Theodore Roosevelt
David McCullough was fond of saying, “we have been wrongly told it was a simpler life years ago and that history is a series of predictable events, one after the other.”
In truth, it was never predictable and never easy. During Theodore Roosevelt’s life it was tougher, more uncertain and more challenging. Today we have open heart surgery, antibiotics, knee replacements, hip replacements, Tommy John surgery.
In the 19th century you could lose your life stepping on a nail, or getting an infected blister. Come down with appendicitis and you received a death sentence. TR’s first wife died of Bright’s disease. Today Bright's disease is treatable.
Travel was dangerous and slow. By buckboard, it took Roosevelt 45 minutes to travel the 2 ½ miles from Sagamore Hill to Oyster Bay. Until he was president there wasn’t a phone at Sagamore Hill. There wasn’t any electricity until 1918. The Roosevelt’s first car was powered by steam.
Yet, among all the difficulties and uncertainties Roosevelt led the way bringing America into the 20th century with both guns blazing. He crafted a new presidency. He redefined citizenship. He established a new responsibility to conservation and changed the way we saw ourselves. To Roosevelt we were no longer a country in the middle of growing up. We were a nation that had arrived and it was time to live up to the promise.
This site is dedicated to the ongoing study of the life and times of Theodore Roosevelt. It’s based on over 28 years of continuous research and committed to keeping our great American story alive. We sincerely hope you’ll find it worthwhile and fun.
