On Sunday September 14 at 8 p.m., Ken Burns’ spectacular and extensive seven part documentary The Roosevelts: An Intimate Portrait comes to GPB.

The series is a first for Burns: the first time the lives of three prominent political family members are told in one documentary series. Each day an episode airs that covers the lives of Theodore, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. Get the episode guide and our interview with Ken Burns here.

While they were all influential figures on the world stage, the films also delve into how they influenced each other. For instance, Franklin would never have become president if it were not for his older cousin Teddy. Franklin saw his relative’s example and told colleagues at the law firm he worked for that that’s what he planned to do with his life - become president.

Today we call that type of declaration “speaking truth to power.” But it has been a practice that many prominent figures throughout time have used: saying what they aspire to do and accomplishing it. Share that thought with your students and enjoy this preview of the series below.