Princess Alice: First Daughter, First Influencer | A Second Look Podcast

Alice Roosevelt Longworth: The Princess Alice

• At 85 years old, Alice Roosevelt Longworth retained the wit and high spirits that made her a popular figure during her father Theodore Roosevelt's presidency. She was known simply as Alice or Miss Alice, and even as Princess Alice, similar to how modern celebrities are recognized by a single name. (4s)
• Alice Roosevelt was one of the first First Daughters of the 20th century, and she became a personification of the Zeitgeist of the new century. Young Americans admired her, copied her style, and gathered in crowds to see her in public. (36s)
• Her life was heavily chronicled by the tabloids, and she was often compared to a member of the royal family, earning her the nickname Princess Alice. (1m21s)
• Alice was known for being both opinionated and private, and her 1969 interview on 60 Minutes was a significant event, as it was her first television appearance in the US. (1m9s)
• She was famous for her candid remarks about major politicians of the 20th century and had a playful side, carrying a green garter snake named Emily Spinach in her purse to liven up dull dinner parties. (1m44s)
• Despite her decades in the spotlight, Alice had never appeared on television in the US until the 60 Minutes interview, which was considered a major achievement. (2m49s)
• The interview was conducted by British reporter Jonathan Aitken, who was part of the same social circles as Alice, which may have influenced her decision to grant the interview. (4m30s)
• Alice Roosevelt Longworth, daughter of Theodore Roosevelt and his first wife Alice Hathaway Lee, was known for her candidness and lived a remarkable life spanning 96 years. (4m43s)
• Alice was the first daughter to know a U.S. president, starting with Benjamin Harrison in 1889, whom she described as a "little squat man with a beard in a hideous White House." (5m18s)
• She was known for her brutally honest nature, which was evident in her interviews and interactions with various U.S. presidents, including Gerald Ford, who served until 1977. (5m31s)
• Alice had a complex family background, being the cousin of Eleanor Roosevelt, the First Lady married to Franklin D. Roosevelt, making Alice and Franklin distant cousins. (7m15s)
• Her relationship with her father, Theodore Roosevelt, was not close, as her mother died shortly after her birth, and she was raised by an aunt while her father pursued his political career. (7m28s)
• Alice was known for her rebellious behavior, such as smoking cigarettes, driving a bright red Speedster car at high speeds, and carrying a snake named Emily Spinach to dinner parties. (8m8s)
• Despite her unconventional antics, Alice remained a popular figure in Washington society, often bringing fun and liveliness to social gatherings. (8m31s)
• Princess Alice forged her own path at a time when more women were beginning to do the same, and people loved her for that, as seen when she jumped into a swimming pool fully clad and drew crowds of 5,000 people at the St Louis World's Fair (8m48s).
• Alice's celebrity came with the cost of having her every move shadowed and covered by the newspapers, which was unusual for a woman at the time (9m7s).
• Alice was 17 when her father, Theodore Roosevelt, became the youngest president in US history at 43 years old, following the assassination of William McKinley in 1901 (9m27s).
• Alice had a unique reaction to her father's presidency, feeling "sheer Rapture" at the prospect of her father's new role, which she later shared in a 1969 interview at the age of 85 (9m41s).

Alice's Candidness and Unconventional Life

• Alice was known for her candor and wit, as seen in a 1969 interview where she showcased her impressions of White House personalities, including William Howard Taft's wife Helen (11m5s).
• Alice's granddaughter, Joanna Sturm, often spent time with her and shared stories about her life, including her late-night habits and her love of memorabilia (12m5s).
• Joanna Sturm's home in Washington DC is filled with memorabilia that once belonged to Alice, including a palankin carried by four tortoises and an arwell given to her by Robert Peary, the person who may have discovered the North Pole (12m42s).
• A portrait of Princess Alice's grandmother, painted by Theobold Chartron, hangs above the fireplace, depicting her in a white tafida pleated dress. (13m5s)
• Alice used to host dinners at an oak dining table, where guests were seated in a traditional alternating gender pattern, and meals typically included dishes like crab soup, green vegetable salad, and Creme Brule. (13m19s)
• Alice was married to Nicholas Longworth, the Speaker of the House, but had a long-term love affair with Senator William Bora, with whom she shared a deep commitment. (13m46s)
• Alice married Nicholas Longworth in 1906 at the age of 22, and their wedding was considered one of the most impressive White House weddings, though the marriage faced difficulties from the start due to Longworth's drinking habits. (14m15s)
• Alice had a daughter, Paulina, whose biological father was Senator Bora, a fact Paulina discovered much later in life after overhearing a conversation between Alice and a maid. (14m47s)
• Joanna Sturm, Alice's granddaughter, lived with her for about 25 years after her mother Paulina died, and she recalls Alice's unique characteristics and love for poetry. (15m11s)
• Joanna shares her grandmother's love of poetry and remembers Alice's wit, which was not necessarily stinging but had an aurbic quality, as demonstrated by a pillow with the phrase, "If you haven't got anything good to say about anyone, come and sit by me." (16m15s)
• Alice's aurbic quality was evident in a 1969 interview, where she discussed her differences with her cousin, Ed Roosevelt, noting that he was very serious while she was not. (16m54s)
• Alice Roosevelt Longworth and her cousin Eleanor Roosevelt had a complicated relationship, often described as "frenemies," with Alice even admitting to cheering on Eleanor's husband, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, for having an affair with his mistress Lucy Mercer (17m12s).
• Alice was known for not making fun of people who were weak or vulnerable, but she did not consider Eleanor Roosevelt to be in that category, finding her rather boring (18m19s).

Alice's 90th Birthday and Second 60 Minutes Interview

• In 1974, Alice Roosevelt Longworth celebrated her 90th birthday, which was a highly anticipated event in Washington society, with even President Richard Nixon attending to wish her happy birthday (19m42s).
• To mark the occasion, 60 Minutes landed a second TV interview with Alice, which almost did not happen due to her initial reluctance to participate (18m54s).
• The interview was secured after the founding executive producer of 60 Minutes, Don Hewitt, personally traveled to meet Alice and was able to charm her into participating (20m52s).
• Alice was known for her sharp wit and strong personality, with Don Hewitt recalling that she threw a bit of her trademark personality at him before agreeing to the interview (21m4s).
• Alice's 90th birthday party was a grand affair, with her wearing a black gown patterned with crouching gold leopards, and was described as a "marvelous and horrible scene" by Alice herself (19m56s).
• Alice's granddaughter, Joanna Sturm, was present during the 60 Minutes interview and recalled that Alice did not look like a kindly old lady, but rather someone who "stings like a bee" (20m39s).
• During an interview for Alice Roosevelt Longworth's 90th birthday, she expressed support for movements that liberate the elderly, similar to the women's movement, and was recognized for her open-mindedness, even being made an honorary member of a gay rights group. (21m32s)

Legacy and Lasting Impact

• Alice Roosevelt Longworth, who passed away in 1980, left behind diaries and thousands of personal letters, which were given to historian Stacy Cordery by her granddaughter Joanna Sturm, due to a lack of serious scholarship about Alice. (22m40s)
• Alice was known for her wit and intelligence, teaching herself Greek in her 80s and having extensive knowledge of nuclear fission, which impressed notable figures like Hyman Rickover and Edwin Hubble. (23m2s)
• Beyond her intellect, Alice was a significant power broker in Washington, D.C., with connections to influential figures such as Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes and Secretary of State Dean Acheson. (23m44s)
• After the death of her husband, Speaker of the House Nicholas Longworth, Alice was encouraged to run for his seat, and there was speculation she could become the first female vice president or president, but she chose to exert her influence behind the scenes. (24m13s)
• Alice hosted popular parties for six decades, attracting politicians like Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, and John F. Kennedy, who valued her company and insights, often using these gatherings to share her views on political matters. (24m56s)
• Princess Alice Roosevelt Longworth stood by President Nixon during the Watergate scandal, acknowledging the divisiveness he aroused in the country, but also noting that he seemed to hate the same things that people hated about him (25m37s).
• Alice's views on the political situation were shaped by her inability to conceptualize someone like Donald Trump, whom she would have likely struggled to understand (26m8s).
• Gertrude Stein described Alice as a "publicity saint," someone who didn't need to do anything to get publicity, she just had to exist, a term that Alice acknowledged, but also described herself as a showman (26m32s).
• Alice was a self-taught individual who learned Greek in her 80s and was fascinated by various subjects, including nuclear fission, space, black holes, and telescopes, which set her apart from today's social media influencers (26m53s).
• Alice was known for her ability to focus on the people she was with, never looking over her shoulder for someone more important to meet, and was a fascinating conversationalist who could put today's Washington to shame (27m7s).
• Alice was accused of being malicious and enjoying hurting people, but she denied this, stating that she didn't enjoy hurting people and only laughed at the absurdity of things (27m34s).
• Alice brought people together at her house, regardless of their political affiliations, because she was interested in them and enjoyed seeing the sparks fly, which is something that is lacking in today's United States (27m56s).
• The lack of communication between legislators in the United States is a significant problem, and Alice's ability to bring people together and facilitate conversation is something that is desperately needed today (28m9s).

Production Credits and Call to Action

• The episode of 60 Minutes, "A Second Look," was produced by Julie Holstein, with additional producing from Hazel May Bran, and featured a team of editors, producers, and engineers (29m11s).
• Acknowledgment is given to the CBS News archives team for their support in making the podcast possible. (30m1s)
• Seth DME announces that there will be another episode of "60 Minutes: A Second Look" next week. (30m6s)
• Listeners are encouraged to leave a rating and review to help more people discover the show. (30m15s)