Ken Burns' documentary, "The Roosevelts" on PBS

[Cyrano]

If you missed it last night, don't miss the rest.

I consider Einstein the greatest person of the 20th Century. But when it comes to politics, Theodore, Franklin and Eleanor changed our lives forever. We can thank them for so much. And it's that "so much" that the Republican Party has always tried, and is still trying, to destroy.

The first part was on PBS from 8:00pm to 10:00pm last night. Catch the rest which is on PBS from 8 to 10 every night this week. Do yourself a favor and don't miss it.

[tiredtoo]

1. K&R N/T

[snappyturtle]

2. Saw the first episode...it was wonderful. I highly recommend everyone watch

it if possible.

[big_dog]

64. tonight should be great. FDR's life story

and the First Lady of course

[TwilightGardener]

3. I was surprised by how much of a self-promoter Teddy Roosevelt was.

A lot of his legendary sayings and deeds weren't just other people talking him up--he actively promoted his own story. He fought like a dog to be awarded the Medal of Honor (didn't get it) because he felt he had been appropriately brave and probably wanted it for his political career. John McCain always said Roosevelt was his hero, and there are a lot of parallels--the war mongering, the opposing of one's own party for attention, the tireless self-promotion and taking reporters everywhere to coddle favorable relationships with them...

[jwirr]

6. Hadn't thought about that but you are very correct about McCain.

[Arugula Latte]

13. That surprised me, too. He really understood PR and took it upon himself

to catapult his own propaganda.

[frazzled]

18. Yeah, I came away feeling rather ...

put off by Teddy altogether. He seems to have been somewhat ... unhinged.

[TwilightGardener]

28. Speaking of unhinged, he shot a neighbor's dog because it barked at him.

I'm certain that animals were generally not treated well back then by today's standards, and he shot (hunted) anything and everything wild that moved, but shit...that's just mean.

[JimDandy]

31. Unhinged and narcissistic.

Those were the two words I associated with him after last night's program.

[mckara]

37. Zeitgeist

It's better not to judge historical characters with today's zeitgeist. Theodore Roosevelt was a man of his times, and probably, the only genius to occupy the office. His warmongering was a reflection of the United States becoming a world power and the necessity of preemptively eliminating the need of enforcing the Monroe Doctrine by preventing new European powers from replacing a declining Spanish Empire in the Caribbean and the Pacific Basins. It was much easier to fight Spain than Germany or Great Britain.

His ideas of society directly reflected social Darwinism in which nations, cultures, and races were in competition for supremacy. The national parks were his vision of game reserves for the elite to hunt wild game as part of their training to become leaders who could ruthlessly dominate Nature and humanity in order for Anglo-American democracy to control the world.

Nobody called him Teddy to his face.

He was a very complex man.

[frazzled]

44. In other words ...

unhinged.

[mckara]

62. Hardly

Last edited Mon Sep 15, 2014, 10:09 PM - Edit history (1)

His progressive ideas of fighting government and business corruption changed American politics as he began busting up corporate monopolies, regulating railroads, food products, and drugs. He became the best friend to common Americans that they had ever seen in the oval office [he built the West Wing] and he was the first conservationist. Most importantly, he worked to spread American influence around the world, not necessarily for economic interests. In 1893, he agreed with Frederick Jackson Turner's essay/speech, The Significance of the Frontier in American in American History, and saw American expansion overseas as a necessary means to continue purification of Democracy, as Turner observed in the settling of the West. Progressive change began on the Frontier with women's suffrage, coeducational education, direct election of senators, and the collective voice of citizens using government to remedy problems too vast for individuals, groups, or states to solve alone. That progressive notions lives with those of us here on the left!!!

Most importantly, he dedicated his life to expanding the United States Navy!

Go Navy/Beat Army!!!

[frazzled]

63. Cherry picking is fine...

Though I would disagree that American expansionism (or the so-called "purification" of Democracy) was/is an idea without its attendant downsides. (Ask the Native Americans about that settling of the West.) And we clearly saw the personal and public deficits of TR's character. And if you're saying that Roosevelt's ushering in the era of empire was a marvel of democratic virtue, I'm not sure too many of today's progressives would agree. He also ushered in the era of the imperial presidency. How's that workin' for ya?

As I said, cherry picking the stuff you like is fine, but it's not analysis. And it's not something our progressive left applies to the current president. So while you are extolling the virtues of TR and ignoring all his deficits, today we rail against all the deficits of the PBO and ignore any of his virtues.

It sounds as if you truly worship at the altar of Teddy Roosevelt, buying into all the manly man cult of personality stuff that has grown up around him, especially since the Reagan era (he was Ronny's favorite, too). Me, I'm an Eleanor Roosevelt fan ... now there's someone who put herself on the line with the people. She appears to be something of a footnote in this documentary, however.

Teddy Roosevelt still appears to have been a bit unhinged.

[mckara]

65. You Haven't Read the Frontier Thesis

Turner's Frontier Thesis changed the course of American history. Read it and you'll understand how the Frontier "purified" democracy and how its lessons affected American foreign policy for the next century. TR and Woodrow Wilson were in concurrence with Turner as were others. Did you ever wonder where JFK got the name for "The Last Frontier"?

As a historian, I try to analyze historical figures objectively. Roosevelt had his flaws, as did most of the ruling class in the late XIXth and early XXth century, if we judge individuals with XXIst century standards. Your criticism of TR has no context to the tenor of the times. We all know that Native Americans lost the battle for control of North American. Who ever said social Darwinism was a good thing? Its battles were fought around the world until concentration camps in Nazi Germany demonstrated its psychotic implications. Ideas come into favor and fade from memories as time exposes their flaws or their virtues gain timeless acceptance as part of human social evolution. Whether you think it was good or bad is irrelevant. It's part of the historical record. People believed in ideas that seemed rational in their eyes, not because they were good or bad people. Most of time they acted with the best intentions. In hindsight, we know the road to hell was paved with good intentions. C'est la vie and history!

[JimDandy]

61. Thanks for that perspective. n/t

[heaven05]

22. My grandfather knew of him

or was dealt to by him at San Juan and Kettle Hill. Theodore ain't shit! He did not deserve any fucking medal, my grandfather did and people in his unit. Oh never mind they were black, never would have happened anyway.

[upaloopa]

4. I wasn't born then so they didn't change my life.

I'm sure they had some effect on it. I was born in 1946 and remember news stories about Eleanor.
I thought Obama would take a hint from FDR and have a new New Deal.

[Cyrano]

7. Yeah, they did change your life

Unions, social security, unemployment insurance and so much more from Teddy and Franklin. And they both went after and defied the robber barons (the Koch's of their day). They took on the kind of people who are running things and screwing this country today.

Eleanor etched women's rights in concrete. And she was the first American Ambassador to the United Nations.

Don't just watch Ken Burns' documentary. Read about them. It's so, so important. These people were giants of human rights. And role models for human decency in spite of their personal flaws and demons.

[Arugula Latte]

14. ...

[upaloopa]

16. In my 68 years I have read many books about

the Roosevelts

[jwirr]

8. You did benefit from some of Teddy's actions. We have a National Parks system because of him and

think how much worse our corporatism would be if he had not used his big stick against them.

And if you are thinking that FDR did not effect you then you need to keep watching the series to see how. You will recognize much of it. Almost everything around us today was set in motion before you were born. I was born in 1941. I was here when he did these things but of course I do not remember them first hand. My first memory in this series will be FDR's funeral in 1945.

[LordGlenconner]

49. Also child labor laws

Kids were working 14 hours a day 7 days a week in coal mines.

And the National Parks were a large part of his legacy. Despite another poster's ludicrous claims (that he merely wanted to set them aside for rich people to hunt in) they were and always meant for the people. John Muir was very influential in the designation of these parks as well and he was not a member of the financial elite.

If TR was running today he would be -- at best -- a center right Republican and probably not at all welcome in the party given its current state.

[oldandhappy]

11. changed your life because of what you have now -- social security for one.

[Arugula Latte]

15. Ever been to a National Park?

[AZ Progressive]

23. They literally defined the progressive movement

And the progressive movement built the middle class in this country and through their economic progressivism, made possible to many the fulfillment of the declaration of independence's promise of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." You've likely had a good life, enjoying in the prosperity of America, because of them, otherwise America would've been a third world country where the rich prosper while everyone else suffered (and unfortunately, America's going back in that direction due to 30 years of Reaganomics.)

[jwirr]

5. It was very worth watching last night.

[Le Taz Hot]

9. For those who didn't see it,

PBS has it up now:

http://video.pbs.org/video/2365313112/

[justiceischeap]

10. And it's also on the Roku PBS channel if you have that. nt

[tammywammy]

20. Oh good!

I watched last night, but I'm going to miss tonight. Glad to know it'll be up on the Roku channel.

[progressoid]

17. Thanks, I was only able to catch a few minutes of it on the tube.

[SoCalDem]

42. Each episode repeats many times during the week

One of our PBS channels is running the series at 1:30 AM & 3:30 AM..fantastic for my DVR

[oldandhappy]

12. I agree -- worth watching.

I learned things! That is always good.

[pleinair]

19. highly recommended

Eagerly awaiting the next episode tonight

[Cyrano]

21. You bet. Maybe, just maybe, some Republicans will

watch and "get it." Perhaps some who have been brainwashed, or haven't been exposed to recent history, will start to understand who tried to help them to a better life. -- And who is trying to screw them out of a better life.

[pleinair]

32. That's a hopeful thought

Reel 'm in with Teddy R the warmonger & let them be mesmerized by FDR's & Eleanor's humanitarianism

[mountain grammy]

24. will set my DVR. thanks for the reminder.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

25. Learned Teddy is the true leader of Imperialists in America

His "Blood Lust" was in him since childhood along side asthma and physical weakness. His will to overcome admirable and inspiring, but singular.

[LordGlenconner]

50. He would be far too liberal for today's GOP

Wouldn't last through one news cycle.

That's how nuts they have become. TR is too "progressive" for their party. And I've had more than one Repug tell me in recent years they grew up admiring him but now think he was too much of a "leftist".

[merrily]

26. Thanks for the reminder.

[AZ Progressive]

27. The Roosevelts saved America, twice

Theodore ushered in the progressive movement that in 20 years, undid the control that Corporate America had on the Government and the people. Franklin D. Roosevelt rescued America from the destruction that the resurgence of Right Wing Economics did, and implemented a progressive tax system that prevented people from getting too rich and allowed the middle class to control America for decades (until Reagan dropped the tax rate on the rich, allowing the rich to grow obscenely wealthy again.)

We need another Roosevelt in office. Having an aggressive economic progressive in office in the mold of the historical progressive presidents is much more important than having someone in office that makes a landmark as being the "first woman president" or "first openly gay president", etc...

[Cyrano]

29. Perhaps, just perhaps, "President" Bernie Sanders

or "President" Elizabeth Warren. But he/she would need a Democratic House and Senate behind them to turn concepts and values into law. Not to mention replacing at least one knuckle dragger on the Supreme Court.

[AZ Progressive]

30. Theodore had a reputation of being a corruption buster before he became president

This is what we need in a president, but we need someone that can match and beat Republicans in levels of aggressiveness, being able to rally and unite the people in "beating down the doors" of congress and bullying congressional representatives and senators into doing the will of the people and to reinstate the progressive tax system (including the top tax rate of 77 to 91 percent) that FDR used to maintain economic equality in America.

[B Calm]

33. Î learned Teddy was a whacked out war monger!

[Cyrano]

34. Yes. However, don't miss the rest of it.

These are three people who changed this country for the better. If Teddy were around today, he'd come down on the Koch Bros. with all the power of the federal govt.

No one is all good or all bad. Teddy, and especially Franklin and Eleanor, did everything they could to make this a better world in the way few people have an opportunity to do.

[pansypoo53219]

35. after loosing his son in WW1, teddy grew up a bit on war, but he certainly was an adrenalin junkie.

he was high octane period. probably a effect of growing up the sick kid.

[skippy66]

36. Quote of the night

From Teddy's father
"Not all democrats are horse thieves. But all horse thieves are democrats"

[Phentex]

38. kick

[LiberalAndProud]

39. See?

All is well in the world.

But don't self-delete that other thread. It's goin' places.

[Cyrano]

45. It got locked. But, I still

can't see this thread unless I go to "My Posts."

The DU Gods are displeased with me. I'll never see Ithica again.

[LiberalAndProud]

47. Check your trash can.

Go to My Account - Trash Can. Your OP is probably there. You likely hit the little grey x when you were trying to open your OP and sent it to the backwaters of your DU.

No worries. It was fun.

[pinboy3niner]

51. You mean I searched all over the backwaters of DU for nothing?

Say it isn't so!

No, it's no big deal. Whether a Trash Thread mistake or a DU glitch, Cyrano got in another fun thread and he's a good sport about it.

[LiberalAndProud]

52. I was looking and looking and could not find the Backwater Forum.

Maybe it's a group.

I adored that OP. Cyrano is a good sport, and my hero for today.

[Cyrano]

53. Yaaa. It was in my trash can

Thank you, thank you, thank you LiberalAndProud.

The bad news is that I restored it and it's still not showing up. Nonetheless, Malaise put up a post about the show ("The Roosevelts&quot and hopefully, many people will be aware of it and watch it.

I don't need "credit" for posting about it. I just want as many people as possible to watch it. Tell everyone you know about it. That's what I'm doing.

And thanks again for telling me I trashed my own post.

[TDale313]

40. k&r

[LiberalAndProud]

41. ...

damn thing keeps sinking.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025539953
locked.

[sabrina 1]

43. Found it. Watched Part 1 which was very interesting. Teddy appears to have been a bit complex and

contradictory. Have to wait and see if he evolved from the war mongering phase, wonder if he thought about the effects of war on the Environment eg.

[cbayer]

46. What the hell is this thread doing in this backwater forum!?!?!?!?!

Call Congress right fucking now!

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

48. It was very good

I'm not going to watch every night, but I will record the block at the end of the week and watch it then.

[FSogol]

54. K & R. n/t

[LiberalAndProud]

55. Can you see me now?

I got here from the Greatest page so, the word's getting out even if you can't see your thread is invisible to you.



Also, thanks for the OP.

[Cyrano]

56. You bet. And you're beautiful.

[Dawson Leery]

57. k/r

[Cyrano]

58. And be sure to tell all to

watch all the episodes. It's on every night this week from 8 to 10 on PBS. It's more than just a TV show. It's important. It matters.

[Stellar]

59. I enjoyed 'The Roosevelts'...

I too recommend it.

[Cyrano]

60. Rec it to everyone you know

This is the best publicity for the Democratic view of the world that I've seen on TV for a long time.

The Republicans might not mention it at all for fear that people will watch it.

On the other hand, they might have a screaming shit fit about how it's all "propaganda to advance the socialist, liberal commie agenda."

[Liberal_in_LA]

66. saw part of it