TEDDY ROOSEVELT: MORE FUN THAN A GOAT, PART I
During his third term, tragedy struck. Teddy had been married shortly after graduating. He was deeply in love with his wife, and had a very happy home life. His mother, who lived with Teddy and his wife, became very close to Teddy's wife. In February 1884, Teddy's wife died in childbirth. His mother died later the same day. Teddy was devastated.
After leaving his new daughter with relatives, Teddy went west and became a cowboy. He bought several large spreads in the Badlands, and put together the largest cattle ranch in the area. At first, he was not accepted by the locals. He would use language such as "hasten forward quickly" when he wanted a ranch hand to do something. Again, he was considered a dude, but he quickly won respect and even admiration.
Once, when riding through a neighbor's land as a shortcut to a far piece of his own ranch, Teddy and some of his men came across a stray calf. The rules of the range were that any stray calf would be branded with the mark of whoever owned the land on which the calf was found, and everyone carried branding irons of his neighbor's for that purpose. Teddy built a fire, but one of his men put Teddy's brand on the calf. Teddy fired him on the spot. The man protested that he had put Teddy's brand on the calf, and Teddy replied "Any man who would steal for me would steal from me." The story spread over the badlands, further making Teddy's reputation.
Teddy came back east, met and married his second wife, and ran unsuccessfully for mayor of New York City. He served for six years as Civil Service Commissioner, returning to New York City to become Police Commissioner. As Commissioner, he often walked city streets late at night catching police officers accepting bribes.
In 1896, Teddy campaigned for McKinley and was rewarded with the post of Assistant Secretary of the Navy. Teddy opposed McKinley's efforts to keep peace, favoring a war with Spain. Teddy even said publicly that McKinley "had no more backbone than a chocolate eclair." One day, when Teddy was in charge due to the Secretary's absence, he ordered the entire Pacific Fleet from California to Hong Kong with orders to be ready to move against the Spanish in the Philippines in the event of war. This was against the policy of McKinley, but when war came
Latest Articles