doublejm1

I find Teddy Roosevelt to be one of the most fascinating presidents of all time. He led the Rough Riders, dismantled monopolies as a trust buster, and spearheaded the building of the Panama Canal. I can't learn enough about this guy.

I found an article that highlights 18 little-known facts about Teddy: 18 Things You Didn't Know About Teddy Roosevelt

But I'm sure this article is missing interesting facts not covered in the history books. Can any of you guys share something noteworthy about T.R. that even history buffs might not know? If you know an interesting if little known fact about any of the other presidents, feel free to share those as well.

Rongo

Here's a couple of tidbits. He intensely disliked Thomas Jefferson, which kind of makes me think things might be a bit uncomfortable up there on Mount Rushmore.

He also was, of course, a physical fitness fanatic, having been a sickly kid. Once, when the French Ambassador was visiting, Roosevelt took him on a walk through the White House grounds. Before he knew it, they were tramping through fields and had made their way out of the city. When they reached a creek, Roosevelt stripped off his clothes and swam across. The astonished ambassador had no choice but to follow suit.

(The ambassador actually tells the story better than I can, having been there himself. You can see his story here: Theodore Roosevelt - Nathan Miller - Google Books )

tjadams

I always found the death of Teddy Roo, Jr's death one month after
taking part in the D-Day landing an interesting note.

RoryOMore

Teddy was Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the New York City Police Department. That fact was incorporated into the plotline of the 1970s sitcom, "Barney Miller."


Roosevelt Island in the Potomac River is Teddy's memorial in Washington, DC. It is maintained in a nearly wild state, much of it marshy, and is mostly dedicated to him as a conservationist.

tjadams

Yes and for the wrong reasons.

Bluehawk

The President's son, Quentin, perished in US Army aviation uniform during WWI:

Link to remembrance:
TogetherWeServed - 2d Lt Quentin Roosevelt

doublejm1

Hm, I didn't know this. Why did Teddy dislike Jefferson?

tjadams

There's a book:

that has a chapter on Jefferson, "I Distrust Him and His Influence" p.75
I bought a copy purely so I can read, and have on hand, the chapter.
It isn't because I think the book is good, it is barely worth more than the glue
holding it together.
Teddy is making a fatal historical mistake from one who bragged about
being a historian, "I claim to be a historian, and I speak simply in the
spirit of one." [1]
Teddy had the comfortable 100 year view of Jefferson and didn't like
a lot of Jefferson's actions while president. Teddy lived in a totally
different world and was unwise to toss stones like from a slingshot at
Jefferson.
Teddy liked men who were more non-stop, act and think later, men
who bullied others into getting what he wanted. Seems like he was
over compensating for being so sickly (and rich)
Seems to me Teddy was more jealous of someone he personally
didn't like, getting high praise for being more an intellectual than
a hyperactive man-child.
Teddy should have opened his closed eyes and looked at what
Jefferson and he had in common: a love of history, a love of
reading, the environment, the outdoors and the love for the same
nation.
For all Teddy's showmanship-attention-getting jaunts, and physical
activity, he was the one who would die young compared to Jefferson.
I can speculate that on his death bed, Teddy was thinking,
"I'm dying and that rascal Jefferson lived longer than me."

[1] Daniel Ruddy, Theodore Roosevelt's History of the United States: His Own Words, Selected and Arranged by Daniel Ruddy, (New York: Smithsonian Books, 2010),11.

Rongo

TR was also very interested in the navy, and would serve as the Assistant Secretary of the Navy himself. He believed that Jefferson destroyed the United States Navy as President, which he considered unforgivable. As a consequence he blamed Jefferson for the War of 1812.

Sharks and love

And you base this on what? The fact that he read almost every book he could get his hands on?

Well maybe that is because Jefferson made his slaves do all his work.