Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt was an American statesman, author, explorer, soldier, naturalist, and reformer who served as the 26th President of the United States from 1901 to 1909.
Born a sickly child with debilitating asthma, Roosevelt successfully overcame his health problems by embracing a strenuous lifestyle.
Home-schooled, he was a lifelong naturalist, and following the deaths of his wife and mother, he took time to grieve by escaping to the wilderness of the American West, operating a cattle ranch in the Dakotas for a time, before returning East to run unsuccessfully for Mayor of New York City in 1886.
He served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy under William McKinley, resigning after one year to serve with the Rough Riders, where he gained national fame for courage during the Spanish-American War.
Returning a war hero, he was elected governor of New York in 1898. The state party leadership distrusted him, so they took the lead in moving him to the prestigious but powerless role of vice president as McKinley's running mate in the election of 1900.
Roosevelt campaigned vigorously across the country, helping McKinley's re-election in a landslide victory based on a platform of peace, prosperity, and conservatism.
Following the assassination of President McKinley in September 1901, Roosevelt succeeded to the office at the age of 42, becoming the youngest United States President in history.
Making conservation a top priority, he established a myriad of new national parks, forests, and monuments intended to preserve the nation's natural resources, and in foreign policy, he focused on Central America, where he began construction of the Panama Canal.
After leaving office, Roosevelt went on safari in Africa and toured Europe. But on returning to the US, he became frustrated with the current state of his former political party, and tried but failed to win the presidential nomination in 1912.
Although he had planned to run again for president in 1920, he sadly suffered deteriorating health and died in early 1919.
Historians admire Roosevelt for rooting out corruption in his administration, and he has been consistently ranked by scholars as one of the greatest US presidents, and his face was carved into Mount Rushmore alongside those of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln.
You can listen to several shows about Theodore Roosevelt in the series, Mr President.
Joy and I have also added a special US President's radio station to RUSC this month.
There are many patriotic tales to be told in old time radio shows, of which we have amassed a vast collection. Some are of historical interest and some are classic good fun.
Click here to listen to the President's Radio Station now.
As well as listening to old time radio shows, there are usually plenty of other activities to get involved in over the coming long weekend, with fairs, parties, happy hours, performances and concerts going on - not forgetting the sales too! Do you have anything fun planned with your friends and loved ones?
Whatever you chose to do, Joy and I hope you enjoy yourselves!
Happy listening my friends,
P.S. Don't forget our special Share-a-Show offer, which is running for this week only!