Quentin Roosevelt lives....

Eckener · Sep 15, 2014

So after finding an old thread with underused PoD ideas. Someone mentioned having TR's youngest son, who died in the summer of 1918 in France just shy of his 21st birthday, surviving the war and having an important career and carrying on the family name.

I love the idea, and figure this is one that can have plenty of small butterflies that will gradually add up to plenty of medium and even big changes as time goes on.

Was curious what some off those possible butterflies might be?
For one thing, I think I'd have TR live a smidge longer......possibly into 1920 or 1921.
QR I would have marry his sweetheart, and then likely graduate in 1920 or 1921.
Not sure how his possible career would play out. Would be cool to see him in the presidency but even if not, some high office and causing some change to the national political scene. I had at one point considered QR picking up his fathers progressive politics and help rebuild an independent Progressive Party in the US.

Any other ideas?

Van555 · Sep 15, 2014

I've been thinking about this too, he is actually a pretty likely presidential candidate and would probably be a Republican power player.

From what I've read he had the potential to be an even more skilled politician then his father!

Ultimate Paragon · Sep 15, 2014

I've wondered about this myself.

Eckener · Sep 15, 2014

Van555 said:
I've been thinking about this too, he is actually a pretty likely presidential candidate and would probably be a Republican power player.

From what I've read he had the potential to be an even more skilled politician then his father!

Ultimate Paragon said:
I've wondered about this myself.

Yes it's definitely one of those underused points that when I saw it pointed out, struck me as quite interesting.

Japhy · Sep 15, 2014

Just like with every Joe Kennedy Jr. Lives discussion I have to wonder why anyone thinks that Quentin is destined to be a success. He died at 21 on one hand so its silly to try and figure out what he would or would not do. His own brothers were not political wizards, just because he was his fathers favorite guarantees nothing. There's nothing to say he'd do any better politically then his brother Theodore Jr. or Archibald for that matter.

Van555 · Sep 15, 2014

Japhy said:
Just like with every Joe Kennedy Jr. Lives discussion I have to wonder why anyone thinks that Quentin is destined to be a success. He died at 21 on one hand so its silly to try and figure out what he would or would not do. His own brothers were not political wizards, just because he was his fathers favorite guarantees nothing. There's nothing to say he'd do any better politically then his brother Theodore Jr. or Archibald for that matter.

This is also true, isn't it.

Eckener · Sep 15, 2014

Japhy said:
Just like with every Joe Kennedy Jr. Lives discussion I have to wonder why anyone thinks that Quentin is destined to be a success. He died at 21 on one hand so its silly to try and figure out what he would or would not do. His own brothers were not political wizards, just because he was his fathers favorite guarantees nothing. There's nothing to say he'd do any better politically then his brother Theodore Jr. or Archibald for that matter.

Very fair point. But I think it's always interesting to ponder what sort of lives these sort of people would have lived had they not had it cut short by war.

Admiral Halsey · Sep 15, 2014

Japhy said:
Just like with every Joe Kennedy Jr. Lives discussion I have to wonder why anyone thinks that Quentin is destined to be a success. He died at 21 on one hand so its silly to try and figure out what he would or would not do. His own brothers were not political wizards, just because he was his fathers favorite guarantees nothing. There's nothing to say he'd do any better politically then his brother Theodore Jr. or Archibald for that matter.

Nothing to say he wouldn't either. However n the short time he live he'd already put up an impressive resume and if nothing else seemed destined for a great military career.

Van555 · Sep 15, 2014

Eckener said:
Very fair point. But I think it's always interesting to ponder what sort of lives these sort of people would have lived had they not had it cut short by war.

Plus its fun to imagine one of them being a success.

Eckener · Sep 15, 2014

Admiral Halsey said:
Nothing to say he wouldn't either. However n the short time he live he'd already put up an impressive resume and if nothing else seemed destined for a great military career.

Van555 said:
Plus its fun to imagine one of them being a success.

Exactly.

Would QR stay with the military? Or would he go back and finish at Harvard? (Or both?)

Admiral Halsey · Sep 15, 2014

Eckener said:
Exactly.

Would QR stay with the military? Or would he go back and finish at Harvard? (Or both?)

Depends on what future he wants most likely. Also would this butterfly TR's death for a couple of years? IIRC the news of Quentin's death was what sent him into the death spiral.

Japhy · Sep 15, 2014

Admiral Halsey said:
Nothing to say he wouldn't either. However n the short time he live he'd already put up an impressive resume and if nothing else seemed destined for a great military career.

No he hadn't. The only difference between he and his brothers who were political failures was that he was assigned to the Air Service. They all did Plattsburgh, they all went to prestigious colleges. Literally the only difference is that his father favored him.

In no way is he some sort of Knickerbocker Talbon Papineau, clearly setting himself for a political career in his writings and public letters.

Van555 · Sep 15, 2014

Japhy said:
No he hadn't. The only difference between he and his brothers who were political failures was that he was assigned to the Air Service. They all did Plattsburgh, they all went to prestigious colleges. Literally the only difference is that his father favored him.

In no way is he some sort of Knickerbocker Talbon Papineau, clearly setting himself for a political career in his writings and public letters.

This is also true.

This is making me more cautious with my own plans.

Eckener · Sep 15, 2014

Admiral Halsey said:
Depends on what future he wants most likely. Also would this butterfly TR's death for a couple of years? IIRC the news of Quentin's death was what sent him into the death spiral.

I do recall reading that in a few different places, that QR's death had adversely affected his father's health. I could conceivably see TR living a few more years with this POD

Japhy said:
No he hadn't. The only difference between he and his brothers who were political failures was that he was assigned to the Air Service. They all did Plattsburgh, they all went to prestigious colleges. Literally the only difference is that his father favored him.

In no way is he some sort of Knickerbocker Talbon Papineau, clearly setting himself for a political career in his writings and public letters.

Right, I don't think it's any sort of certainty that QR would become as famous of his father or FDR. Though it's an interesting possibility, even if not the MOST plausible outcome.

Van555 · Sep 15, 2014

Eckener said:
Right, I don't think it's any sort of certainty that QR would become as famous of his father or FDR. Though it's an interesting possibility, even if not the MOST plausible outcome.

This is something I still agree with though and I think it should be explored.

Stolengood · Sep 15, 2014

Doesn't he look a bit like a Kennedy brother?

Eckener · Sep 15, 2014

Stolengood said:
Doesn't he look a bit like a Kennedy brother?

Hahaha yeah a little bit.

If he had lived and did go into public service, it would be cool with him having been a fighter pilot.

troosvelt_68 · Sep 15, 2014

It is possible his living would extend TR's life

So we could have him POTUS in 1920 and serve a couple years before his VP takes over.

Possibly Harding.....

Eckener · Sep 15, 2014

troosvelt_68 said:
It is possible his living would extend TR's life

So we could have him POTUS in 1920 and serve a couple years before his VP takes over.

Possibly Harding.....

As interesting an idea that might be, I can't seriously see TR running in 1920. He would have been 62 in the election year. And after the 1912 Bull Moose attempt, not sure he'd have the political capital to get elected.

Eckener · Sep 15, 2014

Eckener said:
As interesting an idea that might be, I can't seriously see TR running in 1920. He would have been 62 in the election year. And after the 1912 Bull Moose attempt, not sure he'd have the political capital to get elected.

I retract that. Upon further reading it seems TR was a front runner for the GOP 1920 ticket prior to the failure of his health in 1918, and his death in January of 1919.