THE ROOSEVELTS

Every night for the past week I have been watching a TV documentary about the Roosevelt's, made by Ken Burns. Fourteen hours of photographs and film clips were enhanced by compelling story line, tracing a hundred years of a family’s legacy and a nation’s journey. Teddy Roosevelt, FDR and Eleanor were the main characters but it embraced their extended family as well. 

I remember when FDR died, I was five years old. Even though memory is subject to err I always understood that the name “Roosevelt” was larger than life. The program was about people more so than the history they lived. It brought up an idea that has been with me for a very long time. The question is, do people rise of their own volition to make history or does history propel people into the mix and their destiny simply plays out? It begs many questions. History, in the short term for sure, is written by the victors and they frame it in their own favor, whatever the case. We use dumbed down, sound-bite logic to explain cause and effect when it comes to big ideas and complicated stories. Most of what we come to believe is based on what we want to believe or what seems to validate our prejudices. The Roosevelt’s were very private people, thrust into a global arena and they lived up to their ideals consistent with how they had been shaped. Their place in history is fixed but their reputations depend on which side of the political divide you stand. Franklin and Eleanor were either loved or hated; they betrayed their own class in favor of a fair, just society that protected the weak and the poor. 

It is interesting how some families, over generations, accumulate not only wealth and power but also assimilate an overarching consciousness that extends beyond that wealth and power. In the Roosevelt’s case it was a responsibility to promote and advance the greater good. Other families amassed great fortunes but never stretched their own purpose beyond the acquisition of more wealth and power. 

Teddy, FDR and Eleanor all realized they were not only in a unique position to influence the path of history but were by nature and disposition, compelled to spend themselves in that cause. I can imagine what that might be like but I can’t imagine myself in their place. The idea that any person can rise to that level of readiness is naive at best. Somewhere in the balance between heredity and acquired personality, equality is an ideal. We are not equal. Dedication and worthy purpose are not enough to insure anything. It’s not that simple.

Franklin and Eleanor identified with and protected vulnerable people from exploitation by the rich and powerful. I don’t think it was a choice as much as it was simply, who they were. I believe we all do that, be who we are. I am simple and small but life has been good to me and mine. We will not make news or history but a hundred years from now it won’t matter. We were here and it was good.