Curious facts about Theodore Roosevelt from New York. What was the 26th president of the United States remembered for?

Theodore Roosevelt went down in the history of American politics as the most extraordinary and talented figure. He was not only a political leader but also a Nobel Prize winner, a military officer and a writer. His biography contains many interesting facts that made him famous in his native New York and far beyond the country. Read more about these facts at new-york-yes.

Education and childhood

The future American president Theodore Roosevelt was born on October 27, 1958, in New York, into a family of Dutch origin. As a child, he suffered from asthma and rarely attended school. He received his secondary education at home.

1. In 1876, he enrolled at Harvard University. In his student years, he distinguished himself from his peers with his rude manners. For instance, when he saw his friend, he hooted after him, and if argued with someone, he tried to prove his point with his fist. Despite this, he was able to make friends and do well academically. In the academic ranking, Theodore was one of the first on the list, which consisted of 161 students.
2. When he was a kid, he used to travel with his parents a lot. Through this experience, the future politician constantly broadened his mind and gained new knowledge. Living in Germany for a long time, Theodore learned the language of this country.

Beginning of his professional activity

1. In the 1890s, Theodore was appointed a police commissioner in New York. He would inspect the work of patrol officers even at night by walking the streets in civilian clothes.
2. After a few years working in the police force, he participated in military operations in Cuba. For his bravery, Theodore was awarded the highest military award in the United States, the Medal of Honor.
3. From 1899 to 1900, he served as the governor of New York.
4. Later, he joined the Republican Party and began his political career.

Presidency in the United States

1. In 1900, Roosevelt won the presidential election, and in 1904, he was re-elected for a second term in the same position.
2. His main goal was to achieve social justice. He announced this in the first address to the American Congress after taking office as president. He made it because, at that time, the United States faced significant challenges in the social sphere, such as increasing levels of corruption, unemployment and street protests.
3. He is the youngest president in U.S. history. In 1900, he became vice president after the assassination of William McKinley and then the 26th American president at the age of 42.
4. On February 14, 1884, he lost his mother and wife. After the tragedy, he decided to take a break from politics. Roosevelt moved from New York to Dakota and took up farming. But due to drought and financial losses, he was forced to return and continue working in politics.
5. He became the first American president to invite an African American to the White House. Roosevelt was also the first American to receive the Nobel Prize.
6. After his defeat in the election in 1912, Theodore flew from New York to Brazil to participate in a scientific expedition. During the research, he discovered a wound on his leg. It got infected, and Roosevelt was diagnosed with tropical fever, which could have been fatal.
7. Theodore Roosevelt became one of the most prominent presidents in American history. His image was often depicted in advertisements, publications and architectural objects. In 1927, Roosevelt’s granite face was created on Mount Rushmore alongside 3 other outstanding US presidents, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln.

Hobbies

1. Roosevelt had an agricultural business. He loved spending time outdoors among cows, horses and fields. Once, while hunting wild animals, he came up with the idea of opening his own ranch. He and his brother soon built a business in which he invested $14,000.
2. Throughout his life, the New York politician wrote books, which was his only source of income for several years. Even before winning the election, he wrote books on travel and farming. Roosevelt became the author of several dozen books and over 100,000 letters.
3. Theodore Roosevelt had his own zoo during his presidency. When he lived in the White House, he would sometimes visit his pets: dogs, rabbits, parrots… He loved animals and enjoyed spending his free time with them.
4. He drank a lot of coffee, as it was the favorite drink of the New Yorker and the youngest US President. His close ones said that he put 7 teaspoons of sugar in a huge coffee cup. Sometimes, he drank coffee several times a day.
5. Roosevelt was an avid reader who read books every day. Quickly flipping through the pages, he could easily remember new information and answer any questions about what he read. He also had a strange habit. After reading one page, he would tear it out and throw it away.
6. He was the first president to fly in a plane. In the early 90s, Theodore Roosevelt participated in the air tests of this aircraft. In the field of aviation, it was a grand event, which was attended by about 10,000 people. They all watched as Theodore, at the invitation of aviator Arch Hoxsey, took on the plane and then flew for a few minutes. Fortunately, the flight was successful. The plane remained in operational condition while Theodore and Arch were thrilled with the experience of flying in the sky. According to some publications, the President of the United States made the following comment in this regard:

“I envy your professional conquest of space!” he told the aviator.

Life priorities of Theodore Roosevelt

1. Roosevelt was an environmentalist. During his presidency, he implemented ecological reforms. For example, he allocated 800,000 square kilometers of land for forests.
2. He became a hero of the Spanish-American War. In 1898, Roosevelt voluntarily went off to the war and was appointed colonel of the Volunteer Cavalry Regiment. His comrades in arms described him as an example of bravery. He was a role model for other soldiers and performed feats, risking his life.
3. He contributed to the development of American football. In the early 1900s, this sport was dangerous due to the high mortality rate among players. They would die as a result of limb fractures. In this regard, Roosevelt held a meeting with the administration of American universities to discuss new safety regulations for athletes on the football field. As a result, injuries among football players were reduced.
4. The life of the youngest US president was crowded with numerous bright events that were remembered by many. Some of them were specifically arranged to attract the attention of journalists. A 160-kilometer horseback ride and testing a new submarine were one of such events.
5. He implemented reforms to improve the product quality. In the early 20th century, there were violations of sanitary standards in American enterprises that produced food products. Government officials did not care whether these products were safe to consume. Therefore, there were many cases of poisoning with low-quality food, and Theodore Roosevelt addressed this problem. Sending inspectors to factories, he collected information about unsanitary shops and unfit food products. Despite numerous contradictions from representatives of the food industry, he signed the Pure Food and Drug Act.