Family focus of PBS series

Tonight, PBS begins the latest Ken Burns series, The Roosevelts: An Intimate History. The show, which focuses on the lives of Teddy, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, will air 7-9 p.m. through Saturday.

Burns says, " ... Beyond simply sharing a bloodline or political success, [Theodore, Franklin and Eleanor] each shared a passionate belief that America is at its strongest when everyone has an equal chance. And on a personal level, they each struggled to overcome their own fears while maintaining a public face of courage."

Theodore Roosevelt was born in 1858, and Eleanor, a Roosevelt cousin, died in 1962, nearly 20 years after her husband Franklin. Each of them had a long-lasting impact on our country.

In the seven-part, 14-hour series, Meryl Streep portrays the voice of Eleanor Roosevelt. Edward Herrmann, who has portrayed FDR in two television presentations, again voices Franklin Roosevelt. Teddy Roosevelt's voice is provided by Paul Giamatti.

In a statement on pbs.org, Paula Kerger, president and chief executive officer of PBS says, "In The Roosevelts, Ken delves into these three larger-than-life figures in a way that's never been done before, exploring not only the characteristics that made them such tremendously influential and strong leaders, but also their interpersonal relationships and human, vulnerable qualities. It's a wonderful story and we're very excited to present it to our viewers."

For more information, visit pbs.org/kenburns/the-roosevelts

Travel on 09/14/2014

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