Remembering the Old Lion
In the time leading up to the 1920 US Presidential election, everyone presumed that the nominee for the Republican Party would be the same man who had served as President from 1901-1909, namely Theodore Roosevelt. The grim reaper had other plans, as Theodore Roosevelt died on January 6, 1919, 93 years ago today.
Theodore Roosevelt seemed to be larger than life itself. He was born a sickly child, suffering from asthma, but he seemed to overcome his physical infirmities by adopting a strenuous life. He attended Harvard University, where he boxed and developed an interest in naval affairs. In 1881, one year out of Harvard, he was elected to the New York State Assembly as its youngest member. In a few short years Assemblyman Theodore Roosevelt became the effective head of the Republican Party in the New York. He became a serious historian, writing The Naval War of 1812 in 1882.
In 1884, his mother and his wife died on the same day. This double whammy of tragedies seemed to shatter his entire world. He left politics and New York for the "Badlands" in the Dakotas where he ran a cattle ranch and captured outlaws. After a few years, Roosevelt returned to New York City, and ran for Mayor for the Republican Party in 1886, finishing third with 60,000 votes. He became a police commissioner and gained fame fighting police corruption.
He was Assistant Secretary of the Navy 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 and increased regulation of businesses. As an outdoorsman and naturalist, he promoted the conservation movement and turned a significant area of land into national parks.
On the world stage, Roosevelt's policies were characterized by his slogan, "Speak softly and carry a big stick". He saw to the completion of the Panama Canal, sent the US Navy 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, making him the first American to win the Nobel Prize in any field.
Roosevelt decided not to run for re-election in 1908, anointing his friend William Howard Taft as his successor. 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 Taft. In 1912, Roosevelt tried to win the Republican nomination from Taft, and when he failed, he launched the Bull Moose Party. He survived an assassination attempt during the election campaign, finishing his speech despite being shot. In the election, Roosevelt became the only third-party candidate to finish in second place, beating Taft but losing to Woodrow Wilson.
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. Despite this, when the United States entered the First World War, he asked President Woodrow Wilson for permission to allow him to raise a regiment of volunteers to fight in the war, like he had done in Cuba. Wilson said no.
On January 6, 1919, Roosevelt died in his sleep at his home at Oyster Bay, New York, from a heart attack. He was only 60 years old. The strenuous life had taken its toll. Upon hearing the news of Roosevelt's death, Vice-President Thomas Marshall gave this wonderful quote: "Death had to take him in his sleep, for if he was awake there'd have been a fight."
If you're like me, and wonder what Theodore Roosevelt must have sounded like, there is a YouTube video below with an audio-recording of a speech he once gave in an election campaign.
Theodore Roosevelt seemed to be larger than life itself. He was born a sickly child, suffering from asthma, but he seemed to overcome his physical infirmities by adopting a strenuous life. He attended Harvard University, where he boxed and developed an interest in naval affairs. In 1881, one year out of Harvard, he was elected to the New York State Assembly as its youngest member. In a few short years Assemblyman Theodore Roosevelt became the effective head of the Republican Party in the New York. He became a serious historian, writing The Naval War of 1812 in 1882.
In 1884, his mother and his wife died on the same day. This double whammy of tragedies seemed to shatter his entire world. He left politics and New York for the "Badlands" in the Dakotas where he ran a cattle ranch and captured outlaws. After a few years, Roosevelt returned to New York City, and ran for Mayor for the Republican Party in 1886, finishing third with 60,000 votes. He became a police commissioner and gained fame fighting police corruption.
He was Assistant Secretary of the Navy 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 and increased regulation of businesses. As an outdoorsman and naturalist, he promoted the conservation movement and turned a significant area of land into national parks.
On the world stage, Roosevelt's policies were characterized by his slogan, "Speak softly and carry a big stick". He saw to the completion of the Panama Canal, sent the US Navy 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, making him the first American to win the Nobel Prize in any field.
Roosevelt decided not to run for re-election in 1908, anointing his friend William Howard Taft as his successor. 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 Taft. In 1912, Roosevelt tried to win the Republican nomination from Taft, and when he failed, he launched the Bull Moose Party. He survived an assassination attempt during the election campaign, finishing his speech despite being shot. In the election, Roosevelt became the only third-party candidate to finish in second place, beating Taft but losing to Woodrow Wilson.
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. Despite this, when the United States entered the First World War, he asked President Woodrow Wilson for permission to allow him to raise a regiment of volunteers to fight in the war, like he had done in Cuba. Wilson said no.
On January 6, 1919, Roosevelt died in his sleep at his home at Oyster Bay, New York, from a heart attack. He was only 60 years old. The strenuous life had taken its toll. Upon hearing the news of Roosevelt's death, Vice-President Thomas Marshall gave this wonderful quote: "Death had to take him in his sleep, for if he was awake there'd have been a fight."
If you're like me, and wonder what Theodore Roosevelt must have sounded like, there is a YouTube video below with an audio-recording of a speech he once gave in an election campaign.