Wonderful, sad, poignant post. Sitting here looking at the diary page and weeping for the loss caused by filth and overcrowding. How far have we come? Not far enough.
Wonderful, sad, poignant post. Sitting here looking at the diary page and weeping for the loss caused by filth and overcrowding. How far have we come? Not far enough.
Kari THANK you! This is A WONDERFUL glimpse into the initially sad life of an enormously gifted rebel!
She was a vivid demonstration of someone who made lemonade, no, mimosas, of the lemons life threw at her; it's not what happens to you that defines you or what your life will be like but what one does with what life throws at you.
I wonder how different her life would have been if, had her Fathers grief turned the other way! It goes to show how truly our connections or disconnections can shape us, influence us, effect and impact who we become.
Doris Kearns Goodwin wrote a wonderful biography of TR and WH Taft, his Lingtime political ally in “The Bully Pulpit”. A favorite book and historian of mine, along with HCR, of course!
I highly recommend the book Mornings on Horseback by David McCullough. It’s a biography of TR. He does discuss Alice a bit. If memory serves, TR sent her to his sister to raise. He could barely stand to see her because she reminded him of his wife, not because he didn’t care for her. I forget which sister raised her.
His sister Anna (known as Bamie) primarily raised Alice until TR married his second wife, Edith Kermit Carow, on December 2, 1886. However, TR was rarely away from New York for more than a few months at a time and spent a lot of time with his sister and daughter when he was home.
Today HCR shares a poignant memory of the proto-fascist Theodore Roosevelt, who used his "big stick" to break dark-skinned countries in the name of corporate exploitation. T. Roosevelt was to McKinley as Tyler was to Harrison, as G.H.W. Bush was to Reagan (almost), as the proto-fascist Coolidge was to Harding.
T. Roosevelt's uncle was the head of the Confederate Secret Service.
TR was hardly a proto-fascist. A cute, pseudo intellectual term and hardly applicable to TR. TR was not trying to establish a one party terror dictatorship. Just like FDR was a communist because he increased the rights of unions.
Not too long ago trolls like you were using the term socialism. Then people pointed out that all those socialism hating red states actually receive a great deal of socialism in the form of money from the fed.
You display your ignorance, and buy into a one-dimensional stereotype of fascism, which always had a socialistic element to it.
p.s. As I've said before, I'm an old-school FDR Democrat. I'm not allergic to socialism, as the term is loosely used. Beyond that, I think there are examples around the world of hybrid economic systems that include both private and government-owned factories.
Knows how to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, or something like that. There is a lot to criticize TR for, but there is so much to admire. I think his pluses outweigh the negatives. Wish that applied to all of us.
But unlike Trump he actually stood up to the oligarchs instead of depending on their deep pockets to get keep him and his party in power. He was far from a conservative. Like all Presidents he was flawed but who isn't, especially when you are under the microscope 24/7.
Perhaps his biggest political mistake was declaring on the night of his reelection in 1904 that he would not run for President again in 1908.
T. Roosevelt, like Putin, made it clear to the oligarchs that he was one of them, and not their servant. Like a good imperialist heir to the Confederacy, Roosevelt made the Caribbean littoral safe for banana plantations.
Many reformers have blank spots in their vision. Florence Nightingale is one, for example. I think we have to acknowledge that, as you've done, but also not use that to deny the value of what they accomplish.
Perhaps it is correct to call T. Roosevelt a "kinder, gentler" proto-fascist. Fascism, in Italy and Germany and the U.S.A., includes a prominent gesture toward the will of the people and limits (domestically) the excesses of savage capitalism.
Wonderful, sad, poignant post. Sitting here looking at the diary page and weeping for the loss caused by filth and overcrowding. How far have we come? Not far enough.
Cannot help wondering what happened to the baby? 🥲🥲🥲
Judith, I had the same thought. I did a bit of digging and found this:
https://reagan.blogs.archives.gov/2023/04/17/white-house-kids-series-alice-roosevelt-longworth/
Kari THANK you! This is A WONDERFUL glimpse into the initially sad life of an enormously gifted rebel!
She was a vivid demonstration of someone who made lemonade, no, mimosas, of the lemons life threw at her; it's not what happens to you that defines you or what your life will be like but what one does with what life throws at you.
I wonder how different her life would have been if, had her Fathers grief turned the other way! It goes to show how truly our connections or disconnections can shape us, influence us, effect and impact who we become.
Yes, I think about this too
Thank you, that was fascinating!
Brava Alice!
Thank you for the info on Alice. I had no idea of her antics.
You mean amber show of freedom?
Ty for this! Juicy little history!
Doris Kearns Goodwin wrote a wonderful biography of TR and WH Taft, his Lingtime political ally in “The Bully Pulpit”. A favorite book and historian of mine, along with HCR, of course!
She did it her way! 😉
Oh my gosh, that was a great story, thank you for sharing! I loved her, what an inspiration! :-)
Thank you Kari, wish Alice was still alive and be politically active.....
Thanks so much for this stunning article! What a pip! Brilliant!
She was a pistol!
So interesting thank so
Much
Thank you, Kari.
Alice Roosevelt Longworth was quite a character. She was famous for saying, ‘If you don’t have anything nice to say, come sit next to me.’
I would have like to have known her IRL. I think we would have been fast friends. I hate people, too.
I just say it like it IS so there
I highly recommend the book Mornings on Horseback by David McCullough. It’s a biography of TR. He does discuss Alice a bit. If memory serves, TR sent her to his sister to raise. He could barely stand to see her because she reminded him of his wife, not because he didn’t care for her. I forget which sister raised her.
Re Wikipedia: Her aunt was Anna, she knew as Bamie or Bye. She later said of Bye, “If auntie Bye had been a man, she would have been president”
Alice lived with her aunt right after her mother's death. At 3 she was brought home to stay.
His sister Anna (known as Bamie) primarily raised Alice until TR married his second wife, Edith Kermit Carow, on December 2, 1886. However, TR was rarely away from New York for more than a few months at a time and spent a lot of time with his sister and daughter when he was home.
I'll second that recommendation.
third
Fourth! This book by the incomparable David McCullough is required reading for anyone interested in American history.
In her teens she was known as Alice blue gown. She was a belle of New York society. Very proud of her father and campaigned for him.
She lived a long life. Died in 1980. I believe that’s what I’ve read.
A book of it’s own
Life is always full of battles. We all have struggles and can feel hopeless. I am so grateful for those who support me and one another through them.
This is also a story of how tragedy and hardship can be turned around and help us become stronger and better.
This is a story of hope. Heather usually gets that message out. Thanks...to her and all of the rest of my allies.
I have hope that many Americans will emerge from the trump nightmare more knowledgeable, stronger, wiser and better.
Today HCR shares a poignant memory of the proto-fascist Theodore Roosevelt, who used his "big stick" to break dark-skinned countries in the name of corporate exploitation. T. Roosevelt was to McKinley as Tyler was to Harrison, as G.H.W. Bush was to Reagan (almost), as the proto-fascist Coolidge was to Harding.
T. Roosevelt's uncle was the head of the Confederate Secret Service.
TR was hardly a proto-fascist. A cute, pseudo intellectual term and hardly applicable to TR. TR was not trying to establish a one party terror dictatorship. Just like FDR was a communist because he increased the rights of unions.
Not too long ago trolls like you were using the term socialism. Then people pointed out that all those socialism hating red states actually receive a great deal of socialism in the form of money from the fed.
Just more bovine excrement from you.
Please do not feed the troll
Bret Yeilding,
You display your ignorance, and buy into a one-dimensional stereotype of fascism, which always had a socialistic element to it.
p.s. As I've said before, I'm an old-school FDR Democrat. I'm not allergic to socialism, as the term is loosely used. Beyond that, I think there are examples around the world of hybrid economic systems that include both private and government-owned factories.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzz..........
You refuse to listen.
.
..
.
.
You are Dark Linus, wrapping a stiff fetid blanket around everything. Thank you for the contrast. Be well.
Knows how to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, or something like that. There is a lot to criticize TR for, but there is so much to admire. I think his pluses outweigh the negatives. Wish that applied to all of us.
please do not feed the troll
Theodor Roosevelt had a Trumpish desire to have his face carved on Mount Rushmore.
But unlike Trump he actually stood up to the oligarchs instead of depending on their deep pockets to get keep him and his party in power. He was far from a conservative. Like all Presidents he was flawed but who isn't, especially when you are under the microscope 24/7.
Perhaps his biggest political mistake was declaring on the night of his reelection in 1904 that he would not run for President again in 1908.
Please do not feed the troll.
T. Roosevelt, like Putin, made it clear to the oligarchs that he was one of them, and not their servant. Like a good imperialist heir to the Confederacy, Roosevelt made the Caribbean littoral safe for banana plantations.
Hahahahahahahahahaha.
Silly man thinks he's smart.
Smart like his orange stank.
Please do not feed the troll.
Beth Cobb stanks orange now.
.
.
Many reformers have blank spots in their vision. Florence Nightingale is one, for example. I think we have to acknowledge that, as you've done, but also not use that to deny the value of what they accomplish.
Please do not feed the troll
Perhaps it is correct to call T. Roosevelt a "kinder, gentler" proto-fascist. Fascism, in Italy and Germany and the U.S.A., includes a prominent gesture toward the will of the people and limits (domestically) the excesses of savage capitalism.
I said more in my reply here:
https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/february-14-2024/comment/49598408
.
I too had tears in my eyes…