TEDDY ROOSEVELT

Picture of Teddy Roosevelt from a painting by J. S. Sargent: Teddy in 1903, resplendent in turn-of-the-century formal suit with watchchain showing, leans on a stair bannister. Teddy Roosevelt became the 26th President of the United States after William McKinley was assasinated in 1901. Roosevelt was the youngest President ever. He was famous for many things, including his military service, overseeing the construction of the Panama Canal, and his policies on American industries. He is also famous for his stong efforts to promote conservation.

Roosevelt was friends with men like Gifford Pinchot, John Muir, and many other important conservationists of the time. Roosevelt pushed through new ideas like National Parks and Wildlife Refuges. He more than tripled the size of National Forest acreage during his Presidency.

TEDDY ROOSEVELT quotes from Mark Twain

He is magnificent when his ears are pricked up and his tail is in the air, and he attacks a lightning express, only to be lost in the dust the express creates.

- quoted in Isabel Lyon's Journal, 1/7/1906

Mr. Roosevelt is the Tom Sawyer of the political world of the twentieth century; always showing off; always hunting for a chance to show off; in his frenzied imagination the Great Republic is a vast Barnum circus with him for a clown and the whole world for audience; he would go to Halifax for half a chance to show off and he would go to hell for a whole one.

- Mark Twain in Eruption

We are insane, each in our own way, and with insanity goes irresponsibility. Theodore the man is sane; in fairness we ought to keep in mind that Theodore, as statesman and politician, is insane and irresponsible.

- Letter to J. H. Twichell, 2/16/1905

Our people have adored this showy charlatan as perhaps no impostor of his brood has been adored since the Golden Calf, so it is to be expected that the Nation will want him back again after he is done hunting other wild animals heroically in Africa, with the safeguard and advertising equipment of a park of artillery and a brass band.

- Letter written 3/6/1908 (reprinted in The New York Times 5/31/1912)