James Roosevelt

For other people named James Roosevelt, see James Roosevelt (disambiguation).
James Roosevelt

James Roosevelt in 1937
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 26th district
In office
January 3, 1955 – September 30, 1965
Preceded by Sam Yorty
Succeeded by Thomas M. Rees
Chairman of the California Democratic Party
In office
July 21, 1946 – August 8, 1948
Secretary to the President
In office
July 1937 – November 1938
President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Preceded by Louis McHenry Howe
Succeeded by Marvin H. McIntyre
Personal details
Born James Roosevelt II
(1907-12-23)December 23, 1907
New York City, U.S.
Died August 13, 1991(1991-08-13) (aged 83)
Newport Beach, California, U.S.
Political party Democratic
Relations
Children
Parents Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Anna Eleanor Roosevelt
Awards Navy Cross
Silver Star Medal
Military service
Allegiance United States United States of America
Service/branch United States Marine Corps Reserve
Years of service 1936–1959
Rank Brigadier General
Unit 2nd Raider Battalion
Commands 4th Raider Battalion
Battles/wars

World War II

James "Jimmy" Roosevelt II[1] (December 23, 1907 – August 13, 1991) was an American businessman, activist and Democratic Party politician. The oldest son of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Eleanor Roosevelt, he received the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism while serving as a Marine Corps officer during World War II. He served as an official Secretary to the President and in the United States House of Representatives.

Early life

Roosevelt was born in New York City at 125 East 36th Street. He attended the Potomac School and the National Cathedral School in Washington, D.C., and the Groton School in Massachusetts. At Groton, he rowed and played football, as well as serving as a prefect in his senior year. After graduation in 1926, he attended Harvard College, where he rowed with the freshman and junior varsity crews. At Harvard he followed some family traditions, joining the Signet Society and Hasty Pudding Club, of which both his father and his maternal granduncle and paternal fifth cousin once removed, President Theodore Roosevelt, had been members, as well as the Fly Club, which his father had joined, and Institute of the 1770. He graduated from Harvard in 1930 and was elected permanent treasurer of his class.[2]

After graduation, Roosevelt enrolled in the Boston University School of Law. He also took a sales job with Boston insurance agent Victor De Gerard. Roosevelt was so successful that within a year, he abandoned his law studies. In 1932 he started his own insurance agency, Roosevelt and Sargent, in partnership with John A. Sargent. As president of Roosevelt & Sargent, he made a substantial fortune (about $500,000). He resigned from the firm in 1937, when he officially went to work in the White House, but retained his half ownership.[3]

Politics and the White House

Roosevelt attended the 1924 Democratic National Convention where he served, in his words, as his father's "page and prop". In 1928, he and some Harvard classmates campaigned for Democratic Presidential nominee Al Smith. In 1932, he headed FDR's Massachusetts campaign; he made about two hundred campaign speeches that year. Though FDR lost the Massachusetts Democratic primary (to Smith), he easily carried Massachusetts in the November election. James Roosevelt was viewed as his father's political deputy in Massachusetts, allocating patronage in alliance with Boston mayor James Michael Curley. He was also a delegate from Massachusetts to the Constitutional Convention for the repeal of Prohibition in 1933.

Roosevelt was a close protege of Joseph P. Kennedy Sr.. In 1934, the two journeyed to England to obtain the market in post-prohibition liquor imports.[1] Many of Roosevelt's controversial business ventures were aided by Kennedy, including his maritime insurance interests, and the National Grain Yeast Corp. affair (1933-5). Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau, Jr. threatened to resign unless FDR forced James to leave the latter company, suspected of being a front for bootlegging.[4] James Roosevelt was instrumental in securing Kennedy's appointment as ambassador to the United Kingdom.[5]

In April 1936, Presidential Secretary Louis Howe died. James Roosevelt unofficially assumed Howe's duties.[3] Soon after the 1936 re-election of FDR, James Roosevelt was given a direct commission as a lieutenant colonel in the Marine Corps, which caused public controversy for its obvious political implications. He accompanied his father to the Inter-American Conference at Buenos Aires in December as a military aide. On January 6, 1937, he was officially appointed "administrative assistant to the President"; on July 1, 1937, he was appointed Secretary to the President.[2] He became White House coordinator for eighteen federal agencies in October 1937.

James Roosevelt was considered among his father's most important counselors. Time magazine suggested he might be considered "Assistant President of the United States".[3]

In July 1938, there were allegations that James Roosevelt had used his political position to steer lucrative business to his insurance firm. He had to publish his income tax returns and denied these allegations in an NBC broadcast and an interview in Collier's magazine. This became known as the Jimmy's Got It affair after Alva Johnston's reportage in the Saturday Evening Post. Roosevelt resigned from his White House position in November 1938.[2][6]

Hollywood

After leaving the White House, Roosevelt moved to Hollywood, California, where he first accepted a job as a $750/week administrative assistant for motion picture producer Samuel Goldwyn. He was on Goldwyn's payroll until November 1940. In 1939 he set up "Globe Productions", a company to produce short films for penny arcades, but the company was liquidated in 1944 while James was on active duty with the Marine Corps.[2] Roosevelt also produced the film Pot o' Gold and distributed the British film Pastor Hall.

During his Hollywood period, Roosevelt became involved with Joseph Schenck, the movie mogul who funnelled mob money to the Democratic Party. Schenck also lent money for Roosevelt's movie. When Schenck was jailed for income tax evasion, Roosevelt interceded with his father to pardon him, but again Henry Morgenthau, Jr. vetoed the plan. Roosevelt later wrote that "Stories appeared that I was mixed up with Mafia mobsters."[7]

Military career

Chest high portrait wearing a helmet
Roosevelt as a Marine Corps lieutenant colonel in World War II

World War II broke out in Europe in September 1939; the following month Roosevelt resigned the lieutenant colonel's commission that he had been given in 1936, and was instead commissioned as a captain in the Marine Corps Reserve. He went on active duty in November 1940.

In April 1941, President Roosevelt sent James Roosevelt on a secret, world-circling diplomatic mission to assure numerous governments that the United States would soon be in the war. The leaders contacted included Chiang Kai-shek in China, King Farouk in Egypt, and King George of Greece. During this trip, Roosevelt came under German air attack in both Crete and Iraq. In the African/Middle Eastern portion of the mission, he traveled with Britain's Lord Mountbatten as far as Bathurst in the Gambia. They reported on trans-African air ferry conditions, an important concern of FDR and Winston Churchill at the time.[8][9] In August, Roosevelt joined the staff of William J. Donovan, Coordinator of Information, with the job of working out the exchange of information with other agencies.[2]

World War II

After Japan's Attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Roosevelt requested assignment to combat duty and was transferred to the Marine Raiders in January 1942, a new Marine Corps commando force, and became second-in-command of the 2nd Raider Battalion under Evans Carlson (Carlson's Raiders) whom Roosevelt knew when Carlson commanded the Marine Detachment at the Warm Springs, Georgia residence of Franklin Roosevelt. Roosevelt's influence helped win presidential backing for the Raiders, who were opposed by Marine Corps traditionalists.

Despite occasionally debilitating health problems, Roosevelt served with the 2nd Raiders at Midway as a major in early June 1942 and in the Makin Island raid on August 17–18, 1942, where he and several others were awarded the Navy Cross. In October, he was given command of the new 4th Raiders, but during training for an upcoming combat operation he became ill enough to be hospitalized in February 1943.[10] Beginning in August 1943, he served in various staff positions during the rest of the war. He was attached to and landed with the U.S. Army's 165th Regimental Combat Team, 27th infantry Division during the invasion of Makin on November 20–23, and was awarded the Silver Star by the Army.[11] He was promoted to colonel on April 13, 1944. He was released from active duty in August 1945 and was placed on the inactive list in October 1945.

He continued in the Marine Corps Reserve, and retired on October 1, 1959 with the advanced rank of brigadier general.[9] Roosevelt suffered from flat feet, and while other Marines were required to wear boots, he was allowed to wear sneakers.[12]

Military awards

Roosevelt's military decorations and awards include:

Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Navy Cross Silver Star Medal
American Defense Service Medal w/ service star American Campaign Medal Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ four service stars
World War II Victory Medal Marine Corps Reserve Ribbon w/ service star Philippine Liberation Medal w/ service star
"The Navy Cross is presented to James Roosevelt, Major, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service as second in command of the Second Marine Raider Battalion against enemy Japanese armed forces on Makin island. Risking his own life over and above the ordinary call of duty, Major Roosevelt continually exposed himself to intense machine-gun and sniper fire to ensure effective control of operations from the command post. As a result of his successful maintenance of communications with his supporting vessels, two enemy surface ships, whose presence was reported, were destroyed by gun fire. Later during evacuation, he displayed exemplary courage in personally rescuing three men from drowning in the heavy surf. His gallant conduct and his inspiring devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."[11]
For the President,
Chester W. Nimitz

Post-war career

After the war, Roosevelt returned to live in California. He rejoined Roosevelt and Sargent as an executive vice president, and established the company's office in Los Angeles. In 1946 he became chairman of the board of Roosevelt and Haines, successor to Roosevelt and Sargent. He later became president of Roosevelt and Company, Inc.

On July 21, 1946, Roosevelt became chairman of the California State Democratic Central Committee. He also began making daily radio broadcasts of political commentary. Like his brother Elliott, James Roosevelt was prominent in the movement to draft Dwight Eisenhower as the Democratic candidate for President in 1948. When President Truman was renominated instead, Roosevelt stepped down as state chairman on August 8. He remained a Democratic National Committeeman until 1952.[2]

In 1950, Roosevelt was the Democratic candidate for Governor of California, but lost to Republican incumbent Earl Warren by almost 30% of the votes.[13]

In 1954, Roosevelt was elected U.S. Representative from California's 26th congressional district, a "safe" Democratic district.[13] He won despite a concurrent scandal surrounding his divorce from his second wife, Romelle Schneider. He was forced to admit numerous extramarital affairs that his wife had used to blackmail him, dating back to his father's presidency.[14] He was re-elected to five additional terms and served from 1955 to 1965, resigning during his sixth term. Roosevelt was one of the first politicians to denounce the tactics of Senator Joseph McCarthy. He was also the only Representative to vote against appropriating funds for the House Un-American Activities Committee.

In April 1965, Roosevelt ran for Mayor of Los Angeles, challenging incumbent Sam Yorty, but lost in the primary.[13]

He resigned from Congress in October 1965, 10 months into his sixth term, when President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed him a delegate to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Roosevelt resigned from UNESCO in December 1966, and retired to become an executive of the Investors Overseas Service (IOS) in Geneva, Switzerland.[2]

Roosevelt joined IOS despite the overseas firm's concurrent investigation by the SEC for numerous irregularities. In Geneva in May 1969, during the unraveling of IOS, Roosevelt's third wife, Irene Owens, stabbed him "eight times" with his "own Marine combat knife"[15] while he was preparing divorce proceedings.[16] When fugitive financier Robert Vesco obtained control of IOS from Bernie Cornfeld and absconded with approximately $200 million, Roosevelt initially stayed on under Vesco. Roosevelt later wrote that "As soon as I saw the situation for what it was, in 1971, I resigned my position."[17] However, this episode resulted in federal charges being laid against Roosevelt and several others, and in a Swiss arrest warrant. Roosevelt returned to California, settling in Newport Beach, and charges were dropped. He became associated with the Nixon Administration in several capacities and remained friendly with Richard Nixon until his death.[18]

Despite having been a liberal Democrat all of his life, Roosevelt joined Democrats for Nixon and publicly supported President Nixon's 1972 re-election,[19] and also supported Ronald Reagan in 1980[20] and 1984.[21]

His writings include Affectionately, FDR (with Sidney Shalett, 1959) and My Parents, a Differing View (with Bill Libby, 1976). The latter was written in part as a response to his brother Elliott Roosevelt's book An Untold Story, which told of FDR's marital issues and was fiercely repudiated by the other siblings. He authored the novel A Family Matter (with Sam Toperoff, 1979), and edited The Liberal Papers, published in 1962.

Later Controversy

In the 1980s, a non-profit organization established by Roosevelt, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, and its associated political action committee, were investigated by the House Ways and Means Committee for questionable money raising practices, and by the Post Office for mail fraud. By direct mail, Roosevelt's group solicited contributions from elderly persons by claiming that Social Security and Medicare programs were in financial jeopardy. Roosevelt also urged contributors to order their Social Security statements of earnings from his group (these are free from the government.) [22][23]

Family and death

His first marriage was to philanthropist Betsey Maria Cushing (1908–1998), the middle daughter of surgeon Harvey Williams Cushing and Katharine Stone Crowell. Betsey's sisters were socialites Barbara "Babe" Cushing (1915–1978) and Mary Benedict "Minnie" Cushing (1906–1978). James and Betsey had two daughters, Sara (born 1932) and Kate (1936-2002), before divorcing in 1940.

James married his nurse Romelle Theresa Schneider (1915–2002) the next year. They had three children, James III (born 1945), Michael (born 1946), and Anna (born 1948).

In 1956, he married Gladys Irene Owens (c.1917–1987),[24] his receptionist, and they had a son together named Hall (called "Del") in 1959.

He married his fourth wife, Mary Winskill, teacher to his youngest son "Del," in 1969. They had one daughter, Rebecca, in 1971.[25]

Death

Roosevelt died in Newport Beach, California in 1991 of complications arising from a stroke and Parkinson's disease. He was 83 and was the last surviving child of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt.[26]

See also

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 Maier, Thomas (October 21, 2014) "The Secret Boozy Deals of a Kennedy, a Churchill, and a Roosevelt" Time
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "James Roosevelt Papers" (PDF). Franklin D. Roosevelt Library. Retrieved 2009-05-09.
  3. 1 2 3 "Modern Mercury". TIME. February 28, 1938. Retrieved August 10, 2009.
  4. ↑ Roosevelt, J. My Parents, p. 231
  5. ↑ Hansen, pp. 399-401
  6. ↑ Hansen, p. 90
  7. ↑ Roosevelt, J.: My Parents, p. 255
  8. ↑ Roosevelt, J., My Parents, pp. 258-265
  9. 1 2 "BRIGADIER GENERAL JAMES ROOSEVELT, USMCR (DECEASED)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. History Division, United States Marine Corps. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
  10. ↑ "BGen James Roosevelt".
  11. 1 2 "WW2 Gyrene Photo Album page 33".
  12. ↑ Altobello, Brian Into the Shadows Furious: The Brutal Battle for New Georgia. Novato, California: Presidio Press, 2000. ISBN 0-89141-717-6. p.76
  13. 1 2 3 Our Campaigns - Candidate - James Roosevelt Accessed June 13, 2013
  14. ↑ Hansen, pp. 611-3
  15. ↑ Roosevelt, J.: My Parents, pp. 319-320
  16. ↑ "House Fire Victim Found to Be Gladys Roosevelt, 70". Los Angeles Times. June 11, 1987.
  17. ↑ Roosevelt, J.: My Parents, p. 356
  18. ↑ Hansen, pp. 626-628
  19. ↑ "Reading Eagle - Google News Archive Search".
  20. ↑ "Lodi News-Sentinel - Google News Archive Search".
  21. ↑ "The Telegraph-Herald - Google News Archive Search".
  22. ↑ Hansen, pp. 661-662
  23. ↑ Rosenblatt, Robert A. "Committee Headed by James Roosevelt Under Investigation". Los Angeles Times (March 10, 1987)
  24. ↑ "House Fire Victim Found to Be Gladys Roosevelt, 70". Los Angeles Times. June 11, 1987.
  25. ↑ Roosevelt, J.: My Parents, passim.
  26. ↑ "BG James Roosevelt, II (1907 - 1991) - Find A Grave Memorial".

Bibliography

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Sam Yorty		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 26th congressional district
1955–1965 		Succeeded by
Thomas M. Rees
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