I hate reading. Hate school.

Back in the late 90's as I went though college, I watched some PBS special on this guy. I had no idea why he was on Mount Rushmore with the other 3 guys.

After the special, my interest peaked up, picked up "The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt" by Edmund Morris.

- Almost died of Asthma as a child
- Went all around the world as a zoologist kid. Kept "examples" of his finds in his fridge
- Married young.
- Wife and mother died within a few hours of each other
- Went out to the badlands to get away, kicked people's asses when they made fun of his eastern accent
- Cleaned up NYC's corrupt police force
- Rough Riders
- Wanted to run for president, popular after the Spanish-American war. Republican party put him where he'd cause the least damage, as VP candidate.
- McKinley wins, TR VP
- McKinley assassinated

I dunno, this guy fascinated me and found Edmund Morris's series of books about him a good read.

I always thought his experiences with Mark Twain were very interesting.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXuLLxr-qn8

TR intrigues me. I really like his energy and enthusiam but I'm not so sure I agree with all of his policy. Undoubtedly he was brilliant. He wrote several books and supposedly read a book a day. He knew other languages and cultures probably better than any other president.

Right now I am reading Colonel Roosevelt (Morris) which is my 3rd TR biography which I guess says I find him a facinating subject to say the least. It is about "old" Roosevelt after his second term. I have also read Mornings on Horseback by McCullough (young Teddy) and Theodore Roosevelt: A Life by Nathan Miller (full life story).

TR is very important to the survival of college football at the turn of the century. He essentially convinced Ivy League school presidents to adapt rules instead of abolishing the sport which would have been detrimental to the sport at the time. He is also influential is helping create the NCAA, which obviously had a great influence on the sustainability of not just football, but college sport in general.

TR was shot during an attempted assassination while running for Pres in 1912. This came right before giving a campaign speech. He went on to give the speech, then sought medical attention.

At the outbreak of WWI, Roosevelt wanted to create a voluntary infantry group and go take on the Germans (basically regroup his Rough Riders from 1898). This one is always funny to me because I always picture these guys:
taking on this:


BUT being about twenty years older.

Luckily, Woodrow Wilson denied this request.



Basically TR is the man.

I am a big Teddy fan. Like all great people of the past his flaws can be as great as his strengths. He was an adent conservationist who was responsible for protecting a lot of the major landmarks that we cherish today. Very cool dude.