Theme for this week: Presidents Day
February 24, 2022 (Thursday),
Theodore (“Teddy”) Roosevelt, (10/27/1858 – 01/06/1919), died at 60 years of age. He had served as President of the United States from 1901 to 1909. He was vice president under William McKinley as McKinley served 6 months of a second term, but became president when McKinley was assassinated. He was 42 years old when he took office, the youngest president ever to serve. He had no vice president until 1905 when Charles Fairbanks was elected.
People gladly named institutions after him The first 3 years of my school days were spent at Houston’s Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School (found on a map near the intersection of I45N and North Loop).
Theodore Roosevelt officially gave the White House its current name in 1901, so named because of its contrasting color near the red brick buildings of the area. Before that date, it had been known by several names, such as “Executive Mansion.”
Theodore Roosevelt – President 1901-1909
When I think of him, I think of his heroic charge up San Juan Hill in the Spanish-American war, and later his plea to President Wilson to let him, at the age of 58, lead soldiers into battle during the First World War. I think of his presidential campaign in 1912 when he was shot while making a speech. Acknowledging that he had been shot, he finished his speech, which was lengthy. His wound proved to be quite serious. He compared himself to a “Bull Moose,” which became the informal name of his new party.
When I think of him, I think of the family he and his wife raised at the White House. There was one child from his first marriage and five from his second. His children were everywhere, having the complete run of the place. They took their favorite pony, Algonquin, into the White House elevator, frightened visiting officials with a four-foot King snake, and dropped water balloons on the heads of White House guards. The First Family members were the darlings of the American public.
When I think of him, I immediately think of raw nature and wild animals. Our National Park system would probably not exist were it not for him.
He was a “bigger than life,” entusiastic leader. Ever hear of something called a “Teddy Bear?” It was named for him. He was popular. There has been only one Theodore Roosevelt. I’m thankful we have good records of his presidency. When I read of him, my heart nearly bursts with pride as an American. He was a great president.
