The Funeral of Theodore Roosevelt
In the early morning of January 6th Theodore Roosevelt passed away in his sleep at Sagamore Hill. Archie telegrammed, “The old lion is dead.” That morning James Earl Frazer left NYC and headed to Oyster Bay to cast the death mask. Over the next two days TR Lay in State in the North Room. His simple oak casket was closed and adorned with an American Flag, a wreath and two “Rough Rider” Regimental Banners. On Wednesday morning the family held a small private farewell service than carried the casket out the front door, down the steps to a waiting hearse. The cortege was escorted by New York City mounted police as they made the three mile trip to Christ Episcopal Church.
Edith, as was tradition, remained at home. During the 18th and 19th Century widows were expected to remain in mourning considered too physically and emotional frail to attend the funeral.
The church ceremony began at 12:53 and ran about 30 minutes. Alice and Ethel were there as was Captain Archie Roosevelt who wore his full dress uniform decorated complete with medals. Archie served as the head usher. The service was simple without music, or eulogy. It was led by Pastor, George E. Talmadge. Rather than wear traditional black Reverend Talmadge decided to wear white to mark the Feast of the Epiphany the day Roosevelt died.
Between 3,000 and 4,000 mourners gathered outside. From January 6th to the 8th the northeast was being hit by a severe nor'easter that carried gusts up to 75 mph. On the day of the funeral the temperature was in the mid-to-upper 30s with overnight lows in the 20s. It was overcast with a light dusting of snow still covering the ground.
Inside, the church was filled to capacity with 500 invited guests. The mourners included former President Taft who had entered the church and quietly taken a seat in the back. When the family noticed he was there they invited him to move closer to the family nearer the casket knowing their father would want him to be in the front. At the ceremony was his good friend and Harvard classmate Senator Henry Cabot Lodge. Future President Warren G. Harding and Major General Leonard Wood were at the church. Sitting in a pew was former Speaker of the House Joe “Not One Cent for Scenery” Cannon. Representing President Wilson was Vice President Thomas Marshall who after hearing Roosevelt died in his sleep remarked to the press, “death had to take Roosevelt sleeping, if he was awake there would have been a fight.”
In attendance were 16 Senators and 26 members of the House. New York's Governor Al Smith and NYC Mayor John F. Hylan were there to pay their respects.1916 Republican Presidential Candidate Charles Evans Hughes attended along with Henry L. Stimson and former Roosevelt cabinet members Elihu Root, James R. Garfield, and Oscar S. Straus.
After the service Reverand Talmadge led the congregation to Young’s Cemetery. The Grave was located on a wooded hillside overlooking the Long Island Sound. A bugler played "Taps" as Roosevelt’s casket was lowered into the family plot. As the crowd fell away William Howard Taft was the last to leave. He left Roosevelt with tears in his eyes.
In the first year, before the gate was constructed, a sentinel stood watch throughout the night