Edith Kermit Roosevelt: Portrait of a First Lady (Modern Library

by Sylvia Jukes Morris

Edith Kermit Carow grew up in New York City in the same circles as did Theodore Roosevelt. But only after TR's first wife died at age twenty-two did the childhood friends forge one of the most successful romantic and political partnerships in American history. Sylvia Jukes Morris's access to previously unpublished letters and diaries brings to full life her portrait of the Roosevelts and their times. During her years as First Lady (1901-09), Edith Kermit Roosevelt dazzled social and political Washington as hostess, confidante, and mother of six, leading her husband to remark, "Mrs. Roosevelt comes a good deal nearer my ideal than I do myself."

Genres: Biography, History, Nonfiction, American History, Politics, Presidents, Historical

608 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

Sylvia Jukes Morris was a British-born biographer, based in the United States. Her two volume biography on Clare Boothe Luce is considered to be an example of both excellent research and writing. She spent 33 years on the Luce biography, examining 460,000 items at the Library of Congress that stretched 319 linear feet. She was married to writer Edmund Morris ( The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt) from 1966 until his death in 2019. She passed away from cancer eight months after her husband's death. She was eighty-four years old at the time of her death.

Reviews

[Nathan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not so much a portrait of Edith Roosevelt as a new study of the Roosevelt presidency from Edith's perspective. This approach, while novel, lacks some depth, given her reticence and reserve.

Morris reveals little that isn't already known about TR's presidency, and even less about her intended subject. The bulk of this dense narrative is devoted to surface issues of policy and family life, both surveyed with disappointing broadness; no greater implications of either are given beyond merely relating a chronology. Had the historical context played a greater role in the narrative, this might have been a better book, indeed, might have broken new ground. Instead, it is merely a supplemental and optional book, made harder to recommend by it's stodgy and bloodless writing.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've recently read a ton about TR and have been intrigued about the woman who was his partner and sweetheart. I think I would have really liked Edith. She was both fearless and independent but also felt strongly about her role as a wife and mother. She was incredibly intelligent in her own right but was content to play backup to TR's lead role. She loved travel and the arts.

[Jim Swike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Returned by library. Could have been organized differently. Good book for research and / or term paper on the topic. Enjoy!

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Edith Kermit Roosevelt: Portrait of a First Lady” by Sylvia J. Morris has newly discovered information. Morris has done extensive research for this book. The book reveals information from newly discovered letters and documents as well as the 50 plus years of diaries that Edith kept. Morris paints an intimate picture of Edith K. Roosevelt and her lifelong relationship with Theodore Roosevelt. They had known each other from early childhood.

Morris weaves an interesting tale based on the new information about how two strong willed persons of opposing personalities thrived in a successful marriage. Edith was a private person and destroyed most of her letters and encouraged TR and other people she corresponded with to destroy her letters: lucky for us many did not destroy them.

Edith was often the mother and father to her large family of children and pets as TR often left for months at a time on hunting trips, safaris and political campaigns. EKR took over managing the family finances as she claimed TR was too impulsive with money. Apparently she was an excellent accountant and investor of their monies. The author paints EKR as an intelligent, well educated, skilled manager and highly organized. Her skills at organization were critical to managing a large family, constant guests and the White House. Morris states she acquired experience in balancing political and family obligation as First Lady of New York that she put to excellent use in the White House.

I have read many books about Theodore Roosevelt but this book looks at TR and family from a different viewpoint that of a lifelong friend and wife, Edith. Morris does not down play the jealousy Edith felt for Alice (the first wife). Edith had turned down a proposal of marriage from TR prior to his marriage to Alice.

The author reveals how much EKR enjoyed living in the Governor’s mansion when TR was governor of New York. She apparently enjoyed being the First Lady of New York. Morris shows how reading was so important to both the Roosevelt's and to their close friends. They had many long discussions about books. She helped TR proof the books he wrote as well as provide some input.
I had recently read “Nellie Taft” by Carl Sferrezza Anthony. Anthony had discussed throughout the book how Nellie hated and distrusted Edith K. Roosevelt thereby providing a different viewpoint of EDR albeit a distorted viewpoint. I did note while reading the book that EDR behaved in a gracious lady like manner at all times to Mrs. Taft.

I find it interesting to gradually discover a person in history by reading many books from a certain timeframe and piecing the picture together from the various viewpoints. If you are interested in the Roosevelt family and or TR you will find this book full of interesting information. The e-book was 608 pages with pictures. I read it on my Kindle app for my iPad.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being the wife of a great man is a job for a great woman. Edith Kermit Roosevelt first met Theodore when she was a toddler--their friendship and romantic relationship grew. Even though he married a different woman (for reasons we do not know), he married Edith when his first wife died.

Edith's life was not, of course, as exciting as her husband's. But seeing her on the side of history is quite an interesting experience. It gives the reader an idea of what it was like to be there, but not in the whirlwind. She was able to control Theodore (more or less) and they had a very happy marriage. Their five children (plus Alice) made for a lively household--Theodore encouraged their many activities.

She was intelligent, opinionated, and able to organize her husband as well as the White House.

I am somewhat obsessed with the Roosevelts so this was a fun book for me....but if you like history, you will like it too.

[Beth Cato · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read extensively about Theodore Roosevelt the past while as part of novel research. While this book on his wife, Edith, didn't add more to my notes, it was still a fascinating, well-done work. It was also incredibly long--just over 500-pages of fine print text, followed by almost 100 pages of footnotes and the like. Edith is certainly a complicated, private figure to analyze. On one hand, I respect that privacy, but as a historian, I'm horrified that she destroyed the bulk of her private papers and correspondence. Still, a lot of the Roosevelt's papers survived (in part because both Theodore and Edith were prolific writers) and Morris's work reflects intense research that brings Edith to life.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much, muuuuuuch longer than it ever needed to be, this book was heartfelt none the less. I learned a lot about this First Lady and her amazing family. I think she would have hated this, and the author knows that, but it was an informative and entertaining read.

[Toby Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

While Morris highlights interesting aspects of Roosevelt's life, the book as a whole was about 100 pages longer than it needed to be and focused on aspects of other people's lives that took away from getting to know this woman. I was definitely hoping for more and a bit disappointed in this.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, and got to know more about the Roosevelt family.

From page 382 (from Eleanor [daughter-in-law]):

Something was going on every minute of the day. The house was always full of people...At first I thought everyone would be tired when the day was over and would go to bed early, but I soon found out nothing of the kind could be expected. The Roosevelt family enjoyed life too much to waste time sleeping. Every night they stayed downstairs until nearly midnight; then, talking at the top of their voices, they trooped up the wide uncarpeted stairs and went to their rooms. For a brief moment all was still, but just as I was going off to sleep for the second time they remembered things they had forgotten to tell one another and ran shouting through the halls...By six the younger ones were up, and by seven I was the only one who was not joyously beginning the day.

And from page 383, "When Eleanor joined the family for a picnic, she anticipated dainty sandwiches...instead she was forced to trek through woods where mosquitoes seemed "as big as bats," then climb into a seatless boat and row for two hours in scorching sun before arriving at a beach "precisely like the one we had started from," except that it was ringed with poison ivy.

Here Theodore built a roaring fire to roast clams, and presented the first one to Eleanor. It was large and rubbery and "gritty with sand." After vainly chewing it for some minutes, she "slipped it under a log."..."As we packed up to go home a head wind started to blow. It had taken us two hours to get there; it took four to get back. Faces and necks were sunburned, hands were blistered. My father-in-law had a difficult time reaching shore, as the boat in which he was rowing Mrs. Roosevelt was leaking badly."

Everybody except Eleanor agreed afterward that it had been "one of the best picnics we ever had."

On page 455, a poem on Daniel Tyler II's tomb (Edith's great-great-grandfather):

Although a hundred years I've seen,
My life was short,
'Twas all a dream.

[Mark Kasten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though she is of course forever known first as the wife of Theodore Roosevelt, there was much to the one person the great President unarguably served. Their tales are one of a intertwined destiny; even when seemingly severed, their fates only temporarily apart. Making one of the most memorable of American families, Mrs. Roosevelt's story is most remarkable in it's ability to oversee such a brood, including especially her Presidential husband. The tragedy of the telling of her tale is that she destroyed almost all of her personal correspondence with her adored husband. Theirs was a true, never-ending adoration and partnership that especially shines through in the few remaining pieces of correspondence. Because of this it's much more a collection of facts rather than an inside look and complete sense of her whole character. Still, the book serves as a great companion piece to the the masterful three part biography of Theodore Roosevelt by this author's own husband.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best biographies I have read--Edith was a fascinating, capable, tenacious, likeable, independent woman/wife/First Lady who was married to a Type A politician, Teddy Roosevelt. It was amazing and comforting to know that throughout her lifetime she was able to main-tain her desire for 'personal time' and her dislike of being in the public eye, paticularly in an era where some wives were still considered chattels. Yet she supported her husband and children with unwavering loyalty--I greatly admire her energy and intuitiveness. I didn't want their story to end.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was in the process of reading Edmund Morris's trilogy of Theodore Roosevelt and decided to find a book about his wife Edith. Since he is gone for periods of time and she is at home with the children taking care of business I wanted to see if I could get her perspective. The author is the wife of Edmund Morris which I decided had to be good. This book was a much easier read and Edith seemed to be the only person who could kind of reign in Theodore. It was so good to see a loving relationship between the two. This book answered all of my questions.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

After touring Sagamore Hill in Oyster Bay, NY, I wanted to know more about TR's wife. He was so much larger than life, so what kind of woman won his heart? It turns out an incredible, fascinating, worthy-of-him woman did. One of her sons said, "Mother deserves a biography," and I concur 100%. Morris has done a beautiful job, bringing TR and Edith and their beautiful love story to life. I don't understand why this beloved and revered-at-the-time First Lady isn't better known today. TR adored her. I adore both of them!

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fascinating biography of a very interesting woman, and her long action-packed life. Edith Kermit Carow was a very close childhood friend of Theodore Roosevelt. However, after a failing-out in their young adult years, Teddy married another woman. After Alice Lee Roosevelt died suddenly a couple of days after giving birth to their daughter, Teddy was devastated. The story of his renewed romance with Edith and their subsequent amazing life together is griping and educational. I loved the book.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am glad I stuck this book out. it took a while due to some moments of their history being slower to read than others. This is truly a story of Mr. and Mrs. Roosevelt rather than just Edith.
I really felt I could relate to Edith in this book which pushed me to finish it. There's probably a finite group of people will enjoy this book but if you like U.S. history and first lady stories, this one was eye opening. She was definitely a woman who deserved more credit than history has given her.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some heavy research went into this interesting volume. Her life so paralleled Teddy's that you get two for one. Much of the book, of course, follows the events of her president husband. A good read for those who like history. Since Edith destroyed much of her own writing, the research involved looking at the lives of those around her for clues about this powerful First Lady.

[Ms M · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Life

Well known history but from the perspective of a wife and mother. We read so much of the stoicism of the Victorian age, but hers is a love story--love for strong, ambitious, extremely active and in many ways eccentric husband, six willful children, and huge houses to be made into homes, including the White House.

I enjoyed getting to know Edith Roosevelt.

[Mary Ronan Drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I read the Edmund Morris three-volume biography of Theodore Roosevelt I plan to read the parts of this book that correspond. I've caught up to the end of Volume I of Edmund Morris' trilogy and will come back to this book when I finish Volume II.

[Barbara]

A well done introduction to a woman who was quite private and therefore little known, but who was a real force in the life of Theodore Roosevelt and her children. Well read, articulate yet known to few.

[Jennifer Klempner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great little book about an amazing woman! I want to read more about Edith and her times. Not only was she Teddy's wife but she was also mother to a group of amazing children. I found her courage remarkable in the face of so many personal tragedies and her zest for travel and adventure inspiring.

[Tom Rowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very interesting family. Sylvia Jukes Morris does a great job trying to discover a woman who tried very hard to hide herself from history. However, the Kindle version is full of errors from the OCR scan. A once through with an editor would have been nice.

[amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A straighforward biography.

[Rocky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely wonderful book. I love to study the first ladies, and this book is the best I have thus far encountered on the subject.

[Susan Burger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the book. It has inspired me to read other biographies of First Ladies.

[Joan]

I have just started the biography. At the present time the author does an excellent job of describing Edith, Theodore Roosevelt's second wife.

[Rhode PVD · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such an interesting woman

[Alicia Terrill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, it was a pretty interesting biography. I didn't know anything about Edith Roosevelt before, and I learned a lot about her life! She was an impressive woman.

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Presidents wives are an interest of mine. And Edith Kermit Carow we a very good read. Knowing TR from childhood brings extra interest to the relationship.

[Shelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating!

Seriously one of the best books I have read this year. Meticulously researched, brilliantly told, and refreshingly honest. This is a great read!

[Nina Braden · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dull.