Introduction
Franklin D. Roosevelt and Theodore Roosevelt are two of the most famous and influential presidents in American history. They both led the nation through turbulent times, such as the Great Depression and World War II for Franklin, and the Spanish-American War and the Progressive Era for Theodore. They also shared a common surname and a distant blood relation. But how exactly were they related, and what impact did their family ties have on their lives and careers? In this article, we will explore the surprising truth about the presidential cousins.
The Dutch Ancestry of the Roosevelts
The Roosevelt family traces its roots back to the 17th century, when a Dutch immigrant named Claes Maartenszen van Rosenvelt arrived in New Amsterdam, the Dutch colony that later became New York City. He bought a farm in what is now Midtown Manhattan, where the Empire State Building stands today, according to Critics Rant. He had a son named Nicholas, who was the first to use the spelling Roosevelt and the first to hold political office as an alderman. Nicholas had two sons, Johannes and Jacobus, who were the founders of the two main branches of the Roosevelt family: the Oyster Bay Roosevelts and the Hyde Park Roosevelts, according to Wikipedia.
The Oyster Bay Roosevelts
The Oyster Bay Roosevelts were the descendants of Johannes Roosevelt, who settled in Long Island and became a wealthy merchant and landowner. His grandson, also named Johannes, married a woman named Margaret Barnhill, who was of Scottish and Irish ancestry. Their son, Theodore Roosevelt Sr., was the father of Theodore Roosevelt Jr., who became the 26th president of the United States. Theodore Jr. was born in 1858 in New York City, and grew up in a privileged and wealthy environment. He was a sickly and asthmatic child, but overcame his physical limitations by pursuing a vigorous and adventurous lifestyle. He attended Harvard University and Columbia Law School, but dropped out of the latter to pursue a career in politics. He served as a state assemblyman, a civil service commissioner, a police commissioner, an assistant secretary of the navy, a governor of New York, a vice president, and finally a president. He was a leader of the Republican Party and the Progressive Movement, and championed causes such as conservation, anti-trust, and foreign policy. He was also a prolific writer, a naturalist, a hunter, a soldier, and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate. He married twice and had six children, four of whom served in the military. He died in 1919 at the age of 60, after suffering a heart attack.
The Hyde Park Roosevelts
The Hyde Park Roosevelts were the descendants of Jacobus Roosevelt, who settled in upstate New York and became a prominent lawyer and judge. His grandson, also named Jacobus, married a woman named Maria Van Schaack, who was of Dutch and English ancestry. Their son, James Roosevelt, was the father of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who became the 32nd president of the United States. Franklin was born in 1882 in Hyde Park, New York, and also grew up in a privileged and wealthy environment. He was an only child, and was very close to his mother, Sara. He was a distant cousin of Theodore Roosevelt, and admired him greatly. He attended Harvard University and Columbia Law School, but also dropped out of the latter after passing the bar exam. He followed Theodore’s footsteps in politics, serving as a state senator, an assistant secretary of the navy, a governor of New York, and finally a president. He was a leader of the Democratic Party and the New Deal, and tackled the challenges of the Great Depression and World War II. He was also a skilled communicator, a humanitarian, and a four-time elected president. He married his fifth cousin, Eleanor Roosevelt, who was the niece of Theodore Roosevelt, and had six children, five of whom survived to adulthood. He died in 1945 at the age of 63, after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage.
The Relationship Between Franklin and Theodore Roosevelt
According to Fact Monster, Franklin and Theodore Roosevelt were fifth cousins, meaning they shared a common ancestor in Nicholas Roosevelt, the son of Claes Maartenszen van Rosenvelt. They also had another connection: Franklin married Eleanor Roosevelt, who was the daughter of Elliott Roosevelt, the brother of Theodore Roosevelt. This made Franklin a nephew-in-law of Theodore, and Eleanor a niece-in-law of Franklin. The two presidents met several times in their lives, and had a cordial but not very close relationship. Theodore was supportive of Franklin’s early political career, but later became critical of his policies and party affiliation. Franklin, on the other hand, always looked up to Theodore as a role model and a mentor, and sought to emulate his achievements and legacy. The two men also had some similarities and differences in their personalities, values, and styles of leadership. They were both charismatic, energetic, and visionary, but also stubborn, ambitious, and egotistical. They both cared deeply about the welfare of the people, but had different approaches to solving the problems of their times. They both faced tremendous challenges and crises, but also left lasting impacts and legacies on the nation and the world.
Conclusion
Franklin and Theodore Roosevelt were two of the most remarkable and influential presidents in American history. They both came from the same Dutch ancestry, but belonged to different branches of the Roosevelt family. They both had a distant blood relation, but also a closer marital relation. They both admired and respected each other, but also disagreed and competed with each other. They both shaped and transformed the nation and the world, but also reflected and represented the values and ideals of their times. They were both Roosevelts, but they were also unique and distinct individuals.