Teddy Roosevelt

By John & Dee

Early Life

   Theodore Roosevelt was born in New York in 1858. He did not have a middle name. When he was a child, his nickname was "Teddy." He had four brothers and sisters. Though he had poor eyesight, he quickly learned how to read and liked it very much. He loved natural history the most. He suffered illness throughout his youth. After graduating from Harvard University, he married Alice Hathaway Lee in 1878. He went to Columbia University for law school, but he dropped out because he didn't like the classes there.

   Theodore Roosevelt explored many other careers before starting a career in politics. Before being president, he was:

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a state legislator

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a cowboy and ranch owner

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a civil service commissioner

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the New York Police Commissioner

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Assistant Secretary of the Navy

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Governor of the State of New York.

 

Presidency  

   Roosevelt was President from 1901-1909. He was the youngest president ever. He was the 26th President of the United States. He lost his third try for president in 1912 to William Howard Taft, the only president to also serve as Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. Roosevelt was famous for some of the things he said. One of the famous quotes was, "Speak softly and carry a big stick." Another of his quotes was, " In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing." Click here for some of his other famous quotes.

  After his last term as President, Roosevelt traveled the world. This included trips to Africa and the Amazon. He donated animals and specimens to both the Smithsonian Institute and the Museum of Natural History in New York. Roosevelt remained active to the end of his life. He died in his sleep at his Oyster Bay, New York, home in 1919 at the age of sixty.

 

The Bear Hunt 

  On November 14, 1902, Theodore Roosevelt went on a bear hunt in Mississippi. After this bear hunt, Americans had a new beloved toy, the "teddy bear".  Click here to learn more about how these two things are related!

 

 

 

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