A Roosevelt Dynasty

FDR's kids are pretty much unnoteworthy (have you heard anything about them?), but TR's kids got more press in their time.

What if they didn't get killed in WWI and WWII? Could they have gone anywhere as great as their father did?

I'm thinking about this just to wonder if there could have been a President Kermit.
 

Glen

Moderator
Strategos' Risk said:
FDR's kids are pretty much unnoteworthy (have you heard anything about them?), but TR's kids got more press in their time.

What if they didn't get killed in WWI and WWII? Could they have gone anywhere as great as their father did?

I'm thinking about this just to wonder if there could have been a President Kermit.

Kermit unfortunately had a great deal of difficulty with depression, so would be unlikely to make it to the Presidency.

Theodore Roosevelt Jr., without the initial unwarranted scandal, could have made a shot at it. Anyone who made it to be a General on D-Day had some leadership potential, I'd say.

Quentin is virtually an unknown, since he died so young, but its possible.

So I'd say you can get two of the sons in the White House, probably.
 
I'm thinking about this just to wonder if there could have been a President Kermit.
If he ran in the '60s, he might find it was easier being green...:p
Theodore Roosevelt Jr., without the initial unwarranted scandal, could have made a shot at it. Anyone who made it to be a General on D-Day had some leadership potential, I'd say.
You'd also have to avoid him being dead...:eek:
 
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You'd also have to avoid him being dead...:eek:

Unless he ran earlier. He was involved with politics in the '20s but suffered from the Teapot Dome scandal, though there's no evidence he was involved (see your own link! ;)). However, his loving cousin Franklin saw a rival and sent Elanor after him. She worked double-time in "Rovian" fashion to link him to TPD and succeeded, killing his political career.

There's no reason, assuming he avoids the TPD tar brush, that he couldn't make a run for it in the 30's. Perhaps we see a different Roosevelt in the Oval Office in the Depression/War?
 
Hmmm. Kermit was riddled with drink and depression problems throughout his life. Jr was pretty good thought probably tarnished by Teapot Dome (though from the evidence he shouldn't have been if not for Elanor Roosevelt).

He probably wouldn't have been a bad president had he ever held that office.
 
FDR had two sons who tried to carry on the political tradition. James ("Jimmy") Roosevelt served courageously in the Marines during WWII and then served several terms in the U.S. House of Representatives representing a California district. He was a diligent, but dull (and bald!) congressman and I believe he lost several times running for state wide office in California. FDR Jr. looked more like his handsome father and I believe he served briefly in the House but lost a statewide race for Attorney General of NY in 1956. Then, and now, AG is considered in NY a stepping stone to either Governor or Senator. FDR Jr. then signed on with the Kennedys and did important work during the West Virginia primary convincing miners and farmers that the Catholic, urban Kennedy was really a true successor to his father. He then got the relatively low level position of Deputy Secretary of Commerce and I think that was about the end of his political career.
TR Jr, on the other hand was an excellent Governor of Puerto Rico and the Philippines, a brave soldier in WWI and the oldest man in the first wave on D-Day. His death a few weeks later was probably preventable if he had been willing to leave the front lines and have a doctor check out his chest pains. I think that either in the 30s or the 40s TR Jr. would have been an excellent, progressive Republican President.
 
Kermit unfortunately had a great deal of difficulty with depression, so would be unlikely to make it to the Presidency.

Not necessarily a problem. Lincoln had severe problems with depression as well (he was actually suicidal at times). Compounded with other problems, it could prevent him from being president, but it doesn't prevent it on its own. Just makes it more difficult.
 
There was one other Roosevelt brother. Now Archie Roosevelt was the longest-lived of the group. He was also a racist. He wrote pamphlets (mis)quoting his father to explain why black people weren't quite human.

I think it would be a little hard to get over that.

Ted Jr. had had a one-two punch delivered to his political career. After Teapot Dome, there was his decision to campaign for Hoover --- while governor of the Philippines. That was the real blow.

I was imagining the result of the 1940 election, with the two First Ladies, outgoing and incoming, sitting side by side, stiffly ignoring each other, in spite of their both having the same married name. Yes, Mrs. Ted Jr. was "Eleanor Roosevelt". And imagine the ballots -- "Roosevelt vs. Roosevelt"!
 

maverick

Banned
If Theodore Roosevelt Jr. was not involved with the teapot dome thingy and was elected to the Governorship of New York in 1924 and reelected in 1926, then he can be the Republican Candidate in 1928 or perhaps later...

Of course, Smith takes the governorship in 1928, meaning that Roosevelt is not Governor of New York until after 1932, and thus not the candidate against TR. Jr.
 
If Theodore Roosevelt Jr. was not involved with the teapot dome thingy and was elected to the Governorship of New York in 1924 and reelected in 1926, then he can be the Republican Candidate in 1928 or perhaps later...

Of course, Smith takes the governorship in 1928, meaning that Roosevelt is not Governor of New York until after 1932, and thus not the candidate against TR. Jr.

If his father Ted Sr. had lived beyond 1919 then there would have been no President Harding and most likely no Teapot Dome scandal. Also Elennor Roosevelt would have not trashed her cousin's reputation as long as her uncle was still alive and president, thus, Ted Jr would have probably been elected Governor of New York in 1924.
 
FDR's family has some potential as well.

James served with some small distinction in the second world war, and had his own political career (10 years in the house, attempts to become governor or mayor of LA). Probably one of the more likely candidates of FDR;s children.

Elliot also served in the war, but is unlikely as a candidate, as he never seemed to have the same interest in politics as his relatives.

FDR Jr. served in the war as well, but never seems to have completed his move into politics. IMO, if you can make him Attorney-General of New York in 1954, he has some of the best prospects from among his siblings. He could quite possibly use it as a springboard to the governorship (this time having greater experience in his own right), and from there to the presidency, or intead do as Javits did and enter the senate.

John probably isnt going to go anywhere unless Eisenhower and the republicans activly push him as a candidate for something.

In short, FDR jr and James were in a position to break into the upper echelons of the political heirarchy, and some different elections (Attorney general of new york and mayor of LA respectivly seem the best options) could be enough to start one on a path to the top.

Of TR;s children, I think Quentin is being overlooked. He was often regarded as being very similar to his father, and if he survives and maybe makes a name for himself he could wind up being a force to be reckoned with.
 
If Quentin lives we can probably assume he's an ace and war hero (pilots that aggressive tend to either become aces, corpses, or both). Perhaps he's ATL's Rickenbacker.

Could a President Quentin mean an earlier independent USAF?
 
Unless he ran earlier. He was involved with politics in the '20s but suffered from the Teapot Dome scandal, though there's no evidence he was involved (see your own link! ;)). However, his loving cousin Franklin saw a rival and sent Elanor after him. She worked double-time in "Rovian" fashion to link him to TPD and succeeded, killing his political career.

There's no reason, assuming he avoids the TPD tar brush, that he couldn't make a run for it in the 30's. Perhaps we see a different Roosevelt in the Oval Office in the Depression/War?
OK, I misread you.:eek: I was thinking an Ike-ish postwar thing, not the '30s, which could be really interesting, actually. WI FDR got butterflied out, somehow?
And imagine the ballots -- "Roosevelt vs. Roosevelt"!
Hmm. A vote for Roosevelt is...?:confused:
 
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TD Scandal or not, I think it's possible to have seen a President Ted Jr if he had lived. I'm pretty sure his participation in the Normandy landings would have erased any ill feelings still lingering from a 2 decade old news story. The real potential would be the youngest son Quentin ... again if their deaths were to be avoided. It is very interesting to read the events of his burial and ceremony by the Germans after his death too. Worth reading ...
 
Can the American public handle Miss Piggy as First Lady? Though she will probably want to be the Secretary of the War Department as well. Let's see, Beaker as National Science Advisor. We have Fozzie, Gonzo, Big Bird, Frank and Ernie, and the whole rest. Oscar the Grouch as Secretary of State?

Hmmm. Kermit was riddled with drink and depression problems throughout his life. Jr was pretty good thought probably tarnished by Teapot Dome (though from the evidence he shouldn't have been if not for Elanor Roosevelt).

He probably wouldn't have been a bad president had he ever held that office.
 
Can the American public handle Miss Piggy as First Lady? Though she will probably want to be the Secretary of the War Department as well. Let's see, Beaker as National Science Advisor. We have Fozzie, Gonzo, Big Bird, Frank and Ernie, and the whole rest. Oscar the Grouch as Secretary of State?

rimshot

fillerundo!!!!
 
As much as I admired Jim Henson and loved his work, I must damn him for all eternity for apparently destroying forever the seriousness of a good name. Who can ever think of naming a son "Kermit" without wondering about green frog jokes?
 
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