Here are some quick facts, opinions, quotes and other information on President Theodore Roosevelt:
Personal Information on Theodore Roosevelt:
- Twenty-sixth President (1901-1909)
- Birthday: October 27, 1858 (Wednesday)
- Birthplace: New York City, New York
- Birthplace Website: President Theodore Roosevelt’s Birthplace
- Zodiac Sign: Scorpio
- Date of Death: January 6, 1919 (Monday)
- Place of Death: Oyster Bay, New York
- Place of Burial: Young’s Memorial Cemetery, Oyster Bay, New York
- Burial Website: President Theodore Roosevelt’s Grave
- Cause of Death: Coronary embolism and other causes
- Age: 60 years old
- Length of Retirement: 3595 days
Interesting Theodore Roosevelt facts:
- Theodore Roosevelt’s daughter Alice Lee Roosevelt would marry Nicholas Longworth III in the East Room at the White House on February 17, 1906. Alice would be one of nine children of a President to marry in the White House. The others were: Maria Hester Monroe (daughter of James Monroe, probably in the Blue Room), John Adams (son of John Quincy Adams, in the Blue Room), Elizabeth Tyler (daughter of John Tyler, in the East Room), Nellie Grant (daughter of Ulysses S Grant, in the East Room), Jessie Woodrow and Eleanor Randolph Wilson (daughters of Woodrow Wilson, Jessie in the East Room and Eleanor in the Blue Room), Lynda Bird Johnson (daughter of Lyndon Johnson, in the East Room), and Tricia Nixon (daughter of Richard Nixon, in the Rose Garden).
- Theodore Roosevelt loved boxing. He fought in intramural competitions at Harvard as a light heavyweight. He continued boxing with sparring partners when he was Governor of New York and even into his Presidency. When he was President he would spar with military aides. One day, when he was fifty years old, he was sparring with a young captain. The young man landed a solid hit to Roosevelt’s left eye. The eye would start hemorrhaging. This led to a detached retina and then blindness in his left eye. Roosevelt would heed his doctor’s suggestion and give up boxing.
- Theodore Roosevelt issued the fourth most executive orders. This does not include executive memorandums or discretionary executive actions. TR had 1081 executive orders. That was almost as many as all the previous Presidents before him. Presidents George Washington through William McKinley had a total of 1262 all added together. The leader in issuing executive orders is, by far, Franklin Roosevelt who had 3721. Second place goes to Woodrow Wilson, who had 1803. Third place goes to Calvin Coolidge, who had 1203. By comparison, our current President, Barack Obama, has issued 260 with about a month to go in his second term, which is the third lowest of the last ten Presidents. John F. Kennedy (214, who didn’t even complete one term) and George WH Bush (166, who only served one term) were lower.
My favorite Theodore Roosevelt Quotes:
Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.
Do what you can, with what you have, where your are.
People ask the difference between a leader and a boss. The leader leads, and the boss drives.
Big jobs usually go to the men who prove their ability to outgrow small ones.
I am part of everything that I have read.
It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.
With self-discipline most anything is possible.
Theodore Roosevelt blogs (click the title to go to that page):
Theodore Roosevelt page on Presidential Crossroads (click “Theodore Roosevelt” below):
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt Blogs:
His Brother Elliott and Niece Eleanor
TR’s First Wife Julia, Daughter Alice, and Mom Mittie
The Election of 1912 – The Roosevelt Taft Rift
Ten Biggest Presidential Personalities
What similiar trait do I have with Presidents Garfield to Wilson
Personal thoughts on Theodore Roosevelt:
Strengths:
Determination, Visionary, Strong willed, A Fighter
Weaknesses:
Would get upset when he didn’t get his way, Not very patient with those he thought crossed him or had different views than he did
Presidential Greatness Scale (1-poor to 5-great): 3.8
Comments:
Theodore Roosevelt had one of those bigger than life personalities. He loved being in the spotlight. He was probably the founder of the “bully pulpit,” which the Presidency is often called now. Roosevelt was determined to let the world know we had every right to be looked at as a world leader. Sailing our White Fleet around the world was just one of the spotlights he displayed while he was President. He put us on the world map and for that I believe he deserves a high ranking. One of my personal issues with Teddy Roosevelt is his overuse of the executive order (see item 3 above under Interesting Theodore Roosevelt Facts). I believe this has set off a chain reaction where Presidents, if they don’t get their way, bypass the elected members of Congress who are supposed to really represent the opinions of their citizens. There are times that it is probably needed, but the first five Presidents (who most people consider Founding Fathers) only used it a total of fifteen times.
Favorite Theodore Roosevelt book:
TR, The Last Romantic by HW Brands
Favorite Theodore Roosevelt story:
After Theodore Roosevelt left the Presidency he led the Smithsonian – Roosevelt African Expedition. This was a safari through east and central Africa. Roosevelt and his crew would capture or kill 11,400 wild animals, many of which would be stuffed and put on display at the American Museum of Natural History at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC. Among the animals that were killed were six white rhinos.
Most memorable Theodore Roosevelt memory:
I really haven’t had much of an opportunity to do any Theodore Roosevelt exploring yet. With that said, I guess my most memorable Teddy Roosevelt memory would be Robin Williams playing him in the movie “A Night at the Museum.”
Favorite Theodore Roosevelt possession (see picture at the top):
A Theodore Roosevelt coin set I got from the US Mint
