The title says it all. He was shaped by his famous father and his demanding expectations. Yet, Ted never questioned this, nor did he ever feel cheated. Yet, I get the sense that Ted never found his place in life. He was the son of a famous man and the Roosevelt name could be a blessing or a curse. Brother Kermit, for example, never figured it out. Ted, on the other hand, carried on the mantle as best he could. he was capable and talented soldier and officer in two world wars, an author, and publisher. He failed at making a political career. Like two other Roosevelts, he was appointed to the position of Assistant Secretary of the Navy. Unlike, his father and cousin, though, Ted's stint was not a launching pad to a higher office. If anything, it was an anchor to his career because he was implicated in the Teapot Dome scandal of the administration of President Warren Harding. When Ted ran unsuccessfully for governor of New York in 1924, his cousin Eleanor drove around a flatbed with a giant teapot on it to remind voters.

I think one does get to know Ted Roosevelt in this biography, but it has its limitations. For example, his wife and children are hardly mentioned at all. For a man who was famously a son, one wonders about his own relationship to his children and how he handled that responsibility. ( )

For most, the only familiarity with Ted comes from Henry Fonda’s portrayal of his actions on D-day in the movie, The Longest Day. Author Tim Brady did extensive research to document the failures and accomplishment of Ted Roosevelt Junior. For those who are unfamiliar with the family tree, his father was former Rough Rider and 26th Unites States President Theodore Roosevelt. Educated at Harvard, his first job was working in a carpet factory. He moved from carpeting in California to selling bonds in New York City. When the United States entered World War one, Ted entered the army reserves. Called to active duty, he was sent to France. Eventually his services in the trenches lead to a rank of lieutenant colonel and command of the 26th Regiment of the 1st Division. At the battle of Soissons in Northern France, he was both gassed and wounded.

After the war, he was instrumental in the forming of the American Legion. As he moves into politics, he served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Governor of Puerto Rico, and Governor-General of the Philippines. He also serves as Chairmen of the Board of American Express and Vice-President at Doubleday Books.

Despite being plagued by illnesses and lingering problems from combat injuries in the First war, Roosevelt returned to active duty as a Colonel and was once again given command of the 26th Army Infantry Regiment. Often found at the front lines, his men respected his quick decision-making and reassuring mannerisms.

Now 56 years old, Ted was the only general to land with the first wave of troops on D-Day. Under direct fire, the Brigadier General rallied the men establish the beachhead and rapidly move inland with minimum casualties. The rest of his military career ended abruptly when he died from a heart attack on July 12, 1944. Roosevelt was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously. ( )