, hardihood, endurance, and good eyesight make him
a really good wilderness hunter. We have become genuinely attached to Cunninghame and Tarleton, and all three naturalists, especially Heller;
and also to our funny black attendants. The porters always amuse us; at this moment about thirty of them are bringing in the wood for the camp
fires, which burn all night; and they are all chanting in chorus, the chant being nothing but the words "Wood—plenty of wood to burn!" A Merry Christmas to you! And to Archie and Quentin. How I wish I were to be with you all, no matter how cold it might be at Sagamore; but I suppose we shall be sweltering under mosquito nets in Uganda.
Roosevelt, Kermit. East of the Sun and West of the Moon.
Wead, Doug. All the President's Children: Triumph and Tragedy in the Lives of America's First Families (Atria: New York, 2003), 456p.
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