James Roosevelt (December 23, 1907 - August 13, 1991) was the oldest son of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Anna Eleanor Roosevelt. He was born in New York City at 125 E. 36th Street and graduated from Harvard University in 1930. His siblings were Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, Elliott Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt and John Aspinwall Roosevelt. Roosevelt married Betsey Cushing, one of the famous Cushing sisters. They were divorced in 1940, after having moved to Hollywood, California, where James had accepted a job with Samuel Goldwyn.

During World War II he was second-in-command of the 2nd Raider Battalion of the Marine Raiders, an early US Marine commando unit organized and trained to conduct guerrilla-style attacks behind enemy lines. Eventually he retired at the rank of Brigadier General, winning the Navy Cross and Silver Star in combat. James suffered from having flat feet, so while soldiers were required to wear boots, he was allowed to wear sneakers.

In 1950, Roosevelt was the Democratic nominee in the race for Governor of California. He was beaten handily by incumbent Earl Warren, who was elected for a third term.

Roosevelt was elected to the 84th Congress of the United States in November 1954, and served continuously from 1955 to 1965 as a Congressman from California.

In 1965, Roosevelt lost in an attempt to unseat Sam Yorty as Mayor of Los Angeles, California.

By the end of his life, he had four wives and seven children. Roosevelt died in Newport Beach, California in 1991 of complications arising from a stroke and Parkinson's disease. He was 83 and the last surviving child of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt.

More JAMES ROOSEVELT : BIOGRAPHY & PHOTOGRAPHS
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cushinc/betsey1908.html


Sources:
1. 1930 US Census: Alabany, Albany, New York

James Roosevelt b. 23 December 1907 d. 13 August 1991
m. 6 June 1930, div. 7 March 1940
Betsey Cushing
Sara Delano Roosevelt b. 13 March 1932
m. 12 June 1953, div. 1972
Anthony di Bonaventura b. 12 Nov. 1929
Anthony Peter Christopher di Bonaventura b. June 1954
(Christopher)
Andrea Isabella di Bonaventura b. 21 June 1956
m.
?. Greene
Peter John di Bonaventura b. 25 Nov. 1957
Sarina Rosaria di Bonaventura b 24 August 1959
m. 14 May 1988
Philip Steven Birsch
Betsy Maria di Bonaventura b. 22 May 1963
m.
?. Brown
m. 13 January 1973
Ronald A. Wilford
Kate Roosevelt b. 16 February 1936 (Kate Whitney)
m. 17 October 1959, div. 1974
William Frederick Haddad b. 25 July 1928
Laura Whitney Haddad b. 1962
m. 1985, div.
Steven Chiucchini
Kate Sinclair Chiucchini
Collin Steven Chiucchini
Kevin Chiucchini
Andrea Whitney Haddad b. 1965 (Bebo)
Camilla Cushing Haddad b. 1967 (Lulie)
m. 14 April 1941, div. 21 June 1955
Romelle Theresa Schneider b. 1916? (Rommie) (deceased)
James Roosevelt, Jr. b. 9 November 1945
m. 15 June 1968
Ann Martha Conlon b. 31 March 1945
Kathleen Roosevelt b. 1978 (Kathy)
Tracy Roosevelt b. 1982
Moira Roosevelt b. 1984
Michael Anthony Roosevelt b. 7 December 1946
m. 21 August 1972
Deborah Wilson Horn b. 23 Oct. 1947
Scott Michael Roosevelt
Matthew Roosevelt
Nicholas Roosevelt
Anna Eleanor Roosevelt b. 10 January 1948 (Nell, Anne)
m. 14 December 1968
Robert Kent Johnston b. 9 June 1945
Elizabeth Amy Johnston b. 13 November 1975
Margaret Johnston
m. 1 July 1956, div. 1969
Gladys Irene Owen Kitchenmaster b. 1917 (Irene) d. 11 June 1987
Hall Delano Roosevelt b. June 1957 (Del)
m. 1989
Janice
James Austin b. July 1991
Hall Delano III b. December 1992
m. 3 October 1969
Mary Lena Winskill b. 5 June 1939
Rebecca Mary Roosevelt b. 12 April 1971

• Married: 4 Jun 1930 in Brookline, Norfolk, Massachusetts
• Divorced: 7 Mar 1940 in

1. Sarah Delano Roosevelt b: 13 Mar 1932
2. Kate Whitney Roosevelt b: 16 Feb 1936

• Married: 1 Jul 1956 in
• Divorced: 1969 in

1. Hall Delano (Del) Roosevelt b: Jun 1957

• Married: 14 Apr 1941 in
• Divorced: 21 Jun 1955 in

1. James Jr Roosevelt b: 9 Nov 1945
2. Michael Anthony Roosevelt b: 7 Dec 1946
3. Anna Eleanor (Nell, Anne) Roosevelt b: 10 Jan 1948