Teddy Roosevelt

The Pig Roaster is a big Teddy Roosevelt fan - and getting more so by the day. Most of this is drawn, not from his political stances or his policy maneuvers, but by the sheer fact that he was an undisputed bad ass.

I would highly recommend that anyone pick up and read the FANTASTIC book The River of Doubt which chronicles Teddy's journey to chart a previously unexplored tributary to the Amazon River. This was done AFTER he had served two terms as a president (and almost won a third as an independent) and included such things as his contraction of malaria and the abandoning of a murderer from within his party in the thick of the jungle (as the man yelled for help from the shore). Un-freaking-believable.

This is a man who once, on the way to give a campaign speech, was shot in the chest. The bullet was partially deflected by the manuscript of his planned speech that he carried in his pocket (good thing Teddy was long winded!) but it still pierced his chest. Rather than go to the hospital like any reasonable person would, he went on with his planned speech first!

The Pig Roaster is currently reading volume 1 of a two volume biography entitled The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt, and while it is slow moving at times, one can't help but gather new found fondness for the man at each chapter.

It shows also how enamored (and feared!) that the great TR was in his time - even before he was president. Take as a parting example the below quote taken from a newspaper in 1895 after Teddy was elected Police Commissioner for New York City:

"Under his right ear he has a long scar. It is the opinion of all policemen who have talked with him that he got that scar fighting an Indian out West. It is also their opinion that the Indian is dead."

I wish Teddy were around now. Most of DC could use a good ass kicking.