"WHILE READING 'HIS OLD BIBLE'"

FORMER VICE-PRESIDENT MARSHALL DIES AT WILLARD HOTEL

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On the morning of June 1, 1925, former Vice President of the United States Thomas R. Marshall* passed away in his room at the Willard Hotel here in the Nation's Capital.

Mr. Marshall, who was 71 years old, died in his bed while reading "his old Bible."  The Evening Star reports that the former VP suffered a heart attack one week ago today.  Nevertheless, his condition had been steadily improving and death was not expected.

Final arrangements will be made in Indianapolis and burial will be in Marion, Indiana.

Secretary Frank Kellogg said of Thomas Marshall...

"He was a man of sterling ability and the highest character."

JFK+50 Note

Thomas R. Marshall resided on the fourth floor facing F Street at the Willard Hotel while on official duty in Washington.  He suffered the heart attack on the day he arrived back in the city.

*Thomas Riley Marshall (1854-1925) was born North Manchester, Indiana & graduated Wabash College in 1873.  TRM was admitted to the bar in 1875.  He served as governor of Indiana 1909-1913 & VPOTUS 1913-1921.  (At the time, he was the longest serving VPOTUS).

SOURCE

"T.R. Marshall Dies Of Heart Disease In Sudden Relapse," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., June 1, 1925, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

Thomas R. Marshall

Harris & Ewing Photo

Library of Congress

"I NEVER KNEW A PRESIDENT WHO WAS HAPPY"

FORMER VEEP WOULD NOT WANT THE PRESIDENCY IF HANDED TO HIM

Youngstown, Ohio (JFK+50) On May 6, 1924, the Associated Press reports former Vice-President of the United States Thomas R. Marshall* said last evening that he "would not be a president (of the United States) if they handed it to me."

The former VP spoke at the annual banquet of the YMCA held here in Youngstown.

Mr. Marshall added...

"I never knew a President who was happy after he got into the White House."

He believes the expectation that a POTUS can be both a national and political party leader "cannot be done."

As to the preferential primary system, the once VPOTUS believes it will "sooner or later" be gotten rid of.

*Thomas Riley Marshall (1854-1925) was born in North Manchester, Indiana & graduated Wabash College 1873 before starting to practice law.  TRM served as governor of Indiana 1909-1913 & as VPOTUS 1913-1921 under Woodrow Wilson.  He died as a result of a heart attack.

JFK+50 NOTE

Thomas Marshall is credited with saying "What this country needs is a good five cent cigar," and was known for his humor.  He once said that a man who had two sons reported that one of them went to sea while the other became vice-president and both were never heard from again. 

I can think of two POTUS who were "happy" after they "got into the White House" although one was many years after Thomas Marshall's death.  One was Teddy Roosevelt.  The other was John F. Kennedy.  Obviously both men experienced times during their service that they were not particularly happy being in the White House. 

SOURCE

"Would Refuse To Be President, Marshall Says," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., May 6, 1924, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

 

Thomas R. Marshall

Bain News Service

Library of Congress

"I WANT TO HAVE MONEY TO PAY FOR FALSE TEETH"

FORMER VICE PRESIDENT SAYS HE'S OUT OF POLITICS FOREVER

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On July 29, 1922, the day following his return from a trip to Europe, former Vice President Thomas R. Marshall* declined a seat on the rostrum of the Senate offered by Vice President Calvin Coolidge "preferring to mingle among the senators on the floor."

The former Vice President declared upon his return...."I'm out of politics forever!"

Mr. Marshall continued...

"There may come a time...when I'll need false teeth...I want to be sure to have enough money...to pay for them." 

*Thomas Riley Marshall (1854-1925) was born in North Manchester, Indiana & graduated from Wabash College, 1873.  TRM opened his law practice in 1876.  He served as Governor of Indiana, 1909-1913 & VPOTUS, 1913-1921.  TRM died of a heart attack.

JFK+50 NOTE

The story goes that following some senator's floor comments on national needs, Vice President Marshall said "What this country really needs is a good five-cent cigar."  The Free Dictionary says the phrase most likely originated with 19th century humorist Kin Hubbard.

Thomas Riley Marshall served in the Vice-Presidency under Woodrow Wilson for eight years, but in 2008 Claire Suddath rated him as one of the worst vice-presidents in American history.

SOURCES

"a good five-cent cigar," The Free Dictionary by Farlex, www.thefreedictionary.com/

"Can't Buy Teeth On Federal Pay, Says Marshall," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., July 29, 1922, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/ 

   

 

Thomas Riley Marshall

Harris & Ewing Photo

Library of Congress

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

              

              

PRESIDENT REGARDS EXISTING SITUATION A STATE OF WAR

JFK+50:  Volume 7, No. 2254

WILSON VICE-PRESIDENT SAYS A STATE OF WAR EXISTS

Montgomery, Alabama & Washington, D.C.  (JFK+50) 100 years ago today, March 20, 1917, Vice-President Thomas Riley Marshall*, speaking in Montgomery, declared "a state of war between the United States and Germany actually exists."  The Vice-President went on to ask the American people to stand behind President Woodrow Wilson.

The Chicago Daily Tribune reported on March 21, 1917 that in a two-hour meeting the previous day, the Cabinet "voiced a virtually unanimous view that the date for an extra session of Congress, set for April 16, should be set forward."

Arthur Sears Henning wrote...

"It is understood the cabinet...gave the President their assurance of support for a program based on the early summoning of congress and a formal declaration that a state of war exists between Germany and the United States."

Mr. Henning continued...

"That the president regards the existing situation a state of war...calling for closer relations with the allies, is evidenced by numerous developments."

The President, however, put his troubles aside briefly to attend a vaudeville performance at the White House.

*Thomas Riley Marshall (1854-1925) was born in North Manchester, Indiana & graduated from Wabash College in 1873.  TRM was admitted to the bar in 1875 & began his law practice in Columbia City in 1876.

Before his selection as WW's VP, TRM served as progressive governor of Indiana.  Although personally not fond of Wilson, TRM was included on the Democratic ticket in 1916 & became the 1st VP since John C. Calhoun (1828) to be re-elected.

During WWI, TRM gave speeches in support of Liberty Bonds & when WW suffered a stroke in 1919, the President's advisers and wife Edith made sure that the VP did not assume presidential duties.  

A man of great humor, Mr. Marshall often told the story about a man who had two sons, one went to sea & drowned, the other was elected Vice-President & neither was ever heard from again.  TRM died of a heart attack.

SOURCE

"Say State of War Exists, Wilson Hears Cabinet Plea," by Arthur Sears Henning, March 21, 1917, The Chicago Daily Tribune, www.chicagotribune.com/

Vice-President Thomas R. Marshall

Senate Office

Photo by George Grantham Bain

DEATH OF TEDDY ROOSEVELT

JFK+50:  Volume 6, No. 1820

"THE OLD LION IS DEAD!"

Oyster Bay, New York (JFK+50) Ninety-seven years ago early this morning, 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.

The former President, known as "Colonel" because of his service in the Spanish-American War, had been suffering from inflammatory rheumatism in the weeks before 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 family by surprise.  One of TR's sons relayed the bad news to his brothers in Europe by a cable which read...

"The old lion is dead."

The Colonel himself apparently had no idea of the seriousness of his illness.  In the days before his death when asked about his health, TR responded with his characteristic "BULLY!"

Roosevelt died between 4 and 4:15 a.m.  Vice-President Thomas R. Marshall said...

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

Theodore Roosevelt

White House Portrait 

by John Singer Sargent

                 
*Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) was born in NY City & graduated from Harvard.  He served as Asst. Sec of the Navy, Governor of NY, Vice-President & President of the United States.  During the Spanish-American War he was a Colonel in the Volunteer Cavalry known as the Rough Riders.

SOURCE

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

DEATH HAD TO TAKE TEDDY ROOSEVELT SLEEPING ELSE "THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A FIGHT"

January 6, 2013

DEATH HAD TO TAKE TEDDY ROOSEVELT SLEEPING ELSE "THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A FIGHT"

Oyster Bay, New York (JFK+50) 94 years ago today, 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.

According to Mike Purdy, one of the last statements TR made before his death was when he said to his wife, Edith...

"I wonder if you will ever know how I love Sagamore Hill."

                    Theodore Roosevelt
  26th President of the United States
              White House Portrait by
                  John Singer Sargent

The former President, known as the "Colonel" because of his service in the Spanish-American War, had been suffering from inflammatory rheumatism in the weeks before but doctors determined the cause of death was from a "clot of blood which detached itself from a vein & entered the lungs."

TR's sudden death took doctors & family by surprise.  Mike Purdy writes that son Archie relayed the bad news to his brothers in Europe by a cable which read...

"The old lion is dead."

The Colonel himself apparently had no idea of the seriousness of his illness.  In the days before his death when asked about his health, TR responded with his characteristic "BULLY!"

Roosevelt died between 4 & 4:15 a.m.  Vice-President Thomas R. Marshall would make the famous comment...

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

TR's health problems were aggravated by the fever he sustained while exploring in Brazil in 1914 & by the bullet he carried in his chest fired by a would-be assassin when he was a presidential candidate for the Progressive Party in 1912.

Mike Purdy adds that "the death of his son, Quentin, in the Great War in Europe had been a big hit on TR."***

Theodore Roosevelt, survived by his wife Edith, was buried in the Youngs Memorial Cemetery in Oyster Bay, Long Island, New York.

                 Gravesite of TR & Edith
                       Youngs Cemetery
                 Oyster Bay, New York
Photo by Shadow2700 at en.wikipedia

*Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) was born in NY City & graduated from Harvard.  He served as Asst. Sec of the Navy, Governor of NY, Vice-President & President of the United States.  During the Spanish-American War he was a Colonel in the Volunteer Cavalry known as the Rough Riders.

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

***Source: www.PurdysPresidentialBlog.blogspot.com