What the hell is an "avowed Democratic Socialist," anyway?

[JDPriestly]

56. FDR was married, as we know, to Eleanor Roosevelt, the niece of Teddy

Roosevelt who ran as the candidate first of the Republicans and then as a "Progressive" who worked for reform.

There were more progressive, more liberal candidates than Teddy Roosevelt, but they could not have won the backing that Teddy won. One of the reasons Teddy won such strong trust from the American people was his military record of defeating the Spanish in the Philippines and in Cuba.

I suggest that you read The Bully Pulpit by I think Doris Kearns Goodwin and The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris.

The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt chronicles how his character and moral background (the influence of his father and his father's ideas about educating Teddy) caused him, although born into wealth and influence, to become a progressive leader for his time. There were far more progressive politicians in America at the time, but Teddy Roosevelt had the ability to unite people of disparate political parties and leanings behind social, political and economic change. He did not do it alone but successfully fought a lot of corruption and helped working people achieve some basic improvements in their lives.

He set a foundation for progressive change in our country but there is still a lot to do.

FDR was perhaps influenced by and close to his wife's uncle.

An interesting family, I must say.