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Chronology of the daily life of Theodore Roosevelt from January 1871 to December 1878. Notable events include the Roosevelt family’s trip to Europe and Egypt, Roosevelt’s entrance to Harvard, the death of Theodore “Thee” Roosevelt, Roosevelt’s trip to Maine, and Roosevelt meeting Alice Hathaway Lee.
Theodore Roosevelt Association
1985
Wallace Finley Dailey, curator of the Theodore Roosevelt Collection at Harvard University, recreates an exhibit on Theodore Roosevelt’s involvement with Harvard from his days as a student to his work as an overseer. The exhibit was displayed at Harvard in 1977, 1980, 1996, 2005, and 2012. The exhibit in article form consists of twenty-five photographs, including thirteen of Roosevelt, and numerous documents including letters, certificates, diary and notebook entries, and publications by and about Roosevelt. The accompanying text identifies each photograph and document, noting its source and providing context.
Cartoon shows a boxing sugar beet “Producers” punching President Roosevelt labeled “Reciprocity Champion” with fists labeled “Teller Investigation” and “Reciprocity Resolution Cuban Congress Nov. 28, ’02.” Roosevelt wears boxing gloves “Quesada” and “Bliss” representing Cuban ambassador to the United States Gonzalo de Quesada and Tasker Howard Bliss, Special Envoy to Cuba. In the corner of the ring is a man labeled “Sugar Refining Trust.”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1902
![Al dictamen extrangero [i.e., extranjero]](https://theodorerooseveltcenter.s3.amazonaws.com/TRC/LCPP/thumbnails/Roosevelt%20High%20Demand/37600/37658u.jpg)
Cartoon shows a boxing sugar beet “Productores” (Producers) punching a man “Monopolio Refinador Americano” (American Refining Trust) with fists labeled “Teller Investigacion” and “Resolucion Ley de Reciprocidad Congreso Cubano Nov. 28, 1902” “Reciprocity Resolution Cuban Congress Nov. 28, 1902”.) The man being punched wears boxing gloves “Quesada” and “Bliss” representing Cuban ambassador to the United States Gonzalo de Quesada and Tasker Howard Bliss, Special Envoy to Cuba. In the corner of the ring is Theodore Roosevelt with a bucket of water “Enmienda Platt” (Platt Amendment) and a fan “16 Escala Holandesa” referring to provisions for sugar in the Tariff Law of 1897.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1902
President Roosevelt wears a shirt with a Republican elephant on it and uses the “Constitution of the United States” as a boxing bag. On the ground is a “jingoism” hobbyhorse, “big stick foreign policy” Indian clubs, and “high tariff, high prices” weights. William McKinley eyes Roosevelt from a picture frame on the wall. Caption: “I then stated it was my purpose to carry out his principles and policies. * * * To the best of my ability I have kept the promise thus made.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-06-29
President Roosevelt points at a sign that reads, “The Strenuous Life: bears I have met, boxing lessons I have taken, what I know about fencing, mountain lions I have devoured, what I know about jiu jitsu, band men from the Bad Lands I have met, powder I have smelt.” Six boys, including one holding “The Strenuous Life,” look at teacher Roosevelt. Caption: President Roosevelt, addressing the Groton Preparatory School: “Now, boys, don’t be molly-coddles.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-05-28
President Roosevelt holds up William H. Taft, who has a black eye and is sweating in the boxing ring. Meanwhile, William Jennings Bryan holds up his “speeches” boxing gloves. Taft says, “Don’t hit me below the waist!”
Political cartoonist James Calvert Smith’s parting shot in the 1908 presidential campaign was this drawing published on the day before balloting. Never neutral in his advocacies nor subtle in his presentation, this cartoon drips with as much partisan venom as blood from candidate William H. Taft’s face.
William H. Taft is dressed in clothing tagged with President Roosevelt’s initials and “my policies T.R.” belt as he boxes. Roosevelt holds “my oil” and says, “That’s a corker.” On the wall are “my rules”: “soak the malefactors,” “punch the trusts,” “upper cut the combinations–,” “solar plex the reactionaries–,” “jab the mollycoddles–” and “biff the bosses–.” On the ground is a picture of Taft with the label of “my candidate.”
Cartoonist Joseph H. Cunningham, who seldom displayed prescience in his cartoons, much less a gift of prophecy, unknowingly forecast the sad summary of the Taft Administration vis a vis the policies of Theodore Roosevelt. And this cartoon was one of the very first of the 1908 campaign, after the nomination of William H. Taft and before he was elected or inaugurated.
This issue of Leslie’s magazine, published shortly before the celebration of Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday, collects a number of stories and anecdotes remembering Roosevelt. These stories include remembrances from Roosevelt’s boxing partner while Roosevelt was president, an article by Hermann Hagedorn on the collection of Roosevelt-related artifacts, and a report on the upcoming creation of Roosevelt-Sequoia National Park in California as a memorial to Roosevelt.
Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation
1921-10-22
The man on bottom is Theodore Roosevelt. “Odell” on belt of left boxer. “Platt” on belt of right boxer.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1903-04-03
Print shows at center, Uncle Sam as a policeman attempting to stop a bullfight, calling it a “brutal and degrading sport.” Vignettes surrounding the main image show a “Six Day Bicycle Race” with exhausted riders trying to continue, a “Foot-Ball” game with one football player jumping on another as medical staff carry off an injured player, “Pigeon Shooting,” “Prize Fighting” where the crowd cheers as a boxer gets knocked down, and a “Base-Ball” game where a baseball player is “Assaulting the Umpire” with a bat.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1899-07-12
Two dandies walk with their bodyguards who are large, muscular men carrying boxing gloves. One wears a “Champion Belt.” Caption: Let them hire “sluggers” to protect them.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1883-05-30
In a boxing ring are Henry Ward Beecher, Thomas De Witt Talmage, and the “Rev. Dr. Monck” who has knocked them both out at a “Tournament of Sensationalism.” Monck wears a bandana labeled “Holy Healing Power” around his head and his right hand is inscribed “Worth $50,000 a Year.” He has hugely oversized fists. Beecher is slumped against the ropes, with a black eye. Talmage, not wearing boxing gloves, hangs over the ropes.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1883-04-25
Print shows an oversized British Lion wearing boxing gloves labeled “Army” and “Navy,” standing over its most recent victim labeled “Egyptian.” Trailing off to the left are other victims labeled “Ashantee, Afghan, Boer, [and] Zulu.” Standing on the right is a diminutive Irishman pulling on boxing gloves labeled “Fenian.” Caption: “It is painful to be obliged to use force against the weak.” –Earl Granville in House of Lords.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1882-07-19
James G. Blaine, badly bruised after boxing a round against the “Ohio Secretary of State,” is slumped against the ropes. William W. Phelps and Whitelaw Reid attempt to revive Blaine with a bottle of “Monopoly Mixture,” as Grover Cleveland hops into the ring, ready to go the next round with Blaine. Caption: Grover Cleveland – “You weren’t fighting me that round, my fine fellow! Now come up to the scratch, if you can!”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1884-10-22
Theodore Roosevelt is undergoing a slight asthma attack but continues to study hard. He is enjoying his studies and believes he is making considerable progress. Roosevelt has also been boxing and adding to his various collections; 40 animals, 220 coins, and several German natural histories. The neighborhood children are amused by Roosevelt’s watch.
1873-06-29
Theodore Roosevelt received boxing gloves from his father and has been sparring with his companions. He is getting along with his hosts, the Minkwitz family. However, they do not approve of Roosevelt’s scientific pursuits. His arsenic was confiscated and mice thrown out. Roosevelt responded by waving a mouse close to one of the ladies’ faces and provides an illustration of the scene. His German studies are going well and he can read and understand French.
1873-06-15
Corinne Roosevelt has arrived to stay with them for the summer. Theodore Roosevelt accompanied the Minkwitz family to a castle and a service at the German Reformed Church. His language studies are going well and the children have started a club that meets once a week. The boxing gloves are a “great amusement” and Roosevelt relates his “best round yet.” Elliott Roosevelt is the best boxer but Theodore would win “rewards” for bloody noses.
1873-06-15
Theodore Roosevelt asks if his father has received the letter he wrote in German. Everyone is happy that Corinne Roosevelt has arrived in Dresden. Roosevelt confronted an acquaintance who swore too much but he has made a new friend named Edward Jacobs. They spent yesterday boxing and swimming. He received a letter from Edith Kermit Carow and Anna Roosevelt who are doing well in Carlsbad.
1873-06-22
Assemblyman Roosevelt misses Alice Lee Roosevelt and is looking forward to seeing her on Friday. He had a successful sparring session and bloodied his teacher’s nose. After an exciting debate, Roosevelt’s Reform Charter bill has been ordered for a third reading. Date on the letter reads “Feb. 6th,” but the original cataloger suggests that it was actually written on the 5th.
1884-02-05