Theodore Roosevelt had a prominent upbringing in New York but suffered from illness as a child. He became a rancher in the Dakotas after the deaths of his wife and mother, then returned to New York where he married Edith Carow. Roosevelt held several political positions including police commissioner of New York City and Assistant Secretary of the Navy. He formed the Rough Riders volunteer cavalry unit to fight in the Spanish-American War. Elected as the 26th US President in 1901 after McKinley's assassination, Roosevelt championed progressivism and consumer protection. He unsuccessfully ran for president a third time in 1912 under the Progressive Party before spending his later years traveling and writing.
2. Parents
Theodore Roosevelt, Senior
Businessman, Roosevelt and Son banking and
investments
Active philanthropist
Involved with Metropolitan Museum of Art,
American Museum of Natural History, New
York Children’s Orthopedic Hospital
Martha Stewart Bulloch
Considered a “Southern Belle” and New York
socialite
The Roosevelt’s were a prominent New York family
of wealth and were well known in the area
3. "My father, Theodore Roosevelt, was the
best man I ever knew.”
-Theodore Roosevelt
4. Childhood
Born October 27, 1858 in New York, NY
One of four children
Ill as a child, suffered from severe asthma
Known for his rambunctious personality
Through physical activity TR was able to control his asthma
TR developed an affinity for the outdoors, physical activity,
and animals
5. Education
As a child TR was home schooled
In 1876 TR began studying at Harvard University
TR did well in most of his studies and also participated in several sports and other
on campus organizations
During his time at Harvard TR’s father passed away which greatly impacted the
young man
TR went on to study at Columbia Law School
Not interested in the material
Wrote a book on the War of 1812 instead. The book is still acclaimed to this day
Spent time at a Republican house in New York instead of class
6. Personal Life
In 1880 TR married Alice Hathaway
Lee and couple had one daughter,
Alice Lee Roosevelt.
Two days after their daughters birth
Alice died of Bright’s Disease
The same day as Alice’s death,
TR’s mother died in the same house
from typhoid
TR left his daughter under the
guardianship of his daughter for
three years while he grieved in the
Dakotas
Alice Lee Hathaway
Alice Lee Roosevelt
7. –Theodore Roosevelt, responding to a question asking if he
could control his daughter
“I can be President of the United States, or I
can control Alice. I cannot possibly do both.”
8. Political Emergence
Encouraged by friends Roosevelt served in the NY State
Assembly from 1882 to 1884 and had a highly productive time
TR was very involved in the presidential election of 1884 and
supported George F. Edmunds, but later be grudgingly
supported the party nominee James G. Blaine
TR got a taste of national level politics
From 1884 to 1886 TR lived in the Dakotas while he mourned
the deaths of his wife and mother
In 1886 TR ran for Mayor of NY and lost
9. Dakota Life
Roosevelt purchased two large properties where he became a
cattle rancher and general cowboy
The tales of TR’s time out west include stories of capturing
thieves, bar fights, and advocating for his fellow ranchers
TR established the Little Missouri Stockmen’s Association and
the Boone and Crockett Club
Here TR found much of his passion for conservation
In 1886 TR returned to NY after a particularly devastating
winter in the Dakotas
10. Second Marriage
Edith Kermit Carow and TR
married September 2, 1886
The couple were friends
as children
The marriage produced five
children Theodore III,
Kermit, Ethel, Archibald, and
Quentin in addition to TR’s
daughter Alice
11. –Margret Truman, The President’s House
Here Margret expounds on one of the many incidents of the
young Quentin Roosevelt and his friends. The young boys
considered themselves the “White House Gang”.
“Perhaps the gang’s worst crime was rolling
a giant snowball off the roof of the North
Portico. It hit one of the White House
policeman squarely on the head and
knocked him out. The president, who was
just stepping into his carriage, saw the oran
and although he tried to control himself, he
couldn’t resist laughing”
12. Working Life
After campaigning for President Benjamin Harrison, TR
was appointed as United States Civil Service Commission
In 1895 TR became the NYC Police Commissioner and
endured on an intense journey of reforming the corrupt
department
In 1897 President McKinley appointed TR as Secretary of
the Navy upon recommendations
Roosevelt held many responsibilities and was integral
voice during preparations of the Spanish-American War
13. Military Service
From 1882 to 1886 TR was part of the NY National
Guard
Roosevelt left his position as Assistant Secretary of the
Navy to form a volunteer calvary unit. The unit was
known as the “Rough Riders”
The Rough Riders spent time on the ground in Cuba
After their work in Cuba TR and the Rough Riders
returned home
14. Governor
Upon his return from Cuba TR ran for Governor of NY in 1898
and won by one percent of the vote
TR’s time as governor was highly productive and began the
platform for many of his later presidential policies
After the death of his first Vice President in 1899, President
McKinley appointed TR his new VP
Generally TR was bored by the vain position but very much
enjoyed being on the campaign trail for McKinley’s reelection
Upon McKinley’s assassination in 1901 TR became president
15. Post-Presidency
During his presidency TR had groomed William Howard
Taft to be his successor. Taft won the 1908 election
During the early days of Taft’s presidency TR was away
exploring in Europe and Africa
The trip was sponsored and funded by the
Smithsonian and Andrew Carnegie
TR became increasingly disappointed as Taft failed to
execute TR’s progressive ideals
16. Election of 1912
The three candidates were William Howard Taft on the republican ticket,
Woodrow Wilson on the democratic ticket, and TR on the third party ticket
TR’s party was the Progressive party or the Bull Moose party because
TR stated he was as strong as a bull moose
While on the campaign trail TR was shot but decided to give his 90 minute
speech before being seen by a doctor
Wilson won the election with 42% as TR came in second with 27% and
Taft finished last
TR’s inability to win over the republican vote from Taft accounted for his
loss
17. Final Years
TR went on yet another expedition to South America but this trip left
him very ill. Suffering from infections, tropical fever, and more TR’s
health took a debilitating turn though he did live several more years
As World War I broke out TR became a harsh critic of President
Wilson’s policies and called for more aggressive attacks against
Germany
Politically TR’s voice was still very respected
TR’s youngest child, Quentin died in the war which destroyed the
ailing Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt, II passed away on January 5, 1919 in his sleep
18. Works Cited
"Miller Center." American President: Theodore Roosevelt: Family Life.
University of Virginia, n.d. Web. 27 June 2015. <http://millercenter.org/
president/roosevelt/essays/biography/7>.
Morris, Edmund. The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt. New York: Coward,
McCann & Geoghegan, 1979. Print.
"Photographs and Other Visual Resources." Theodore Roosevelt Collection.
Harvard University, n.d. Web. 29=7 June 2015. <http://hcl.harvard.edu/
libraries/houghton/collections/roosevelt.cfm>.
"Roosevelt, Theodore, Sr." TR Center. Dickinson State University, n.d. Web.
27 June 2015. <http://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/Learn-About-
TR/TR-Encyclopedia/Family-and-Friends/Theodore-Roosevelt-
Sr.aspx>.
Roosevelt, Theodore. Theodore Roosevelt; an Autobiography .. New York:
Macmillan, 1913. Print.