Teddy
Roosevelt: A Singular Life
Gerald
R. Ford Presidential Museum
TR
Safari - ANSWER KEY
Go
exploring Teddy Roosevelt: A Singular Life
to
learn about the 26th president of the United
States.
Introduction
1. Who were Theodore
Roosevelt’s two heroes?
George Washington and Abraham Lincoln
- What
were three names used to describe Teddy Roosevelt?
Cowboy, a madman, a
dude, four-eyes, Rough Rider, the Gunpowder Governor, Colonel, a bully, the
cyclone, Bull Moose, childish, brilliant, insane, caring, daring
Why do you think
he had each of these nicknames?
Teedie
- Young
TR, “Teedy,” was sickly as a child. What was one illness he suffered from?
Asthma
What advice did
his father give him as a boy?
“You
have the mind, but … you must make your body.”
What did he do
to follow that advice?
Exercise:
wrestling, boxing, swimming, hiking, lifting weights
4. What were Teddy’s
passions from the time he was young?
Outdoors and hunting
Nature: collecting and studying
flora and fauna
“The Light has Gone Out of my Life”
5. Theodore Roosevelt and Alice
Lee were engaged on February
14, 1880. She died
four years later, on
February 14, 1884,
two days after the birth of their daughter, Alice . Who else died that
day? TR’s mother Mittie
- Later
in 1884, TR, still grieving, left for Dakota Territory
. Why?
To escape from or ease his grief
To get back to the outdoors and wilderness
he loved
A New Life and New Challenges
- In
November 1885, Theodore and childhood friend Edith Carow were engaged.
- The
next ten years were busy ones. Teddy ran for, or was appointed to, numerous
public positions, including U.S. Civil Service Commission, president of the Police
Commission of New York City, and mayor of New York City (he came in third)
.
“It was my one chance”
- William
McKinley appointed TR Asst. Secretary of the Navy.
Why did President McKinley ask his doctor, Leonard Wood, “Have you and Theodore
declared war yet?
TR and Leonard Wood both believed the U.S.
should declare war on Span. President McKinley was not as eager to get the
United States involved.
-
Which war was eventually declared? Spanish American War
-
Who were the Rough Riders? First Volunteer Cavalry / cowboys and Ivy League
easterners
Who lead them?
Colonel Leonard Wood and Lt. Col. Theodore Roosevelt
What are they
remembered for? Unique mix of soldiers / San Juan and Kettle Hills
Laurels for a Hero
- TR
returned from Cuba
a war hero. Soon after he was elected Governor
of New York.
- At
the Republican National Convention in 1900, Teddy Roosevelt was the popular
choice for Vice President . What
event led to him becoming the 26th United
States
president? McKinley’s assassination
. When? September 1901.
The Bully Pulpit
- Reflecting
on his presidency, TR said, “I did and caused to be done many things not
previously done by the President …” What does he cite? Broaden
use of presidential power, acted for the public welfare, and acted for the
common well-being of all our people .
-
When Teddy Roosevelt became president, after William McKinley died, there
were many things he wanted to accomplish. What were three things he wanted
to do within the United
States?
Greater government control of corporations, protection
for workers, regulation of railroads, inspection of banks, expansion of forest
reserves, flood control, conservation of natural resources
Three things
in foreign affairs?
Strengthen Monroe Doctrine, acquire Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines, strengthen navy / increase fleet size, build a canal
across Central America
“We Won a Great Triumph”
- After
what event did TR say, “We won a great triumph.”? Winning the 1904 presidential election
What did he
mean?
-
he saw winning this election
as very important so he could serve as president in his own right
-
won the popular vote by the
widest margin in history
- Describe
what the following accomplished:
Hepburn
Bill: regulated the railroad industry’s
transport pricing
Meat Inspection Act:
Gave federal government oversight of the meat packing
industry. Nation-wide outrage after Upton Sinclair’s novel The Jungle.
- Why
did President Roosevelt win the Nobel Peace Prize in 1906?
Portsmouth Treaty between Russia
and Japan
Lovely Life
-
What was Theodore Roosevelt’s salary as president? $50,000
-
How many children lived in the White House during TR’s presidency? six
What did Teddy
have to say about controlling his daughter Alice’s behavior?
“I can do one of two things. I can be
President of the United States or I can control Alice. I cannot possibly do both.”
Why do you
think he said that?
Alice’s behavior could be quite outrageous. She was outgoing
and contrary and wanted a lot of attention.
Back in the Arena
-
After leaving office in 1909, TR went on an African Safari with Kermit and Smithsonian naturalists.
During this trip,
Teddy was able to pursue what lifelong interest?
Collecting plant and animal specimens
- Why
were people surprised when TR agreed to run for president in 1912 for the
Progressive
party? He had promised he wouldn’t seek another term as
president.
Why did he change his
mind?
Because President Taft’s policies and actions
weren’t as Progressive as many, including TR, hoped they would be.
- Who
won the 1912 election, and what party did he belong to?
Woodrow Wilson, Democrat
- Where
does the term “Bull Moose” come from?
TR gave a speech in Milwaukee after being shot, saying,
“It takes more than that to kill a Bull Moose.”
The Sun Sets
- After
his final foray into politics, TR and son Kermit went on a second journey,
this time to South
America.
Their goal was to chart a tributary of the Amazon
River,
the “River of Doubt.”
What else did
they do on this trip? Collected
flora and fauna
- When
Theodore Roosevelt died on January
5, 1919 , his son Archie sent a cable to the rest of the
family saying, “The old lion is dead.”
What do you think
Archie meant by that?
- What
do you consider to be TR’s most significant contribution the United
States
or the world?
Why?