Theodore Roosevelt
Uploaded by bob420 on Apr 28, 2002
Theodore Roosevelt was born in New York City on October 27, 1858. He was the second of the four children by the parents of Theodore and Martha Bulloch Roosevelt. Theodore was a puny kid when he was little and suffered from bad asthma. This kept him from being able to get out and play like other kids(Stefan Lorant 13-17) When Theodore was about 12, his father told him that he would need a strong body to give his mind a chance to develop fully. The next year, while alone on a trip to Maine, Theodore was tormented by two big bully’s. He felt ashamed because he was not strong enough to fight back. Roosevelt's father built a gymnasium in the family home, and Theodore exercised there regularly. He overcame his asthma and built up unusual physical strength. He studied under tutors until he entered Harvard in 1876. He earned good grades, and it was said that Theodore would ask so many questions during class, that the teacher would often have to remind him who the teacher was. The 22 year old Roosevelt started his career as a politician right after finishing his Harvard law degree. He was appointed to the U.S Civil Service Commission in 1889.
Cuban rebels had been revolting against their Spanish rulers. Many Americans demanded that the United States help the Cubans. On Feb. 15, 1898, the U.S. battleship Maine blew up in Havana harbor. Roosevelt tried to rush getting prepared for war against Spain. He became impatient with McKinley's attempts to avoid war. In private, Roosevelt complained that the president had "no more backbone than a chocolate eclair." The United States declared war on Spain. Roosevelt immediately resigned as assistant secretary of the Navy so he could fight. Even before resigning, he had started to recruit men for a cavalry regiment. This unit became the First Volunteer Cavalry Regiment. Under Roosevelt's command, they were known as the Rough Riders. Most of the men were former college athletes and Western cowboys. American troops attacked a ring of fortified hills surrounding Santiago, Cuba. Colonel Roosevelt led his men in a charge up Kettle Hill, which flanked the blockhouse on San Juan Hill (Theodore Roosevelt 156-158) He and the Rough Riders became nationally famous. Twenty years later he declared: "San Juan was the great day of my life."
Theodore Roosevelt was one of the most well liked Presidents America...