Dynasties die out in different ways. The Adamses lost altitude in stages, so that ambition gave way to ennui over four generations, and by the fifth one, was utterly gone.

The sons of Theodore Roosevelt had bowed out early on,  (at least after Ted jr. lost his political struggle with fifth cousin Franklin), while it was the children of Franklin and Eleanor who had the most spectacular flame-out, staging a riveting  race to the bottom as to  who could disgrace himself the in the most novel fashion, or have the most scandals and wives.