Sylvia's Journal

While we explored Ken Burns’ documentary about the Roosevelts, night after night, I also learned about them from the perspective of Alice Roosevelt, the daughter of TR from his first marriage. I listened to an historical novel about Alice based on her diary and other original sources. The author of the book informs the reader at the end what is historical fact (most of the book) and what is literary fiction. It added an interesting perspective to the Burns’ story. 

It’s a good read/listen/watch in this time of global upheaval, because the Roosevelts also lived in times of global upheavals: two horrendous wars, a depression and rapid industrialization. And those are just the external upheavals. In parallel were the Roosevelts’ more private upheavals: premature deaths of loved ones, sickness (polio in particular), philandering husbands, out-of-wedlock babies, psychological abandon, political rivalries, paralyzing depression, suicides and alcoholism. 

To me, those members of the Roosevelt clan who survived all these tragedies serve as great examples of resilience: the ability to pick oneself up, dust oneself off and put one foot in front of another.

TR’s famous quote comes to mind: “It’s not the critic who counts. Not the man who points out where the strong man stumbled or where the doer of great deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena. Whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood. Who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again. And who, while daring greatly, spends himself in a worthy cause so that his place may never be among those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.” 

‘Daring greatly’ are the words Brené Brown borrowed from TR for one of her books, which picks up on the topic of resilience through the lens of vulnerability. This may not have been that applicable to the male Roosevelts, but it certainly picks up where Eleanor’s journey left off.