Watch The Roosevelts: An Intimate History

The Roosevelts: An Intimate History is a remarkable documentary series that aired on PBS in 2014. The series is executive produced by Ken Burns and directed by Burns, Paul Barnes, and Pam Tubridy Baucom. The show aims to chronicle the lives of three members of the Roosevelt family: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Theodore Roosevelt.

Narrated by Emmy-winning actor Peter Coyote, the series comprises seven episodes that explore the lives of the Roosevelts from their early years to their deaths. The show features interviews with renowned historians, authors, and family members, who provide insightful commentary on the Roosevelt legacy.

The first episode of the series delves into the early years of Theodore Roosevelt, who was born into a wealthy family in New York City in 1858. The episode explores his childhood, his love of nature, and his military career before he became governor of New York and eventually President of the United States.

Theodore's cousin, Franklin D. Roosevelt, is the subject of the second episode of the series. The episode examines his privileged upbringing, his marriage to Eleanor Roosevelt, and his political rise through the ranks of the Democratic Party. It also delves into the impact of his polio diagnosis and how it shaped his presidency.

The third episode focuses on Eleanor Roosevelt, who was perhaps the most influential member of the Roosevelt family. The episode presents her unconventional upbringing, her activist work as First Lady, and her role as a leader in the civil rights movement. It also covers her troubled marriage to Franklin and her lifelong commitment to public service.

The fourth and fifth episodes explore Franklin Roosevelt's presidency, one of the most transformative in American history. The episodes delve into his New Deal policies that aimed to alleviate the effects of the Great Depression, his leadership during World War II, and his efforts to shape the post-war world.

The sixth episode of the series examines the post-World War II years and the impact that the Roosevelt legacy had on American politics and society in the decades that followed. The episode explores the emergence of the Cold War, the civil rights movement, and the changing role of women in American society.

The final episode of the series offers a poignant coda to the lives of the three Roosevelts. The episode covers their deaths and reflects on the legacies that they left behind.

Throughout the series, the show uses a combination of archival footage, photographs, and letters to bring the Roosevelts to life. The show's use of primary sources is particularly effective, as it enables the audience to hear the voices of the Roosevelts themselves as well as those who knew them.

In addition to Peter Coyote's narration, the series features prominent guest speakers such as Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin and political commentator George F. Will. The show also includes interviews with members of the Roosevelt family, including Franklin's granddaughter, Anna Roosevelt, and Eleanor's grandson, David Roosevelt.

The Roosevelts: An Intimate History is a fascinating and insightful look at one of America's most remarkable families. The show offers a nuanced and in-depth portrait of the personal and political lives of the Roosevelts and their impact on American history.

The Roosevelts: An Intimate History is a series that ran for 1 seasons (7 episodes) between September 14, 2014 and on PBS