Cordery, Stacy A.

Stacey A. Cordery reviews the final volume of Edmund Morris’s trilogy of the life of Theodore Roosevelt, Colonel Roosevelt. Cordery contends that with his final volumes on Roosevelt, Morris has restored his reputation as a biographer which had been damaged by his inventive biography of Ronald Reagan, Dutch. Cordery praises Morris for his “marvelous prose” and his ability to set a scene, but she balks at some of the language he employs, especially references to sexuality and race. Cordery asserts that Morris handles politics poorly, and that he pays insufficient attention to the women in Roosevelt’s life, especially his wife Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt. Cordery believes that Morris has not adequately incorporated the latest in Roosevelt scholarship, but she recognizes that his work has made Roosevelt known to legions of readers and elevated his place in American culture. 

The front cover illustrations for all three volumes of Morris’s trilogy appear in the review.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Stacy A. Cordery explores the visit of Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt to Tampa, Florida, in June 1898 to spend time with her husband, Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, before his regiment departed for battle in Cuba. Cordery provides background for the visit, including the poor health of Edith and her son Theodore Roosevelt in the months leading up to the Spanish-American War. Cordery describes the Tampa Bay Hotel where the Roosevelts stayed, and she notes Edith’s interactions with members of the Rough Riders and the press, in particular, reporter Richard Harding Davis. Cordery asserts that the visit was important to the Roosevelts, assuring Roosevelt that his wife was well enough to care for their family in his absence.  

Six photographs accompany the text, including a portrait of the Roosevelt family, Roosevelt’s favorite picture of Edith, three scenes from Tampa, Florida, and a photograph of Cordery.

Stacy A. Cordery, a biographer of Alice Roosevelt Longworth, reacts to David H. Burton’s recollection of his February 1970 visit with Longworth. Cordery notes that Burton’s story confirms some of her impressions of Longworth: that she tried to steer interviews to topics she favored, and that she despised Warren G. Harding. Cordery also asserts that Burton’s piece rightly points out Longworth’s kindness and generosity which are often ignored in favor of emphasizing her biting wit and disdain for those she did not like or respect. A photograph of Cordery appears at the center of her essay.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

2010

Creator(s)

Cordery, Stacy A.

Stacy A. Cordery examines the “shadows and sunshine” of Theodore Roosevelt’s time in Boston while an undergraduate student at Harvard College. Cordery identifies the shadows as the death of Roosevelt’s father, his disenchantment with his natural science major, and his failed courtship of Edith Kermit Carow. The countering sunshine was provided by Roosevelt’s successful pursuit of Alice Hathaway Lee. Cordery looks at each of these episodes, especially the courtship of Carow and Lee, and she argues that these episodes were pivotal to Roosevelt’s life and career.

Four photographs appear in the text, including two of Roosevelt with Lee.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

2007-10-27