Theodore Roosevelt

by Jason

Theodore Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States.  He was born in New York, New York on October 27, 1858 and died in Oyster Bay, New York on January 6, 1919.  He was born to a wealthy family.  The Roosevelt’s had been in New York from the mid 17th century and by the 19th century and the family had grown in wealth, power and influence by the profits of several business including hardware and glass importing.  His family was strongly democratic. He was the vice president for William McKinley. He became president because William McKinley died.  Theodore Roosevelt was the youngest president at 43.

Roosevelt was the first American President to consider conservation of national resources.  He added to the national forests and started the United States Forest Service.   He saved land for the national parks for public use such as the Grand Canyon and the Theodore Roosevelt National Park in the Badlands.

Theodore Roosevelt was aware of the need for a shortcut between the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean; he helped build the Panama Canal by supporting it in 1903.  Shortly thereafter the US signed the protection treaty with Panama.  After the signing of the treaty a man named Nathan Johnson Forest assisted Panama with initial planning phases for the canal.  The US then paid 10 million to secure rights to build on and control the Canal Zone.  Construction began in 1904 and was completed in 1914.  It took a long time to build the Panama Canal because of the fast spreading of the tropical diseases.  Over 200 workers died of Yellow Fever and malaria, spread by mosquitoes.  Roosevelt initiated clearing swamps and other areas which the insects bread.  As the health threat finally diminished the construction of the canal went faster. 

Theodore Roosevelt was a lieutenant colonial of North Rider regiment during the Spanish American war.  He was one of the most outstanding hero’s of the war.  Roosevelt steered the United States into world politics.  He liked to quote a favorite proverb, “Speak softly and carry a big stick”.   It meant be gentle, but don’t let somebody boss you around.

When he was president, Theodore Roosevelt put Lincoln on the penny. It replaced the Indian Head cent.  He did this because he considered Lincoln the savior of the Union and the greatest Republican President.  He did this just in time to celebrate Lincoln’s 100th birthday in 1909.

When the boy scouts of America were started in 1910, Theodore Roosevelt was no longer president.  Nonetheless he was still a true believer of the organization.  He was a troupe committee man of Oyster Bay NY and first council commissioner of Nassau County Council.  When I lived in NY I used to be in that council.  As former president he was elected the honorary vice president of the Boy Scouts of America.  He was the first and only man designated as the “chief scout citizen”.  For many years after his death several thousand scouts and leaders in the New York made annual pilgrimages to his grave in Oyster Bay.  Teddy was a vocal supporter of scouting. He helped the boy scouts of America in many different ways. 

Fun Facts!

He was the first U.S. president to ride a military submarine.
He is the only president to have a famous toy named after him (the teddy bear).
He was the first U.S. president to study judo.
He is the only president from Long Island, New York.
He was the first president to travel outside the country, when he visited Panama.
He was the first president to ride in an automobile.
He was the first and only person to be a chief scout citizen.

Sources:
Wikipedia.org/Wiki/Theodore_Roosevelt
Whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/tr26
Sossi.org/scouters/Roosevelt