Eagle Feathers #160 – The Rough Rider

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

Brady Towers, the nine-story, 84-unit building at the intersection of Medford Street, McGrath Highway, and Highland Avenue, is a federally funded development that houses the elderly and young disabled. For many years, its front lobby boasted an attractive trophy case that displayed an interesting collection of memorabilia.

The most thought provoking was a collection of postcards mailed in Somerville in 1900 from a father to his daughter. They were short, declarative messages excitingly telling her about Boston and its surrounding towns. One stated, “My dear Alice, Having a bully of a time in Somerville.” Another said, “I am having a grand time on my campaign tour. Somerville is bully. Affectionately Daddy.” Who was he, and what did he do? The answer is … he was a leader who, on his departure from public life, left an impossible road to follow.

By 1900, he had graduated from Harvard University, began to study law, was elected to the New York State Assembly which he served for three years and ran unsuccessfully for mayor of New York. He was appointed to the United States Civil Service Commission under Presidents Harrison and Cleveland, resigned to become the New York City Police Commissioner, was appointed Assistant Secretary of the Navy by President McKinley, assisted in creating the first United States Volunteer Cavalry, “The Rough Riders,” and led them through the Spanish American War as their Colonel.

He was an avid sportsman. On one of his hunting trips in 1902, he compassionately refused to shoot a captured bear that had been tied to a tree by his hunting guides. The story was told and retold and soon after, the “Teddy” bear and its legend were born.

If you haven’t surmised who this famous father was, then look toward one of the four majestic faces on Mount Rushmore. He was Theodore Roosevelt, the twenty-sixth and youngest elected President of the United States. After posting these cards in 1900 from Somerville to his daughter, Teddy didn’t slow down a speck for the rest of his life. He was elected Governor of New York, then Vice President, followed by President of the United States after President McKinley’s death. During his administration, he built our navy into a world power, laid the Pacific cable and authorized the construction of the Panama Canal.

Theodore Roosevelt was a champion of conservation and, while in office as president, he created five national parks, doubling the existing number. In 1906, he was the first American recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize for helping settle the Russo–Japanese War. His slogan was “Speak softly and carry a big stick!”