Thanks to Teddy – Part 1

By the Never-Bored RVers

If asked, “Who was Teddy Roosevelt,” most Americans might say, “Oh, he was on a horse in movies about a “Night at the Museum” or he’s the guy who has a stuffed bear named after him.  More informed Americans remember him as the 26th president of our nation and a few realize that he is the most contemporary of the four presidents depicted on Mt. Rushmore.

The more you learn about Teddy Roosevelt, the more you will appreciate him and understand that probably no other individual in American history has shaped so much of our culture and accomplished so much.  For instance, he is he only person to earn both the Nobel Prize for Peace AND the Congressional Medal of Honor for bravery.

What does this have to do with RVing? As you travel through America visiting our National Parks, you will often hear mentioned that it was President Theodore Roosevelt who stepped in to set aside and protect uniquely beautiful areas for future generations to enjoy.

When Congress refused to act to preserve many areas because of influence from commercial interests, Teddy (or “The Colonel,” as he preferred) used his presidential powers to establish protection until Congress would act.  He set the standard for national protection of some of America’s most pristine lands that were in line for decimation.

Here are some of the areas he was able to preserve:  As chief executive from 1901 to 1909, he signed legislation establishing five national parks: Crater Lake in Oregon; Wind Cave in South Dakota; Sullys Hill in North Dakota (later redesignated a game preserve); Mesa Verde in Colorado; and Platt, Oklahoma (now part of Chickasaw National Recreation Area).  By the end of 1906 he had proclaimed four national monuments: Devils Tower, Wyoming; El Morro, New Mexico; and Montezuma Castle and Petrified Forest, both in Arizona.

He designated a large portion of the Grand Canyon as a national monument in 1908. By the end of his term he had reserved six predominantly cultural areas and twelve predominantly natural areas in this manner.

The name “Recreational Vehicle” implies that you use your RV for recreation, which also implies out-of-doors and visits to National Forests and National Parks.  When I decided that you might find the story of Teddy Roosevelt’s life interesting, I consulted numerous sites on the internet to get information, and it didn’t take long before I was overwhelmed with a topic that, like its main character, is larger than life.

I wrote, then abridged, abbreviated, edited, and still had more information than one blog article could accommodate, so I’ve split this into two parts, with Part 2 appearing in a few days.

Let’s get on with it!

When the Spanish-American War was declared in 1898, Roosevelt resigned as assistant secretary of the Navy Department and helped recruit cowboy volunteers from the Western Territories and Ivy Leaguers from New York, forming the First U.S. Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, which became known as the “Rough Riders.”

Under his leadership, the Rough Riders became famous for dual charges up Kettle Hill and San Juan Hill on July 1, 1898. The regiment’s horses had been left behind because transport ships were in short supply, so Roosevelt was the only one with a horse.  During the heat of battle, he rode back and forth between rifle pits at the front of the advance, which he directed in absence of any orders from superiors. He was forced to walk up the last part of Kettle Hill on foot due to barbed wire and after his horse tired.

(Roosevelt was nominated for the Medal of Honor after the battle, but it was denied him until 2001 — and his eldest son, Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., received the Medal of Honor for heroism at the Battle of Normandy in 1944. The Roosevelts thus became one of only two father-son pairs to receive this honor.)

President Theodore Roosevelt signed into law the American Antiquities Act of 1906, which allows the president to declare national monuments at his discretion. Using it, he set aside 18 national monuments. Congress, the only body with the power to create national parks, established five national parks, which Roosevelt signed into law.  He also played a significant role in the creation of 150 National Forests, and, in total, was instrumental in the conservation of approximately 230 million acres of American soil that comprise various parks and other federal projects

Meanwhile, Roosevelt was the force behind the completion of the Panama Canal; he sent out the Great White Fleet to display American power, and he negotiated an end to the Russo-Japanese War, for which he became the first American to win the Nobel Prize for Peace.

If you have read plaques at Mt. Rushmore about Teddy, you’ve begun to appreciate some of his other achievements.  In my history studies in school, I often came across his name associated with a variety of topics, but it didn’t all start coming together until I was in the Black Hills.   And, by the way, just the story of why and how Mt. Rushmore was carved makes very interesting reading.

It’s not possible to wrap up this article about The Colonel quickly – too many things to mention, even briefly, so I’ll finish up in Part 2 with a few more milestones in Teddy Roosevelt’s life.

*Information and photographs for this article were gathered by accessing about a dozen websites, including Wikipedia and the National Geographic Society.   I took the Crater Lake photo last month.

From the “Never-Bored RVers,” We’ll see you on down the road.