Department of History

EPISODE 1 Get Action (1858-1901) A frail, asthmatic young Theodore Roosevelt transforms himself into a vigorous champion of the strenuous life, survives the loss of one great love and finds another, leads men into battle and the rises like a rocket to become the youngest president in American history at 42. Meanwhile, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, brought up as the pampered only child of adoring parents, follows his older cousin's career with worshipful fascination and begins to think he might one day follow in his footsteps. EPISODE 2 In the Arena (1901-1910) Murder brings Theodore Roosevelt to the presidency but in the seven years that follow he transofrms the office and makes himself perhaps the best-loved of all the men who ever lived in the White House - battling corporate greed and building the Panama Canal, preserving American wilderness, carying the message of American might around the world. FDR courts and wins Eleanor Roosevelt, the shy orphaned daughter of Theodore Roosevelt's alcoholic brother, Elliott. Together, they begin a family and Franklin enters a law firm, but when he is offered a chance to run for the New York state senate he jumps at the chance - after making sure his Republican cousin has no objection to his running as a Democrat. EPISODE 3 The Fire of Life (1910-1919) Theodore Roosevelt leads a Progressive crusade that aplits his own party, undertakes a deadly expedition into the South american jungle, campaigns for American entry into World War One - and is made to pay a terrible personal price. Franklin masters war time.