Theodore Roosevelt Jr.
By: Stephen Lampe
Life Brief
Theodore Roosevelt Jr. was born on October 27, 1858 to Martha Stewart Bulloch and Theodore Roosevelt Senior. Born in Manhattan, New York City, he was the second of four children, and he was of Dutch, German, and English descent. Theodore Roosevelt was a member of the Dutch Reformed Church. Roosevelt was home-schooled by tutors and his parents. On Roosevelt's 22nd birthday, he married Alice Hathaway Lee, and they had a daughter born on February 12th, 1884. His wife died two days after giving birth, due to kidney failure. Roosevelt was a politician, serving as Governor of New York, Vice President of the United States of America, and President of the United States of America. Theodore Roosevelt also served as Colonel of the 1st United States Volunteer Calvary during the Spanish-American War.
Background Symbolism
The background, which is made up of leaves, relates to Theodore Roosevelt because he was an outdoorsman. As Walker writes: "One waddy who saw him in the saddle recalled that 'He (Theodore Roosevelt) was not a purty rider, but a helluva good rider.'" (Walker 67). This represents Roosevelt because had he not been an outdoorsman before he got called to serve, he would not have been as effective on the front lines.
Pick 3
- Theodore Roosevelt was the one who might have provoked the Spanish-American War in this way: "'What this country needs is a war,' Theodore Roosevelt told Senator Lodge in 1895..." (Walker 27).
- Roosevelt's youth was controlled mainly by his asthma.
- Roosevelt learned to box after being manhandled by two older boys on a camping trip.
Accomplishments
Theodore Roosevelt had accomplished many important things in his life including starting the National Parks Service, winning the Nobel Peace Prize later, and leading men into San Juan Heights: "Pershing and his men ran the slopes close on the Rough Riders and he vividly remembered the 'gallant advance' of his soldiers from Kettle Hill..." (Walker 227).
Struggle
Theodore Roosevelt struggled with a few things, especially losing his mother and his wife within twenty-four hours of each other: "He reached his mother's house on West Fifty-seventh Street in Manhattan just before midnight on February 14, and found his wife barely conscious, stricken by the kidney failure called Bright's disease, while in another room, his mother fought valiantly against typhoid fever. At three A.M. on the 15th, Martha Bulloch Roosevelt, called 'Mittie' in the family, died. Theodore spent the next eleven hours holding his wife in his arms. Alice Hathaway Lee Roosevelt died at two P.M." (Walker 65).
Mentor/Friend
The sheriff of Billings County, 'Hell-Roaring' Bill Jones, was a mentor in Theodore's life. He was the one who inspired Theodore when he first arrived in the Dakotas: "Roosevelt admired Jones, saying he was 'A thorough frontiersman, excellent in all kinds of emergencies, and a very game man.'" (Walker 66).
Awards
Theodore Roosevelt has received many awards, including:
- The Nobel Peace Prize (1906) for his successful mediation to end the Russo-Japanese War.
- The Medal of Honor (2001, Posthumously) for resigning from his career as Assistant Director of the Navy to lead a regiment of volunteers called the Rough Riders.
Hobbies/Interests
Theodore Roosevelt was interested in many things, including:
- Boxing
- Hiking
- Swimming
- Horseback Riding
- Hunting
- Camping
- Studying plants
Symbol
These Pince-Nez glasses are a symbol of Theodore Roosevelt because they are what helped him get his reputation in the Dakota's in the mid 1880's, and he wears them in most pictures you see of him: "and wearing his thick pince-nez eyeglasses. If the tailoring did not mark him as a greenhorn, the glasses did." (Walker 65).
Friend or Foe
Theodore Roosevelt would be a friend of mine for many different reasons.
- As a Boy Scout, I love going to visit National Parks; Theodore Roosevelt helped set up the system of National Parks.
- As a leader in everything that I participate in, Roosevelt is a very strong example for me of how to execute jobs as a leader.
- As someone who enjoys having money in my hands, Roosevelt was a friend by helping to lower taxes while he was president.
Most Like
Theodore Roosevelt is most like Donald Trump for a few reasons:
- They both want extreme differences for their time period.
- They both have a large portion of their political party voting for them.
- They both are trying new things to try to help fix the United States.
Altruist or Egotist
Theodore Roosevelt is an Egotist, because:
- He wanted war glory: "He was anxious to go to war, especially after Dewey's sudden, smashing victory in the Philippines. He worried that it might be over before he could get into it." (Walker 111).
- He didn't get "into the trenches" at first. He stayed back in Washington D.C.
Theodore Roosevelt - Regiment
This is a picture of "The Rough Riders" with Theodore leading as Colonel.
Theodore Roosevelt - President
This is a picture of Theodore Roosevelt taken while he was in office.
Theodore Roosevelt - Officer
Theodore Roosevelt in his officer's clothing.
War Experience
Walker writes of a very intense part at Las Guasimas: "'They went forward with a will,' he (Roosevelt) said, under a momentary bullet-blizzard, fired over their heads. The Spanish volleys ended suddenly and Roosevelt led his men into the outbuildings. 'I had not the faintest idea what had happened,' he wrote, 'whether the fight was over; or whether this was merely a lull in the fight; or where the Spaniards were; or whether we might be attacked again; or whether we ought ourselves to attack somebody somewhere else.'"(Walker 181).
Why should everyone read about Theodore Roosevelt?
Everyone should read about Theodore Roosevelt because he had to overcome many challenges in his youth, as well as in his adulthood. He had to work to lead people, and he had to suffer through the heat of war. Theodore Roosevelt's life could teach all of us different lessons which could be used for a variety of historical topics.