Theodore Roosevelt Jr. (1887-1944)

Figure 1.--This is the President's eldest son, Theodore Jr. He was a serious boy who tried very hard to please his father. He served in France during both World War I and II. He died in Normandy after getting his division ashore at Utah Beach.

Theodore was born in Oyster Bay, N.Y. He was educated at Harvard University. During World War I he was commissioned major of the 26th U.S. Infantrys, with which he saw service in France. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1918, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the Croix de Guerre. He was active in the organization of the American Legion. He was a member of the New York Assembly (1919-20), and Assistant Secretary of the Navy (1920-24). Thereafter, he became active as a business manager. He had hoped to follow his father to the White House, but was not succeful politically. He ran for Governor of New York in 1924. Elenor Roosevelt, the future First Lady, worked against him for Al Smith. I'm not sure why she worked so hard against her cousin, especially since his father had taken such an interest in her. Theodore Jr. became a severe critic of the New Deal and was a leading spokesman for the America First isolationist movement. When it became clear that America would enter World War II, he returned to active duty, having been advanced to Brigadier General in 1940. He was a fighting general. He died from a heart attack at his division command post in Normandy after gettin his division ashore at Utah Beach. He took part in Asiatic scientific expeditions for the Field Museum of Chicago in 1925 and 1928-29 and was governor of Puerto Rico (1929-32) and the Philippines (1932-33). He is the author of Average Americans (1919) and Colonial Policies of the United States (1937); and coauthor (with his brother Kermit) of East of the Sun and West of the Moon (1926). He mairred Eleanor Butler Alexander in 1910. they had four children: Grace Green (1911-1994) m. William McMillan, Jr.; b. Theodore III (Teddy) (b. June 1914) m. Anne Babcock; Cornelius Van Schaak (October 23, 1915-August 3, 1991) Never married; and Quentin II (1918-December 1948) m. Frances Webb (3 daughters).

Parents

Theodore Jr. was the first child of Thedore and his second wife Edith Carow.

Childhood

Theodore was born in Oyster Bay, N.Y.

Childhood Clothes

Education

Ted was educated at Harvard University.

World War I

During World War I he was commissioned major of the 26th U.S. Infantrys, with which he saw service in France. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1918, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the Croix de Guerre. He was active in the organization of the American Legion.

Political Career

He was a member of the New York Assembly (1919-20), and Assistant Secretary of the Navy (1920-24). Thereafter, he became active as a business manager. He had hoped to follow his father to the White House, but was not succeful politically. He was Assistant Secretary of the Navy, his father's old post, during the Harrding Administration. It was at this time the Teapot Dome scandal broke. Roosevelt was not involved, but the association with the Harding Administration adversely affected his political career. He ran for Governor of New York in 1924. Elenor Roosevelt, the future First Lady, worked against him for Al Smith. I'm not sure why she worked so hard against her cousin, especially since his father had taken such an interest in her. He was appointed governor of Puerto Rico (1929-32) and the Philippines (1932-33) by President Hoover. Theodore Jr. became a severe critic of the New Deal and was a leading spokesman for the America First isolationist movement.

Other Activities

He took part in Asiatic scientific expeditions for the Field Museum of Chicago in 1925 and 1928-29.

World War II

When it became clear that America would enter World War II, he returned to active duty, having been advanced to Brigadier General in 1940. He was a fighting general who came shore in the first wave at Utah Beach. He died from a heart attack at his division command post in Normandy of a heat attack, 5 weeks after getting his division ashore. He was gallant soldier and awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, the nation's highest honor, for his performance on Utah Beach. General Omar Bradley personally commended Roosevelt's performance.

Author

He is the author of Average Americans (1919) and Colonial Policies of the United States (1937); and coauthor (with his brother Kermit) of East of the Sun and West of the Moon (1926).

Family

He mairred Eleanor Butler Alexander in 1910. they had four children: Grace Green (1911-1994) m. William McMillan, Jr.; b. Theodore III (Teddy) (b. June 1914) m. Anne Babcock; Cornelius Van Schaak (October 23, 1915-August 3, 1991) Never married; and Quentin II (1918-December 1948) m. Frances Webb (3 daughters).

The President's Letters

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.

White House, April 9, 1904, DEAR TED: I am very glad I have been doing this Japanese wrestling, but when I am through with it this time I am not at all sure I shall ever try it again while I am so busy with other work as I am now. Often by the time I get to five o'clock in the afternoon I will be feeling like a stewed owl, after an eight hours' grapple with Senators, Congressmen, etc.; then I find the wrestling a trifle too vehement for mere rest. My right ankle and my left wrist and one thumb and both great toes are swollen sufficiently to more or less impair their usefulness, and I am well mottled with bruises elsewhere. Still I have made good progress, and since you left they have taught me three new throws that are perfect corkers.

Sources

Wead, Doug. All the President's Children: Triumph and Tragedy in the Lives of America's First Familirs (Atria: New York, 2003), 456p.