Alice Lee Roosevelt

Alice Lee Roosevelt Longworth (February 12, 1884 – February 20, 1980) was an American writer and socialite, known for her interactions with numerous U.S. Presidents and her prominent social presence in the early to mid-20th century. She was the eldest child of President Theodore Roosevelt and his first wife, Alice Hathaway Lee Roosevelt.

Born in Manhattan at the Roosevelt family residence at 6 West 57th Street, Alice Lee Roosevelt was the only child of her parents. Her mother, Alice Hathaway Lee, was a Boston banking heiress. Two days after her birth, Alice's mother died of undiagnosed Bright's disease, coinciding with the death of Theodore Roosevelt’s mother, Martha "Mittie" Bulloch Roosevelt, due to typhoid fever. Theodore Roosevelt, deeply affected by the deaths, refrained from mentioning his wife in his autobiography and rarely spoke of her thereafter. Alice was consequently referred to as "Baby Lee," and later as "Mrs. L," reflecting her father's continued grief and emotional distance from his first wife.

In the early years, Theodore Roosevelt traveled extensively on his ranch in North Dakota, leaving Alice in the care of his sister, Anna "Bamie" Roosevelt. Bamie played an influential role in Alice's early life, providing stability and care. When Theodore Roosevelt remarried Edith Kermit Carow in 1886, Alice was raised by her father and stepmother. She had five half-siblings: Theodore III (Ted), Kermit, Ethel, Archie, and Quentin Roosevelt.

The relationship between Alice and her stepmother was marked by tension, as Edith Roosevelt considered Alice's late mother insipid and expressed the wish that she had not lived. This strained relationship, along with limited attention from her father during her childhood, contributed to Alice's impulsive and confrontational behavior in her youth. During Theodore Roosevelt's governorship of New York, Alice’s reactions to her parents’ disciplinary measures included a defiant letter warning of humiliation if she was sent to the Spence School.

Following Theodore Roosevelt's ascent to the presidency after William McKinley's assassination in 1901, Alice became a prominent social figure. During her father's administration, she gained fame for her fashion sense, notably her "Alice blue" gown, and for her spirited conduct, which challenged social norms of the era. She was publicly known for smoking cigarettes, riding in automobiles with men, staying out late, and keeping pets like a snake named Emily Spinach in the White House. Her lively personality earned her the nickname "Princess Alice" and the reputation of being at the center of the social scene.

On May 11, 1908, Alice participated in a humorous incident at the U.S. Capitol by placing a tack on the chair of an unsuspecting Congress member, which caused him to leap in surprise. Her public behavior and frequent presence in her father’s office, often offering political opinions, drew both admiration and exasperation. President Theodore Roosevelt once remarked that he could only either run the country or attend to Alice, but not both.

In 1905, Alice led the American delegation—including future husband Nicholas Longworth, a Republican Congressman from Ohio—to Japan, China, Korea, and the Philippines. The diplomatic mission was notable for its size and scope; it included 23 Congressmen, seven Senators, and other officials. During the voyage, Alice engaged in playful antics, such as jumping into the ship’s swimming pool fully clothed, and coaxing others to join her.

Alice Lee Roosevelt married Nicholas Longworth III in February 1906. Longworth was 14 years her senior and a member of a prominent Ohio family. Their wedding was a major social event, attended by over a thousand guests. She retained her lively public persona throughout her life, maintaining relationships with numerous Presidents, having met 16 in total during her lifetime.

Alice Roosevelt Longworth died on February 20, 1980, at the age of 96.