binge-watched the entire PBS series "The Roosevelts"...

[steve2470]

1- I learned a great deal, of course.
2- I loved the stills and movies from back then.
3- I ended up liking TR less (not going into details here since this is the lounge).
4- FDR was a great leader, home life not so much.
5- Eleanor Roosevelt was an extraordinary person with an extraordinary heart. I'm glad the end of her life (1945-1962) was generally happy.

Anyone else binge watch it on the PBS website ?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Wow, good for you, Steve!

We're doing just the opposite...we're watching one hour per night!

We have found that two hours (even good hours!) is just too much. So we're dividing it up and find it much easier to watch.

Thank goodness for our DVR!

[steve2470]

2. I was concerned the videos would be taken off the website...

due to my forgetting to watch them all, hence the binge viewing. It's an excellent series, enjoy !

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. Oh, we are, believe me!

[Nevada Blue]

4. we're halfway done (using the PBS link on our Roku Streamer)

Learning lots, but also surprised at what I did know.

Eleanor impresses me the most.

But I would vote for any of the three of them today if they were around.

[NightWatcher]

5. I had no idea that Teddy started the first fight club in the White House basement

Then that candy ass, Nixon went and turned it into a bowling alley



All seriousness aside, I think I could get behind the Bull Moose Party

[eShirl]

14. dear gods, that wallpaper

I suppose a color photo might induce seizures

[3catwoman3]

16. The black and white comes...

...close enough. Gads!

And the high waist pants are noteworthy, too.

[femmocrat]

6. I have been watching it every night.

The photos and old films are amazing. Who knew they were as compulsive about recording everything as the current generation! LOL

It is a wonderful series. Not a dull moment in the past four nights.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. I'll probably binge-watch most of it because I had to miss it on TV.

The bits that I've seen were very good. I didn't realize TR was so bellicose - he sounded like John McCain, wanting to fight everybody.

[sarge43]

11. Well, reality took its time, but finally crashed thru the door.

His son, Quintin, was killed during WWI. Most biographers say that broke TR's heart; he had encouraged him to sign up. Roosevelt died six months later.

[sadoldgirl]

8. Still watching it

What surprised me the most that in later years Teddy proposed much of what Franklin did accomplish ---except for
SINGLE PAYER HEALTHCARE!

And we still don't have it.

Are there more young Roosevelts alive with political ambitions???

[Sherman A1]

9. #3

I actually liked TR a bit more and always enjoy Clay Jenkinson, one of the historians on discussing him. I enjoy his Thomas Jefferson Hour podcasts and his work on Lewis & Clark and the Virtual TR Presidential Library.

[steve2470]

20. may I asked what made you like TR more ?

I admit, I liked everything about TR except for his war-loving/imperialistic side. Perhaps war-loving is putting it a bit too strongly, but he certainly was no pacifist, by a long shot. Not trying to start an argument in the lounge, just seeking understanding, thanks.

[Sherman A1]

22. I like TR simply because

there was no doubt about where is was on an issue (or at least it comes across that way). I to am no great fan of his viewpoint on war, but he also won a Nobel Prize for helping to end one. He was far, far from perfect, as the series describes he was trying to outrun his demons, but he seems to be to be pretty clear on his points of view and like them or not, you knew what they were.

So no Lounge argument from me here, just how I view TR.

[steve2470]

23. he was admirably clear, yes :) nt

[DamnYankeeInHouston]

10. I've just started.

I wonder if FDR would have been as good to poor people if the rich Groton assholes had been nicer to him and more inclusive.

[Le Taz Hot]

12. Me too.

Loved most of it but I don't think they gave Eleonor Roosevelt enough coverage, particularly her time at the U.N. It was amazing how many time she pulled FDR's ass out of the political fire.

[nirvana555]

13. I'm loving this series! Ken Burns is amazing :-)

I'm watching it in real time, 2 hours a night every night so far.I can't wait for tonight to start

[rurallib]

15. taping and watching as I can - my surprise

is that Teddy was even crazier than I thought he was. Well - not crazy exactly - driven maybe? Mostly for the good. I'd hate to think how much damage he could have done if he was bent that way.

[irisblue]

17. my only complaint

WTF w/ Geo. Will as Roosevelt expert?

[Arugula Latte]

19. I want to reach through my screen and throttle that smug little prick.

John Carle: "I would enjoy the Roosevelts thing a lot more if the television had a mechanism by which one could throw a cow pie at George Will."

[steve2470]

21. I think they had him for "balance", only

You know PBS would be deluged with complaints that only socialists had been allowed to comment on FDR.

He barely concealed his disdain for FDR. He was probably as good as it gets for a conservative commentator on FDR. The others would be raving about socialism, communism, etc etc.

[shenmue]

18. Watched some of it with Mom

Show was very good.