Happy Birthday Colonel Roosevelt
Happy birthday Theodore Roosevelt, who was born on this day October 27th in 1858 (153 years ago today). I have taken to calling him Theodore because I've read that he hated being called Teddy and was quick to point out this fact to those who called him by that label.
What an amazing and larger-than-life character TR must have been. He is noted for his exuberant personality, his wide range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" image. Before becoming President, he held offices at the city, state, and federal levels. He was among other things, a New York City Police Commissioner, the Governor of New York, the Assistant Secretary of the Navy and the Vice-President of the United States before getting the big chair when President William McKinley died from an assassin's bullet. Roosevelt also amassed a number of achievements as an environmentalist, explorer, hunter, author, and soldier.
TR was born into a wealthy family. His mother was Mittie Bulloch of Roswell, Georgia, a descendant of Governor Archibald Bulloch who read the Declaration of Independence to Citizens of Georgia. His father, also named Theodore Roosevelt, was greatly admired by his younger namesake, although TR was disappointed that his father had paid someone to fight in his place in the Civil War, as was permitted in those days.
Roosevelt was a sickly child who suffered from asthma and stayed at home studying natural history. To compensate for his physical weakness, he took up boxing and other athletic pursuits. He was home-schooled and became an eager student of nature. He attended Harvard University, where he boxed and developed an interest in naval affairs. His Uncle James Bulloch served as a Confederate Naval agent in England, and stayed there after the war. At times TR, Jr. was a bit embarrassed that his father did not serve in the Civil War.
In 1881, one year out of Harvard, he was elected to the New York State Assembly as its youngest member. Freshman Assemblyman Theodore Roosevelt led the successful effort to impeach the Chief Justice of the New York supreme Court, and became the head of the Republican Party in the state. In 1882 Roosevelt wrote hos first historical book, The Naval War of 1812, which established his professional reputation as a serious historian. In 1884, tragedy struck as he mother as well as his first wife both died on the same day. He left politics and left New York for the "Badlands" in the Dakotas. The day they died he marked his diary with a large X.
After a few years of operating a cattle ranch in the Dakotas, Roosevelt returned to New York City and gained fame fighting police corruption. Roosevelt was appointed as Assistant Secretary of the Navy during President William McKinley's first term in office. When the Spanish–American War broke out, Roosevelt promptly resigned and led a small regiment in Cuba known as the Rough Riders, earning a nomination for the Medal of Honor, which was received posthumously for him on January 16, 2001. After the war, he returned to New York and was elected Governor in a close-fought election. Within two years, he was elected Vice President of the United States.
In 1901, President William McKinley was assassinated and Roosevelt became President at the age of 42, taking office at the youngest age of any U.S. President in history. Roosevelt tried to move the Republican Party toward Progressivism, including trust busting and increased regulation of businesses. He coined the phrase "Square Deal" to describe his domestic agenda, emphasizing that the average citizen would get a fair shake under his policies. As an outdoorsman and environmentalist, he promoted the conservation movement. On the world stage, Roosevelt's policies were characterized by his slogan, "Speak softly and carry a big stick". He was the force behind the completion of the Panama Canal, sent his navy, dubbed "the Great White Fleet", on a world tour to demonstrate American power, and negotiated an end to the Russo-Japanese War, for which he won the Nobel Peace Prize. Roosevelt was the first American to win the Nobel Prize in any field.
Roosevelt declined to run for re-election in 1908. After leaving office, he embarked on a safari to Africa and a tour of Europe. On his return to the U.S., a bitter rift developed between Roosevelt and his hand-picked successor as president, William Howard Taft. In 1912, Roosevelt attempted to wrest the Republican nomination from Taft, and when he failed, he launched the Bull Moose Party. In the ensuing election, Roosevelt became the only third-party candidate to come in second place, beating Taft but losing to Woodrow Wilson. During the election campaign he survived an attempted assassination after a bullet intended for his heart was slowed down by a silver glasses case. He finished the speech he was giving before getting medical assistance for his wound.
After the election, Roosevelt embarked on a major expedition to South America; the river on which he traveled now bears his name. He contracted malaria on the trip, which damaged his health. He died a few years later in 1919 at the age of 60.
Roosevelt was included with George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln at the Mount Rushmore Memorial, designed in 1927 with the approval of Republican President Calvin Coolidge.
What an amazing and larger-than-life character TR must have been. He is noted for his exuberant personality, his wide range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" image. Before becoming President, he held offices at the city, state, and federal levels. He was among other things, a New York City Police Commissioner, the Governor of New York, the Assistant Secretary of the Navy and the Vice-President of the United States before getting the big chair when President William McKinley died from an assassin's bullet. Roosevelt also amassed a number of achievements as an environmentalist, explorer, hunter, author, and soldier.
TR was born into a wealthy family. His mother was Mittie Bulloch of Roswell, Georgia, a descendant of Governor Archibald Bulloch who read the Declaration of Independence to Citizens of Georgia. His father, also named Theodore Roosevelt, was greatly admired by his younger namesake, although TR was disappointed that his father had paid someone to fight in his place in the Civil War, as was permitted in those days.
Roosevelt was a sickly child who suffered from asthma and stayed at home studying natural history. To compensate for his physical weakness, he took up boxing and other athletic pursuits. He was home-schooled and became an eager student of nature. He attended Harvard University, where he boxed and developed an interest in naval affairs. His Uncle James Bulloch served as a Confederate Naval agent in England, and stayed there after the war. At times TR, Jr. was a bit embarrassed that his father did not serve in the Civil War.
In 1881, one year out of Harvard, he was elected to the New York State Assembly as its youngest member. Freshman Assemblyman Theodore Roosevelt led the successful effort to impeach the Chief Justice of the New York supreme Court, and became the head of the Republican Party in the state. In 1882 Roosevelt wrote hos first historical book, The Naval War of 1812, which established his professional reputation as a serious historian. In 1884, tragedy struck as he mother as well as his first wife both died on the same day. He left politics and left New York for the "Badlands" in the Dakotas. The day they died he marked his diary with a large X.
After a few years of operating a cattle ranch in the Dakotas, Roosevelt returned to New York City and gained fame fighting police corruption. Roosevelt was appointed as Assistant Secretary of the Navy during President William McKinley's first term in office. When the Spanish–American War broke out, Roosevelt promptly resigned and led a small regiment in Cuba known as the Rough Riders, earning a nomination for the Medal of Honor, which was received posthumously for him on January 16, 2001. After the war, he returned to New York and was elected Governor in a close-fought election. Within two years, he was elected Vice President of the United States.
In 1901, President William McKinley was assassinated and Roosevelt became President at the age of 42, taking office at the youngest age of any U.S. President in history. Roosevelt tried to move the Republican Party toward Progressivism, including trust busting and increased regulation of businesses. He coined the phrase "Square Deal" to describe his domestic agenda, emphasizing that the average citizen would get a fair shake under his policies. As an outdoorsman and environmentalist, he promoted the conservation movement. On the world stage, Roosevelt's policies were characterized by his slogan, "Speak softly and carry a big stick". He was the force behind the completion of the Panama Canal, sent his navy, dubbed "the Great White Fleet", on a world tour to demonstrate American power, and negotiated an end to the Russo-Japanese War, for which he won the Nobel Peace Prize. Roosevelt was the first American to win the Nobel Prize in any field.
Roosevelt declined to run for re-election in 1908. After leaving office, he embarked on a safari to Africa and a tour of Europe. On his return to the U.S., a bitter rift developed between Roosevelt and his hand-picked successor as president, William Howard Taft. In 1912, Roosevelt attempted to wrest the Republican nomination from Taft, and when he failed, he launched the Bull Moose Party. In the ensuing election, Roosevelt became the only third-party candidate to come in second place, beating Taft but losing to Woodrow Wilson. During the election campaign he survived an attempted assassination after a bullet intended for his heart was slowed down by a silver glasses case. He finished the speech he was giving before getting medical assistance for his wound.
After the election, Roosevelt embarked on a major expedition to South America; the river on which he traveled now bears his name. He contracted malaria on the trip, which damaged his health. He died a few years later in 1919 at the age of 60.
Roosevelt was included with George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln at the Mount Rushmore Memorial, designed in 1927 with the approval of Republican President Calvin Coolidge.