Using contemporary photos and film footage combined with reenactments and commentary from noted historians, this program explores Roosevelt's life in depth with an emphasis on the factors that led to his attitudes and decisions.
The first episode starts with his sickly childhood and his father's conviction that Teddy could triumph over any affliction or impediment through zealous effort (a lesson that resonated with Teddy his entire life). It then explores his pampered formative years and Teddy's life changing nighttime visit to the slums that changed his perspective on the unfairness and lack of equity between the rich and poor in America. The episode follows his rise in Republican politics and his battles to change the party from a tool of the wealthy into a force for reform. The first episode ends with the Republican elitists seeking to sideline him by making him Vice-president, a job with no power and little influence. That move majorly backfires when President McKinley is assassinated in 1901 catapulting Roosevelt to the American Presidency.
The second episode follows T. R. through his "Trust Busting" square deal Presidency, the details of the start of the U. S. construction of the Panama canal, Teddy's long regretted decision not to run for a third term, his influence through The World War, and his death at the age of 60.
This was a well rounded, thoughtful and even handed look at a man who swam against the political currents and won the love and respect of the American public. The production doesn't shy away from presenting him as a bit of a nut and an egomaniac, but it also portrays him as a man who got things done through sheer force of will.
My only quibble with the series is that the producers chose to divide it into only two episodes instead of 5 one hour shows. I'm not sure the average viewer wants to invest two an a half hours per episode.
