"PROGRAMS ARRANGED IN 1200 LOCALITIES"

UNITED STATES CELEBRATES TR'S BIRTHDAY & NAVY DAY

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On October 27, 1924, The Evening Star reports "the purpose of the American Navy and its record" is today "being carried" across the Nation in "observance of the birthday of the late President (Theodore) Roosevelt and of 'Navy Day'*."

Programs have been arranged in 1200 localities by the Navy League of the United States.  In the Nation's Capital, the Admiral David G. Farragut Monument** at 17th & I Streets was decorated by the Daughters of 1812.

*The Navy League suggested Oct 27th as Navy Day because it is the birthday of TR who was assistant Secretary of the Navy before becoming POTUS & because Oct 1775 is the anniversary of the founding of the USN.

**Admiral David G. Farragut Monument is located in Farragut Square, Washington, D.C.  The monument, by Vinnie Ream, honors the Union hero of the Battle of Mobile Bay who shouted 'Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!'

JFK+50 NOTE

David Farragut was born in west Knox County, Tennessee. Today the area encompasses the town of Farragut.  We had The Farragut Hotel in downtown Knoxville back in the day & we still have the Farragut High School Admirals.

While Tennessee seceeded in 1861, East Tennessee was predominantly pro-Union.  Although Knoxville had a Union recruiting station on one side of Gay Street & a Confederate recruiting station on the other side, two-thirds of Knox County & two-thirds of East Tennessee supported the Union.  Sullivan County was the only ET county to vote by majority for secession. 

SOURCES

"1200 Cities Join Capital In Navy Day Observance," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., October 27, 1924, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

"What Is Navy Day?," October 27, 2024, www.livenowfox.com/

 

 

Admiral David G. Farragut Monument

Statue by Vinnie Ream

Farragut Square

Washington, D.C.

Photo by AgnosticPreachersKid 2009

"WILL REVEAL THE MAN MORE VIVIDLY THAN EVER BEFORE"

NEW YORK HERALD TO PUBLISH PAPERS OF TR'S MILITARY AIDE

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On January 17, 1924, a full-page advertisement appeared on page 35 of The Evening Star calling readers attention to the coming publication of the letters of Archie Butt*, personal aide to President Theodore Roosevelt.

The ad says that beginning on Sunday, January 20 and continuing daily for eight weeks, the "intimate" papers of the former military aide to Presidents Roosevelt and Taft will be published in The New York Herald.

The papers will reveal, according to the advertisement, the man (Theodore Roosevelt) "more vividly than he has ever been seen before."

*Archibald W.D.C. Butt (1865-1912) was born in Augusta, Georgia & educated at the University of The South (Sewanee, Tennessee).  AB served in the US Army in the Spanish-American War & as military aide to TR & Taft. 

Archie Butt became one of TR's closest companions.  He wrote daily letters to his sister Clara while serving in The White House.  The letters, published in 1921 & 1930, are a key source of the two presidencies.  Archie Butt died in the sinking of the Titanic in 1912.  

SOURCE

"Major 'Archie' Butt, President Roosevelt's Intimate Friend and Military Aide, Who Went Down on the Ill-Fated Titanic, Left a Graphic and Intimate Story of the Roosevelts in the White House," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., January 17, 1924, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

 

Archie Butt

(far left in uniform)

on steps of North Portico

The White House

President Taft (center)

Harris & Ewing Photo

Library of Congress

 

"IT WAS THE FINEST EXPERIENCE I HAVE EVER HAD"

TR BECOMES FIRST POTUS TO FLY IN AN AIRPLANE

Kinloch, Missouri (JFK+50) On October 11, 1910, Theodore Roosevelt became the first POTUS to fly in an airplane.  The President was on the stump for Republican candidates here in Missouri when he was invited to join pilot Arch Hoxsey* in his bi-plane for a short ride.

The historic flight took place at a Wright Exhibition held at the airport in Kinloch, near St. Louis, Missouri.  As the aircraft passed one hundred yards above the grandstand, Mr. Roosevelt "leaned forward and waved his hands."

After landing, the 26th President of the United States said...

"It was great!  First Class! It was the finest experience I have ever had."

*Archibald Hoxsey (1884-1910) was born in Staunton, Illinois & worked for the Wright Brothers.  AH set the world altitude record of 11,474 feet on Dec 26, 1910.  The aviator was killed in a crash attempting to set a new altitude record on New Year's Eve of 1910.

JFK+50 NOTE

Theodore Roosevelt was a former POTUS at the time of the flight.  He served September 14, 1901 to March 4, 1909.  He completed the second term of William McKinley & was elected in his own right in 1904.  TR would make an unsuccessful bid for another term as a Progressive candidate in 1912. 

SOURCES

"TR Goes Flying," Air & Space, www.airspace.mag.com/

"TR Takes to the Skies, First President in Flight," by Julie Hill, Archives, October 111, 2011, www.archives.com/

 

 

TR & Arch Hoxsey

October 11 1910

NPS Photo

www.nps.gov/

AMERICANISM IS A MATTER OF THE SPIRIT & THE SOUL

TR SAYS FOREIGN BORN CAN BE JUST AS AMERICAN AS ANYONE  

New York City (JFK+50) On October 12, 1915, former President Theodore Roosevelt lambasted "hyphenated Americanism" in a speech before the Knights of Columbus* held at Carnegie Hall here in New York City.

TR, never known to mince words, said..."There is no room in this country for hyphenated Americanism."

The former president went on to say that he was not making reference to naturalized Americans but those who in using the hyphen before American who placed emphasis on whatever foreign nation in which they were born.

TR continued...

"Americanism is a matter of the spirit and of the soul.  Our allegiance must be purely to the United States.  We must...condemn any man who holds any other allegiance, but if he is heartily and singly loyal to this Republic, then no matter where he was born, he is just as good an American as anyone else."

*The Knights of Columbus was founded in New Haven, Connecticut in 1882 by Irish-American Catholic priest Father Michael J. McGivney.  Originally intended to aid low-income immigrant Catholics, the organization moved on to provide charitable services as well as promotion of Catholic education.

SOURCE

"Theodore Roosevelt's 'Unhyphenated America' speech," by Christopher Harris, Unhyphenated America, May 5, 2014, www.unhyphenatedamerica.org/

Theodore Roosevelt (1915)

Library of Congress Photo

LET US BE STEADFAST FOR THE RIGHT BUT ERR ON THE SIDE OF GENEROSITY

TR CALLS FOR ATTAINMENT OF EQUALITY WITH PATIENCE

New York City (JFK+50) On February 13, 1905, President Theodore Roosevelt spoke to the Republican Club here in New York City.  Although his topic was "Lincoln and the Race Problem," he addressed the same political discord which divides our nation today.

The President's speech was given in honor of President Abraham Lincoln whose birthday was celebrated the day before.  Mr. Roosevelt said...

"We of today...should strive to show just the qualities that Lincoln showed...his steadfastness in striving after the right and his infinite patience and forbearance with those who saw that right less clearly than he did."

President Roosevelt continued...

"Our effort should be to secure to each man...equality of opportunity, equality of treatment before the law."

But Mr. Roosevelt admitted that the race problem must be worked out "necessarily...slow."

"Let us be steadfast for the right; but let us err on the side of generosity rather than the side of vindictiveness toward those who differ from us as to the method of attaining the right."

SOURCE

"Theodore Roosevelt:  'Lincoln and the Race Problem'", BlackPast.org, www.blackpast.org/

Theodore Roosevelt

Pach Brothers Photo (1915)

*

DEATH HAD TO TAKE TR SLEEPING...

IF HE HAD BEEN AWAKE, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A FIGHT

Oyster Bay (JFK+50) 99 years ago, January 6, 1919, the 26th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt*, passed away quietly in his sleep at his home at Sagamore Hill** here in Oyster Bay, New York.

The former President had been suffering from inflammatory rheumatism, but doctors determined the cause of death was from a "clot of blood which detached itself from a vein and entered the lungs."  TR's sudden death took doctors and the Roosevelt family by surprise. 

TR died between 4 and 4:15 a.m.  Vice-President Thomas R. Marshall, upon receiving the news, said...

"Death had to take Roosevelt sleeping, for if he had been awake, there would have been a fight."

*Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) was born in NY City and graduated from Harvard.  He served as Asst. Sec of the Navy, Governor of NY, Vice-President and President of the United States. 

During the Spanish-American War he was a Colonel in the Volunteer Cavalry known as the Rough Riders.

**Sagamore Hill is located near Oyster Bay on the north shore of Long Island.  TR purchased 155 acres for the Queen Anne home which was completed in 1887.  Mr. Roosevelt lived here until his death in 1919.  The name of the estate comes from a local Native American tribe on Long Island.

Sagamore Hill, which was expanded to 23 rooms, became a National Historic Site in 1962.

SOURCE

"Manners, William. TR and Will: A Friendship That Split the Republican Party,"  New York,  Harcourt, Brace and World, 1969.

Theodore Roosevelt

by John Singer Sargent

White House Portrait