COLONEL ROOSEVELT DIES IN SLEEP
Oyster Bay, New York (JFK+50) A century ago on January 6, 1919, the 26th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt*, passed away in his sleep at his home at Sagamore Hill** here in Oyster Bay. Death came between 4 and 4:15 a.m.
The Colonel had some breathing difficulties late in the day but felt better upon retiring. His last words were to his servant: "Please put out that light, James."
The former President had been suffering from inflammatory rheumatism, but doctors determined the cause of death was from an embolism or a clot of blood detaching from a vein and entering the lungs or brain.
TR's sudden death took doctors and the Roosevelt family by surprise. In 1917, he had become angry when hearing a news report that he was in ill health. The Colonel responded...
"That is a complete fake. I haven't seen a physician for months. No human being told me to cancel a speaking engagement or take a complete rest."
*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.
SOURCES
"On This Day: Theodore Roosevelt Dies Suddenly at Oyster Bay Home," New York Times, January 7, 1919, www.movies2.nytimes.com/
"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
