Bill Bleyer — The Roosevelts in New York City

About this episode

Bill Bleyer discusses his book 'The Roosevelts in New York City' and the family's history in Gotham.

  The New York Sun Review: ‘The Roosevelts in New York City’ Is an Exhilarating Climb in a Towering Family Tree – Dean Karayanis November 30, 2025 – Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and lifelong Long Islander, Bill Bleyer , joins us in the time machine to walk the streets of Gotham past with his book, “ The Roosevelts in New York City .” Among his previous books is “ Sagamore Hill: Theodore Roosevelt’s Summer White House.” The Roosevelts story in America began with Nicholas Roosevelt, a farmer who arrived four centuries ago and planted the seeds of a distinguished and impactful family ― one with ties to many places in New York City. On East 20th St. stands a recreation of the brownstone where President Theodore Roosevelt was born and developed his love of nature. The twin brownstone next door was where his uncle, Robert Roosevelt, instilled in the future president an interest in conservation, while having multiple affairs and even starting a second secret family with a mistress. The double townhouse on East 65th Street built by Sara Delano Roosevelt still stands, built so that her son, President Franklin Roosevelt, would have a suitable place to raise his…

People in this episode

Host: Dean Karayanis

Guest: Bill Bleyer

Topics covered

• Roosevelts
• New York City
• history

Keywords

• Pulitzer Prize
• journalism
• Long Island

Mentioned in this episode

Products: The Roosevelts in New York City, Sagamore Hill: Theodore Roosevelt's Summer White House

Books & works: The Roosevelts in New York City, Pulitzer Prize, Sagamore Hill: Theodore Roosevelt’s Summer White House, Remembering Theodore Roosevelt: Reminiscences of his, The Big Scrum: How Teddy Roosevelt Saved Football

Places: New York City, Gotham, America

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