Tadd Roosevelt

James Roosevelt Roosevelt, Jr., known as "Tadd", (1879–1958) was a member of the Roosevelt family. He was the son of James Roosevelt Roosevelt, known as "Rosey", who was the much older half-brother of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Therefore, Tadd was Franklin's nephew, although he was slightly older than Franklin. Tadd Roosevelt was a descendant of John Jacob Astor through his mother, Helen Schermerhorn Astor. Tadd's sister was Helen Roosevelt Robinson

As children, Franklin never really cared much for Tadd, who pulled their cousin Alice Roosevelt's hair. However, Franklin and Helen were friendly, and at times they did play with Tadd. Franklin and Tadd also played "Little Princess in the Tower" for a tableau after dinner.

Both Franklin and Tadd attended Groton School and Harvard University at the same time. However, Tadd quit Harvard amid scandal. He eventually moved to New York City, where he married Sadie Messinger, a Hungarian-born prostitute, with whom he stayed until her death forty years later.

Considered a black sheep of the Roosevelt clan, Tadd was disowned by his father, and all relations with the Roosevelt family were ended. He never touched his inheritance from his mother's family, the Astors, bequeathing his estate to the Salvation Army upon his death in 1958.