When we were in Bismark, we heard that the Theodore Roosevelt President Library was opening in Medora, one of our favorite places in the Dakotas. So we went online and bought some tickets for the 2nd week of July. We hadn’t planned on coming to Medora but are so glad we got to visit again. But . . . the cute little town we had known in 2020 now has a lot of visitors and is really busy. We hadn’t known where the library would be built because the town was already crowded, but it’s on the hill overlooking the town and is next to the Medora Musical location—a popular (but pricey) activity to enjoy.
Hope you enjoy this quick trip around the museum and make plans to come here soon. You’ll find hotels and restaurants, as well as campgrounds, when you come. The town has a small airport, and is a short drive to Bismark in the middle of the state.
When we entered the library, we came to a wide-open room that had rows and rows of information about Mr. Roosevelt. Along both walls were entrances to areas that went into more details of that time period. We’ll go through some of his life in chronological order.
He returned in 1884, reeling from the deaths of his wife and mother on the same day, uncertain about his political future, and searching for healing. In the stunning landscape of the Badlands, he connected with nature and embraced the rugged, minimalist life of a rancher. The Medora community helped him rebuild his sense of purpose. He’s been known to say that this time in the land prepared him for his life ahead.
After the U.S. declared war on Spain after a series of violent incidents in Spain’s colony of Cuba, including the explosion of the USS Maine in Havana’s harbor. The government called for volunteers to bolster its small military of only 28,000 men but wouldn’t send the country’s military. TR immediately resigned as assistant secretary of the Navy to establish the First U.S. Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, famously known as the Rough Riders.
Previously serving for six months as vice president under William McKinley, Roosevelt became president after McKinley’s assassination in 1901. He was 42 years old upon his first inauguration, making him the youngest person to hold the office.
President Roosevelt was a model leader whose courage, compassion, and thoughtfulness resulted in well-informed decisions and well-conceived outcomes. He achieved this balance by carefully considering issues and meeting with a wide range of people with diverse perspectives, including his family, cabinet members, world leaders, scholars, and everyday Americans.
Now it’s your [our] turn to meet with [AI version] President Roosevelt.
We had heard that President Trump asked this question when he visited on July1:
“Do you consider the Panama Canal your greatest achievement?” AI Theodore Roosevelt replied that the Panama Canal was one of his proudest achievements, while also emphasizing that his broader legacy included conservation, creating national parks and forests, and improving the welfare of the American people.
living in the White House
The 1902 renovation of the White House added a tennis court behind the West Wing. Those lucky enough to be invited to play became members of TR’s “Tennis Cabinet,” an informal group of advisors made up of diplomats, cabinet members, press members, former Rough Riders, and professional athletes.
Edith and TR utterly transformed and modernized the Executive Mansion, which they officially renamed the White House. In their first year of residence, they entertained over 40,000 guests. Edith was known as her husband’s political alter ego.
Edith Roosevelt elevated the importance of the first lady’s office. She was the first to employ a full-time salaried social secretary and managed the renovation of the Executive Mansion.
TR once observed, “Whenever I go against Edith’s judgment, I regret it.”
Edith worked with a renowned architectural firm on the 1902 renovation. They built a new West Wing and grand staircase, turning the second floor offices into the family residence.
He also added bearskin rugs to the Green and Blue rooms. The renovation lasted six months and cost $467,105.60, equivalent to over $17 million today.
Quentin, the youngest Roosevelt, led the White House Gang. Members included the Roosevelt children, the children of other elected officials, and friends from school.
They dared to spitball Andrew Jackson’s formal White House portrait, but TR made them clean it up.
The White House Gang created a “Black Hand Society” where members would ink their hands and press them against the pristine walls of the White House.
They once left a Gang member stranded inside the small elevator as a joke!
3rd term?
Although TR had handpicked Taft as his successor, he became dissatisfied with Taft’s performance as president and Republican Party leader. Despite promising not to seek the presidency a 3rd time, TR threw his hat in the ring.
TR’s campaign in 1912 started quite successfully. He won 9 state primaries, while Taft won only 2. However, party bosses controlled one third of the nominating delegates and awarded them to Taft.
TR became their first nominee, with Governor Hiram Johnson of California as his vice presidential running mate.
When reporters questioned TR about his fitness for the presidency, he quipped, “I’m fit as a bull moose,” and his Progressive Party became known as the Bull Moose Party.
Thousands of people, especially women and Black Americans, attended a convention for the first time. In the picture that went with this information, a number of women were wearing iconic suffragette white clothing.
In the race for the White House, this next picture showed up in the newspapers.
Remember when I said we had our pictures taken by AI? Here’s a sample of what was done with our pictures for this period of time in TR’s life.
assignation attempt
He forced himself to cough and, seeing no blood, knew that no vital organs were damaged.
Despite his injury, TR proceeded to the Milwaukee Auditorium to delivery his scheduled address. He spoke for an impressive 80 minutes to an enthusiastic crown of thousands before leaving to go to the hospital.
While TR and Taft lost, Woodrow Wilson won the 1912 election.
after the election
Originally intended as a big-game hunting trip with his son Kermit, the venture became a scientific expedition when TR collaborated with the Smithsonian Institution. It was a boyhood dream come true. The trip embodied TR’s love for conservation and his passion for hunting.
At the time of the Smithsonian-Roosevelt Expedition after TR’s 2-year term was over, the white rhinoceros was nearly extinct. TR understood that hunting could further harm the population.
In 1913-1914 following his defeat in the 1912 presidential election, TR joined a famed Brazilian explorer on a daring expedition to map the uncharted Rio de Duvida (River of Doubt) deep within the Amazon rainforest.
The Amazon’s menacing environment—its untamed rivers, constant humidity,and predatory wildlife—pushed the men to their limits. They faced hunger, disease, exhaustion, injury, and even death.
Sagamore Hill
During his presidency, Sagamore Hill became known as the Summer White House, and in his later years he continued to work and write at the house, surrounded by the people and things he loved.
TR once wrote, “There is no form of happiness on the earth, no form of success of any kind, that in any way approaches the happiness of the husband and the wife who are married lovers and the father and mother of plenty of healthy children.” For TR, his life with his wife, children, and all their numerous grandchildren was a source of unparalleled joy and fulfillment.
Medal of Honor
Theodore Roosevelt is the only president to receive the Medal of Honor.
(Arthur MacArthur Jr. and his son Douglas MacArthur are the first father and son to each receive the Medal of Honor.)
Ted Roosevelt Jr. landed with the first wave of the forces assaulting the enemy-held beaches in Normandy where he repeatedly led groups from the beach, over the seawall and established them inland. His valor, courage, and presence in the very front of the attack and his complete unconcern at being under heavy fire, inspired the troops to heights of enthusiasm and self-sacrifice. On July 12, 1944, a little over one month after the landing at Utah Beach, Roosevelt died of a heart attack in France. At the time of his death, Roosevelt had been recommended for the Distinguished Service Cross but was upgraded to the Medal of Honor. (from National Veterans Memorial and Museum)
Inspired by their father’s service, all four of his sons, Theodore “Ted” III, Kermit, Archibald, and Quentin, served in World War I and II, but only Ted received the Medal of Honor.
the lion is dead
On the evening of January 5, 1919, while recovering from a lengthy hospital stay, TR said to his valet, James Amos, “James will you please put out the light?” Edith checked on him twice that night, and James stayed by his side. Sometime in the early morning, TR’s breathing stopped, and he died. Doctors suspected it was a blood clot in his lungs.
When we got to this point in the library, Barney and I both had tears in our eyes. The honor given to TR at this point overwhelmed us.
But we weren’t left with this sorrow. We were each given the following encouragement:
When you go out into this world, remember . . . Get action. Seize the day.
Theodore Roosevelt
Now back to Lewis & Clark. We’re driving straight north to Williston, ND, and the confluence of the Yellowstone and Missouri Rivers.
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