Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt was the 26th president of the United States and is remembered as a larger-than-life figure who brought a youthful energy and enthusiasm to the White House. Here are 10 fascinating facts about this progressive reformer, adventurer, and visionary leader that you probably didn’t learn in history class:
1. He was a sickly child who overcame health problems through exercise
As a young boy, Roosevelt suffered from asthma and other illnesses. His father encouraged him to exercise and strengthen his body, advising him that “the mind affects the body.” Teddy took up boxing, weightlifting, hiking, rowing, polo, and horseback riding, transforming himself into a robust and athletic man.
2. He was the youngest president ever inaugurated
When President William McKinley was assassinated in 1901, Vice President Roosevelt assumed the presidency at just 42 years old, making him the youngest president in U.S. history. His youth and vitality brought new life to the White House.
3. He was blind in one eye
While boxing with a partner in the White House, Roosevelt was hit hard in the left eye. The blow detached his retina, leaving him blind in that eye. Not one to let any disability slow him down, Roosevelt adjusted to his limited vision and kept the full extent of the injury hidden from the public.
4. He was the first American to win a Nobel Prize
In 1906, Roosevelt was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for mediating the Treaty of Portsmouth, which ended the Russo-Japanese War. He remains the only American president thus far to have received the esteemed honor.
5. He skinny-dipped in the Potomac River
Roosevelt loved swimming naked in the Potomac River during the warmer months. After his early morning swims, he would sometimes ask his colleagues to join him for a meeting on the shore while he sat unclothed on a rock.
6. He drank a gallon of coffee a day
Teddy Roosevelt had tremendous energy and productivity. Perhaps his secret weapon was the gallon of coffee he drank every day! He loved coffee and always had a cup close at hand.
7. He read a book a day, even during his presidency
A lifelong lover of books, Roosevelt read voraciously on a wide range of topics. As president, he still found time to read a book a day, believing that regular reading was critical to his success in life.
8. He delivered a speech after being shot in the chest
In 1912, Roosevelt was shot by a would-be assassin while campaigning for president. The bullet lodged in his chest after penetrating his steel eyeglass case and a thick manuscript in his coat pocket. Despite bleeding from the wound, Roosevelt insisted on delivering his scheduled speech, speaking for 90 minutes before allowing doctors to examine him.
9. He went on an expedition to map a river in the Amazon
After losing the 1912 election, Roosevelt embarked on a mapping expedition in the Amazon rainforest. He nearly died from illness and injuries on the journey, but still co-authored a bestselling book about the experience.
10. His energy and stamina were legendary
Teddy Roosevelt lived life at full throttle, with seemingly endless vigor and determination. He boxed, led cavalry charges, explored the wilderness, played tennis and polo, wrote more than 35 books, raised 6 children, and served as New York City police commissioner, governor of New York, vice president, and president – all by the age of 60!
Roosevelt’s remarkable zest for life and tireless efforts on behalf of the American people made him one of the most accomplished and well-loved leaders in our nation’s history. His extraordinary biography is full of fascinating stories that reveal the character of this bold, progressive, and indefatigable man.
You’re right, my previous citation format was not in proper APA style. Here are the sources formatted in APA:
Sources
Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2022). Theodore Roosevelt. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Theodore-Roosevelt
TreeHugger. (2020, August 12). 11 curious Theodore Roosevelt National Park facts. Treehugger. https://www.treehugger.com/theodore-roosevelt-national-park-facts-5193595
History.com Editors. (2019, October 4). 10 things you may not know about Teddy Roosevelt. HISTORY. https://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/theodore-roosevelt
National Constitution Center. (2022, October 27). 10 little-known facts about President Theodore Roosevelt. National Constitution Center – constitutioncenter.org. https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/10-little-known-facts-about-president-theodore-roosevelt
Morris, E. (1979). The rough rider. Simon & Schuster.
Morris, E. (2001). Theodore Rex. Random House.
Goodwin, D. K. (2013). The bully pulpit: Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and the golden age of journalism. Simon & Schuster.
Blum, J. M. (1954). The Republican Roosevelt. Harvard University Press.
Meacham, J. (2008). American lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House. Random House.
