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TEDDY ROOSEVELT: MORE FUN THAN A GOAT, PART I

© John S. Cooper

Most of us can name three of the four people depicted on Mount Rushmore, especially if they count their pocket change, (the penny, nickel and quarter). The fourth president on Mount Rushmore that few can name is Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt. Although not on any money today, he was right on the money in his day. He had more fun in the White House than any other president, and he took the presidency in new directions. John Hay, his secretary of state, once said that Teddy was "more fun than a goat."

Teddy was the first president to be elected on his personality. There had been earlier campaigns which created an image (rarely if ever true) such as the log cabin campaigns of Jackson, W.H. Harrison, and Lincoln. But Teddy was the first to be pure personality. He was before the people, so a falsely packaged image would not succeed. He was real, and the people sensed it. He was the first president to be identified by his initials. When you spoke of "TR", everyone knew you meant Teddy.

Teddy was a small, sickly child. One day when Teddy was 12 or 13 years old, he was taunted by some local bullies. His father installed a gym for Teddy in the basement of their home, and Teddy became a life-long advocate of what he called "the active life." By the time he entered Harvard University, things had changed. He joined the boxing team, and became the team captain. While in Law School, he joined the National Guard and became an active horseback rider.

But Teddy was also a serious student. While a senior at Harvard, he wrote a book entitled "The Naval War of 1812." Although it did not sell well due to his dull writing style, it was hailed by scholars and military experts as the best history of the War of 1812 up to that time.

After school, he surprised his friends and family by entering politics. Although considered an occupation of low class people, Teddy decided that politicians were the governing class, and he "intended to be one of the governing class." He was elected as a Republican to the 21st District seat in the state assembly. At first, the other legislators did not take him seriously due to his age and the fact that he "looked like a dude." But his energy and intelligence soon earned him respect, and in the second of his three terms, he was elected leader of the Republican minority in the assembly. His close cooperation with the Democratic governor, Grover Cleveland, prevented him from being re-elected as Republican leader during his third term.