T.R. A Mans Man

Sagamore Hill

 The Indomitable Teddy Roosevelt

Thomas sitting on porch at Sagamore Hill

Oyster Bay N.Y. is a town on the north shore of Long Island. The town itself is actually very large and expansive.  It  encompasses many villages. One by the same name, was incorporated into the Greater Town Of  Oyster Bay. It stretches from the  shore of Long Island Sound. A body of water that runs between Long Island and New England.  Down to the south shore of Long Island to the Atlantic ocean. A quaint little town that has both the look and feel of New England and that of the more beach flavored Long Island itself.  There are few hills on L.I. other than on the northern part.  South of a certain point the topography is a plain leading to the sea shore. The reason is that when the ice advanced during the ice age it terminated and then receded . Leaving behind earth, rocks and  debris that the Ice Age pushed onto that area. Sagamore Hill is one of those high points of elevation.  

Sagamore  Hill was the former home of one of our most famous Presidents. Theodore Roosevelt. or as he is commonly referred to, TR.  A large wooden framed house that is in true reality a mansion, was his home. Known best for leading the charge up San Juan Hill on the Island of Cuba, during the Spanish American War.  He became President after the assassination of  William Mc Kinley in 1901. TR was the serving V.P at the time. He was born in New York City in 1858 and died in 1919.  Though sickly as a child he overcame the condition by strenuous excises and was able to improve his health. He was an avid outdoors man. Spending most of his early years in the west. He would learn to ride shoot and hunt.  He was a former Police Commissioner of N.Y.C.  He organized a group of volunteers to fight in the war against Spain and was commissioned as a Lt.Col. He had many accomplishments and was a prolifent writer penning many books. One was a book on naval strategies and served  for a time as the assistant Sec. of  the Navy.


He served in the N.Y. State legislature both as majority leader and minority leader of the Republican party.  He was  elected to the office of Gov. of N.Y.  Prior to becoming the 26th President. For two terms although elected to only one. Dynamic and forward looking in words and deeds. He was the first sitting President to travel abroad while in office.  First to ride in a plane. He was  instrumental in the building of the Panama Canal.  He was nominated to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor but was denied the honor until 100 years later.  He was awarded the Nobel Peace prize for his leadership in negotiating the end of the Russo Japanese War. Unlike a future President. He earned it. 

I have visited that house and have stood on the porch where he stood looking out over the sound. He gave many a press conference and political speech from that porch.  He was also know as the trust buster. Reflecting his efforts to break up corporate monopolies. He was shot while on his way to deliver a  speech and continued on to  give the speech. Which in those days were rather long. Ironically the bullet was prevented from doing great bodily harm because it was retarded in it's effect by the speech he had written in his pocket.  I guess it was a long, long speech and many sheets of paper were required. He is also known for his foriegn policy of,  "walk softly but carry a big stick".  The house is now a musem and  I have visited it many times. It is quite impressive. His hunting trophies hanging on walls all around. Of water buffalo, elephants and big cats. I imagine the dignitaries of the era meeting with him in the house  It was the first Presidential home to have a telephone installed. Oddly it was in the kitchen.  The first lady objected to it's installation and it's ringing.  So that is where it was installed.  Sounds familiar except now it goes with us where ever we are.  

I have visited the house not only with my sons but also with my grandsons and each time my awe of the man is reinforced. Although his progressive policies would have caused me not to vote for him at the time.  He was an athlete and diplomate. A soldier and states man and avid conservationalist. Many of the national parks and hunting reserves were the result of his passion for the out doors and the need to preserve them.  He was a visionary and a man of action.

Unlike the President we now have in office. He deserves the accolades heaped upon him by his peers and history.  He was a man of principal and honored the writings and ideas of the founding fathers.  He held the Constitution and Declaration of Independence as the rudder that would keep this country proud, strong and glorious. The founding principals were respected and adhered to.  A great man, of character and substance. I doubt the present holder of the office would have even been allowed to curry his horse or shine his riding boots.