Theodore Roosevelt’s vision
Subject(s): Cataract--Diagnosis, Dailey, Wallace Finley, Eyeglasses, Morris, Edmund, Myopia, Presidents--Health, Retinal detachment, Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919, Wilmer, William Holland, 1863-1936
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Milton Bruce Shields and Louis Victor Priebe examine the topic of Theodore Roosevelt’s vision and how his myopia, or nearsightedness, affected his life from his inability to see clearly as a youth to his stockpiling eyeglasses before his service in Cuba and his safari in Africa. Shields and Priebe also discuss the injury to Roosevelt’s left eye suffered during a boxing match with an Army officer, and they speculate on whether the injury resulted from a detached retina or a cataract. Shields and Priebe also consider how Roosevelt’s vision may have determined other aspects of his life and personality from his heightened sense of hearing to his love of books and reading.
Four photographs supplement the text, including two of 1904 campaign buttons in the shape of pince-nez glasses.
Collection
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal
Creation Date
2011
Creator(s)
Shields, Milton Bruce; Priebe, Louis Victor
Language
English
Period
Theodore Roosevelt and Public Memory (1919-present)
Page Count
7
Production Method
Record Type
Image
Resource Type
Rights
No permission is required from the Theodore Roosevelt Association to use items in the Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal collection for educational purposes. For permissions, contact William Tilchin at (516) 921-6319 or by email at wnt@bu.edu.
Citation
Cite this Record
Chicago:
Theodore Roosevelt’s vision. [2011]. Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o308442. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Shields, Milton Bruce; Priebe, Louis Victor. Theodore Roosevelt’s vision. [2011]. Image.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. February 5, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o308442.
APA:
Shields, Milton Bruce; Priebe, Louis Victor., [2011]. Theodore Roosevelt’s vision.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o308442.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/theodore-roosevelt-association-journal. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. February 5, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/theodore-roosevelt-association-journal.
APA:
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/theodore-roosevelt-association-journal.
