The Roosevelts (miniseries)


The Roosevelts: An Intimate History is a 2014 American documentary television miniseries directed and produced by Ken Burns. It covers the lives of the three most prominent members of the Roosevelt family – Theodore Roosevelt, a Republican and the 26th President of the United States; Franklin D. Roosevelt, a Democrat, the 32nd President of the United States, and fifth cousin of Theodore; and Eleanor Roosevelt, the longest-serving First Lady of the United States, a niece of Theodore, and wife of Franklin.

Overview

As a result of the influence of Theodore and Franklin Roosevelts as Presidents, as well as Eleanor as First Lady, a modern democratic state of equal opportunity was begun in the United States. The series begins with the birth of Theodore in 1858 and ends with the death of Eleanor in 1962.

Cast

The series is narrated by Peter Coyote. Actors read lines of various historical figures and a series of noted commentators give background information. They include:
Other voices include: Adam Arkin, Keith Carradine, Kevin Conway, Ed Harris, Josh Lucas, Carl Lumbly, Amy Madigan, Carolyn McCormick, Pamela Reed, Billy Bob Thornton, and Eli Wallach.
As themselves:

Reception

Critical response

The series premiered to positive reviews. According to critic James Poniewozik of Time magazine, "The Roosevelts tells the story of the American 20th century in triptych. Teddy is progressivism, expansionism and reform. FDR is the rise of American power and the rewriting of the social contract. Eleanor looks ahead to postwar globalism and the move of women and minorities in from the margins." Further, Poniewozik states, "The Roosevelts brings up a kind of nature-nurture question: did these leaders make the times, or did the times make these leaders? It can't answer this question. But it does manage to tell an educational, emotional story of how these leaders and their times made us." Hank Stuever, critic at The Washington Post, writes, "Let's start with the end. When it's over — when you make it through the marathon that is Ken Burns's beautiful, seven-part documentary The Roosevelts: An Intimate History,... you may find yourself with a lingering, nebulous grief. You're sorry it's over. You're sorry they're over. You're sorry a certain expression of American ideals is, or often appears to be, completely over." Timothy Egan of The New York Times wrote, "Ambitious and deeply moving."

Viewership

In September 2014, The Roosevelts became the most streamed documentary on the PBS website to date.

Accolades

The show was nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards, winning one for Peter Coyote for Outstanding Narrator in the first episode.