From his World War II hero son to his presidential cousin Franklin D. Roosevelt, President Theodore Roosevelt’s family is full of America’s legendary personalities.
Born into a wealthy New York City family in 1958, Theodore Roosevelt had a close relationship with his parents and three siblings. His father, Theodore Sr., was a businessman and philanthropist whom Roosevelt called the "greatest man he ever knew."
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The elder Roosevelt encouraged his son to take charge of his body, which was weakened by asthma, and supplied him with weights and a gymnasium, inspiring a lifelong dedication to rigorous exercise.
In a 2012 Washington Post article, presidential historian Douglas Brinkley listed Theodore Sr., as the best first father, noting that he took his son on trips to the Amazon and provided such things as private tutors in foreign language and taxidermy lessons.
Roosevelt, in turn, passed along his high standards to his six children. His four sons fought in World War I, with his youngest, Quentin, being shot down and killed at age 20. His sons also showed bravery during World War II, with his eldest, Theodore "Ted" Roosevelt Jr., earning a Medal of Honor for gallantry and intrepidity in leading the invasion of Utah Beach at age 57.
The family’s military bravery extended to future generations, with Roosevelt’s grandson Kermit Roosevelt Jr. leading a 1953 coup that overthrew the leader of Iran, Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh.
Among Roosevelt’s most famous relatives are the nation’s 32nd president, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt. Eleanor Roosevelt was his niece and FDR was his fifth cousin. Eleanor’s father died when she was 10, so Theodore Roosevelt gave his niece away when she wed FDR.
Other noteworthy relatives include Roosevelt’s son-in-law Nicholas Longworth, a U.S. Congressman, and great-granddaughter Susan Roosevelt Weld, a lawyer and former first lady of Massachusetts.
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