Meet the Roosevelts

Roosevelt, Curtis. Too Close to the Sun: Growing Up in the Shadow of My Grandparents, Franklin and Eleanor. New York: Public Affairs, 2008.

FDR's grandson Curtis Roosevelt wasn't merely a frequent visitor to the White House; he actually lived there for years. At the time, he and his sister were as famous as Shirley Temple. There were plenty of elephants in the rooms of the White House during FDR's 12 years in office. For instance, family members didn't talk about the president's physical disability, and the reason the grandchildren lived in the White House was because their mother was going through a divorce during the days when divorce was still considered a scandal. While Curtis Roosevelt reveals some family secrets, he does so while maintaining everyone's dignity. This is one of the most elegantly written and educational memoirs I have ever read. Highly recommended.