THE ROOSEVELTS American Leaders

by Ray Cotton

The Three Roosevelts: Patrician Leaders who Transformed America analyzes how political leaders

can inspire change in domestic and international policy.

The book is co-authored by Susan Dunn and James MacGregor Burns. Burns was an eminent historian in the field of

leadership theory and was a Pulitzer-prize winning writer known for his presidential biographies. John Kennedy: A

Political Profile (1960) and Roosevelt: The Soldier of Freedom (1970) are two examples of his work.

Burns determined two types of leaders.

• Transactional leadership: When leaders focus on the relationship with their followers

• Transformational leadership: When leaders focus on their followers’ values, needs, and beliefs

The Roosevelts

The Three Roosevelts analyzes the lives of Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Delano

Roosevelt, and Eleanor Roosevelt as both a biography and political history. From

Burns’ perspective, the story of the Roosevelts is a chance to discover what

makes someone a great leader.

“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” –Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt’s father was inspired by the legacy of Abraham Lincoln. Theodore

Roosevelt, in turn, looked up to his father as a role model.

Teddy paved a path of success in U.S.

politics and international diplomacy.

He emphasized the importance of

moral character while fighting for

public health and worker’s rights.

“It  is  common  sense  to  take  a  method  and  t01  it.  If  it  fails,  admit  it  6ankly  and  t01  another.  

But  above  all,  t01  something.”  -Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Franklin admired his cousin Teddy. He mirrored his career path by advancing from an assistant secretary position at the Navy, to New York governor, to the presidency.

Today, the United States still benefits from public programs like conservation groups. The organizations we have today are descendants of FDR’s New Deal programs, such as the Conservation Corps.

“In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we

make are ultimately our own

responsibility.” -Eleanor Roosevelt

The Roosevelts are great American leaders because they combined moral idealism with

real social change.

The book is 668 eloquent pages of analysis of the

Roosevelt’s legacy. Burns uses vivid details, and failures, that the Roosevelts experienced to complement

their stories of political success.

For further reading, please consider:

• Ray Cotton’s Book Blog

• Wikipedia

• The Roosevelt Family