TEDDY

 

“If one does not have an ideal and try to live up to it, then they becomes a mean, base and sordid creature, no matter how successful.”

     This quote by Theodore Roosevelt is something we can take back to our class room to enhance lifelong skills to our students.  This is something Teddy Roosevelt did in his life.  He was a man who tried to live life to the fullest and follow his ideals.  Touring Sagamore Hills gave us a first hand look of how Roosevelt lived and what life was like for his and his family.  The beautiful grounds and house that was built for $16.700 is ninety percent authentic.  After his first wife Alice passed away after bearing their daughter, Teddy went ahead and built the house they were planning before her death.  When entering the house one would thingk they were on an African Safari, there are animal pelts, tusks and rifles throughout the house.  Teddy was a child trapped in a big man’s body.  This is how he lived life even when he was elected president.  He was a man who did not change who he was because of his political career, something that also can be taught to everybody.  The estate was like a big playground for the Roosevelt, family and friends.  When he was president it became his summer retreat, the first president to do so.  Everyone was someone at the home.  The servants who were Irish immigrants had nice quarters and were even able to discipline the children.  When Teddy was in the White House, some of the servants followed him.  Sagamore Hills had a different feel than FDR’s Hyde Park.  This was a huge playground and the home had a family atmosphere to it.  Teddy an avid outdoorsmen decorated the house with animal hides from all other the world.  He was an avid writer and reader which is why there were over 7,000 books in the house. Also on display were Remington sculptures and items from dignitaries around the world including a huge set of tusks that loomed in the family room.  I would take the Sagamore Hills estate o ver FDR’s due to the ambience of the estate.  Plus at Sagamore Hills mommy did not live there.

     His political career took him unexpectedly to the White House.  With the assassination of William McKinley, Teddy became President of the United States.  His above quote which was directed to his son Kermit followed him to the top job.  When he was in office he promoted social justice, racial equality and conservationism.  His ideals were put into motion as he fought big business and instituted government policies to break up trusts.  He also invited Booker T. Washington to the White House to improve racial tension.  Being an avid outdoorsmen, Teddy or Colonel as he preferred to be called, began a Nation Park preservation that protects our beautiful lands today.  Teddy lived his life trying to live up to his ideals.  He had some successes and failures along the way, but he died trying.

     Students in the classroom will be able to see how striving to fulfill your ideals no matter your failures is something that life is about.  When they see a president lived and enjoyed life, they will have a better understanding of how to strive for these ideals.  Also, by visiting sights of Teddy and FDR students will be able to compare their lives and come up with their own conclusions of the success of the two men.