In the ever-evolving panorama of America’s powerful dynasties, few families have sculpted the societal, political, and economic landscapes with such unrelenting vigor and artistry as the Roosevelts.

Originating from seventeenth century Dutch immigrant roots in what would become New York City -

The name “Roosevelt” quickly rose to encapsulate a kind of “American royalty” - whether brandishing their clout at the Presidential podium - or orchestrating financial miracles from ornate boardrooms.

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The Morgans: America's First "Old Money" Banking Dynasty (Documentary): [ Ссылка ]

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The Astors: America’s First “Old Money” Family: [ Ссылка ]

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TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Introduction
00:52 Chapter 1: From Immigrants To High Society
5:00 Chapter 2: The Roosevelts Become “Old Money”
9:05 Chapter 3: Teddy Roosevelt Gallops To The White House
15:43 Chapter 4: Franklin D. Roosevelt and Eleanor Roosevelt
20:57 Chapter 5: Modern Roosevelts and Lasting Legacy

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Our story begins in the year 1650 - more than 100 years before the founding of the United States -

When America’s first Roosevelt Ancestor - the Dutch-born Claes Maartenszen van Rosenvelt - landed in the teeming harbors of New Amsterdam— a city that would grow into the metropolis we now know as New York City.

In 1652, lured by the siren call of untapped prospects, Claes procured a considerable swath of prime land - in a fertile expanse in what is presently known as Midtown Manhattan - from one “Lambert van Valckenburgh”.

Interestingly, this clairvoyant acquisition encompassed terrain that was destined to host monumental landmarks such as the Empire State Building, the legendary Madison Avenue of “Mad Men” fame, and the JP Morgan Library.

Specifically, the area stretched from present day Lexington Avenue and Fifth Avenue to roughly twenty-ninth Street over to thirty-fifth Street.

Across the East River from Manhattan, at the same time the “real estate” Roosevelts were building their empire -

Family member Isaac Roosevelt - the great-great-grandfather of F.D.R. - was a quickly becoming one of the first large-scale sugar refiners in New York City - before leveraging that influence to serve in the New York State Assembly and the state Constitutional Convention.

Therefore, Isaac holds the notable distinction as having achieved the most political success of any Roosevelt before his cousin - the future President Teddy.

However, it would be uncouth to not mention here that Isaac’s sugar business was heavily reliant on slave labor, as New York City’s sugar was cultivated almost entirely by enslaved persons in the Caribbean.

Thus, without mincing words, an essential root of the substantial wealth, prominence and influence that the Hyde Park Roosevelts came to amass - Franklin and Eleanor’s line of the family - derived directly from America’s engagement in the Transatlantic slave trade.

Now, in the year 1884, Theodore Roosevelt faced a gut-wrenching calamity that shattered his world in a mere 48 hours.

As Alice delivered their first-born daughter - Alice Lee - Theodore was forced to confront the unspeakable sorrow of losing both his mother to typhoid and his cherished Alice to renal complications—all within the confines of their home.

Heartrending grief led him to immerse himself in his political obligations for the ensuing four months.

However - perhaps to process the heartache - the irrefutable allure of untamed landscapes called him away from the East Coast.

Theodore journeyed into the rough-hewn Dakota Badlands - finding a semblance of solace as a cattle rancher and frontier wayfarer.

Amidst the sprawling plains, he found a retreat in grizzly bear hunting and the pastoral care of his livestock.

The unforgiving winter of 1887 to 1888 decimated most of his cattle - steering his resolve to return to the East Coast, where he nurtured a love rekindled for his childhood infatuation - Edith Kermit Carow.

While Theodore Roosevelt was grappling with his first full-term as President, Franklin Delano Roosevelt - Teddy’s cousin - and Eleanor Roosevelt - Teddy’s niece - married in front of a glamorous gathering of society's elite on a brisk spring day in 1905.

Indeed, this wedding represented more than just marital bliss - it signified the merger of two American dynasties.

Franklin's father - James Roosevelt - was already a paragon of "old money" affluence - not just a successful entrepreneur but also a generous philanthropist within New York society.

Eleanor Roosevelt's parentage also boasted remarkable elite credentials - adding another layer of complexity to the Roosevelt couple's shared heritage.

Her father - Elliott Roosevelt - was a sibling to Theodore Roosevelt - however, his life was tragically marred by struggles with addiction - a plight that colored Eleanor's early years but also fortified her resilience and sense of empathy.

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