Theodore Roosevelt Association

Theodore Roosevelt Association Chartered by Congress in 1920, the Theodore Roosevelt Association perpetuates the legacy of the twenty-sixth President of the United States.

in 1901, President William McKinley was shot at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York—setting in motion the...
09/06/2026

in 1901, President William McKinley was shot at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York—setting in motion the events that would bring Theodore Roosevelt to the presidency.

During a public reception at the Temple of Music, anarchist Leon Czolgosz approached President McKinley with a revolver concealed beneath a handkerchief and fired twice at close range.

President McKinley initially appeared to recover after surgery, but his condition later deteriorated. He died from complications of his wounds on September 14, 1901.

Vice President Theodore Roosevelt was speaking in Vermont when he learned of the shooting and traveled to Buffalo to see President McKinley. When the president appeared to be recovering, Thedore Roosevelt left Buffalo to join his family in the Adirondacks.

When President McKinley’s condition suddenly worsened, Vice President Theodore Roosevelt was summoned from the wilderness.

Late on September 13th, he began what became known as his “Midnight Ride to the Presidency”—a dramatic 35-mile journey by horse-drawn carriage through the dark Adirondack wilderness to the railroad station at North Creek. Arriving shortly before dawn on September 14th, he learned that President McKinley had died.

Theodore Roosevelt continued to Buffalo by train. That afternoon, he took the oath of office at the home of Ansley Wilcox and became the nation’s 26th president.

At 42 years and 322 days old, President Theodore Roosevelt became (and remains) the youngest person ever to assume the presidency. John F. Kennedy, elected in 1960 at age 43, remains the youngest person elected president.

The events that began on September 6, 1901, changed the course of American history.

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Learn More at www.theodoreroosevelt.org

in 1905, President Theodore Roosevelt’s diplomacy helped end the Russo-Japanese War with the Treaty of Portsmouth, ear...
09/05/2026

in 1905, President Theodore Roosevelt’s diplomacy helped end the Russo-Japanese War with the Treaty of Portsmouth, earning him the 1906 Nobel Peace Prize.

With both Russia and Japan facing mounting pressures from the conflict, President Theodore Roosevelt helped bring their representatives together. The delegations met with him separately at Sagamore Hill and then aboard the presidential yacht Mayflower before formal negotiations began at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine, across the river from Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

The resulting agreement recognized Japan’s paramount interests in Korea, transferred Russia’s lease and related rights at Port Arthur to Japan, and ceded the southern half of Sakhalin Island to Japan.

Russia and Japan also agreed to evacuate Manchuria and restore it to Chinese administration, while Japan dropped its demand for a Russian war indemnity.

President Theodore Roosevelt’s diplomacy helped bring the conflict to an end and significantly increased the United States’ influence in international affairs. In 1906, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in negotiating the peace, becoming the first American—and the first U.S. president—to receive a Nobel Prize.

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Learn More at www.theodoreroosevelt.org

THE MAN IN THE ARENA! We’re excited to announce that News 12 Long Island anchor Joe Arena will serve as emcee for the Th...
09/04/2026

THE MAN IN THE ARENA!
We’re excited to announce that News 12 Long Island anchor Joe Arena will serve as emcee for the Theodore Roosevelt Association’s inaugural Big Stick Golf Outing on Monday, September 14th at the Town of Oyster Bay Golf Course!

There’s still time to join us! Golfer registrations and tee sponsorships are still available.

Join Presenting Sponsor New York Life - Manhattan General Office / The Firm Financial Group, the Theodore Roosevelt Association, and the Nassau County Lions Youth Hockey Program for a full day of golf, food, raffles, auctions, prizes, and plenty of President Theodore Roosevelt spirit—all while supporting programs benefiting military, law enforcement, youth, scholarship, and conservation.

We’ll also proudly honor the Long Island Warriors Hockey Club for their commitment to community, service, and advocacy.

Register today, sponsor a hole, and join us for the inaugural Big Stick Golf Outing!

Learn More & Register Today at www.theodoreroosevelt.org/golf

in 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt issued Proclamation No. 493 establishing the Absaroka Forest Reserve in Montana,...
09/04/2026

in 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt issued Proclamation No. 493 establishing the Absaroka Forest Reserve in Montana, setting aside more than 1.3 million acres of public land adjoining Yellowstone National Park.

Acting under authority granted by Section 24 of the Act of March 3, 1891, President Theodore Roosevelt declared that portions of the land were covered with timber and that “the public good would be promoted by setting apart and reserving said lands as a public reservation.”

The proclamation formally reserved the land from entry or settlement, subject to certain exceptions for preexisting lawful claims, and declared:

“The reservation hereby established shall be known as The Absaroka Forest Reserve.”

The reserve encompassed 1,311,600 acres and became part of President Theodore Roosevelt’s much larger conservation legacy. According to the National Park Service, during his presidency, President Theodore Roosevelt helped place approximately 230 million acres of public land under federal protection, establishing 150 national forests, 51 federal bird reserves, 4 national game preserves, 5 national parks, and 18 national monuments.

President Theodore Roosevelt’s actions fundamentally expanded the federal government’s role in conserving America’s forests, wildlife, watersheds, and natural resources for future generations.

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Learn More at www.theodoreroosevelt.org

TEDDY BEARS FOR KIDS in MOBILE, ALABAMA!In July, the Theodore Roosevelt Association donated 36 teddy bears to young pati...
09/03/2026

TEDDY BEARS FOR KIDS in MOBILE, ALABAMA!

In July, the Theodore Roosevelt Association donated 36 teddy bears to young patients at USA Health Children's & Women's Hospital in Mobile, Alabama, through the TRA’s Teddy Bears for Kids Program.

Since 1986, the program has delivered more than 90,000 teddy bears to children in hospitals across the country, providing comfort during difficult and often frightening moments.

“The patients have loved them,” said Kate Johnson, BS, CLS, Child Life Specialist with the Mapp Child and Family Life Program. “They have brought comfort to many kiddos whether they are used as comfort during a tough procedure or just as a treat for a young patient.”

Johnson shared the story of one child who clutched a TRA teddy bear while having an IV placed.

“It provided him with so much comfort. It made a world of a difference with how he was able to cope.”

The teddy bear has a special connection to President Theodore Roosevelt. After President Roosevelt famously refused to shoot a captured bear during a 1902 hunting trip, the incident inspired a political cartoon and, soon afterward, the creation of “Teddy’s Bear.”

More than a century later, the TRA continues to turn that historic connection into an enduring tradition of service—bringing comfort to children when they need it most. ❤️🧸

Learn more about the TRA Teddy Bears for Kids Program:
www.theodoreroosevelt.org/teddybears

The University of South Alabama

in 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt narrowly escaped death in a trolley collision in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.Presi...
09/03/2026

in 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt narrowly escaped death in a trolley collision in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

President Theodore Roosevelt was traveling through New England and had addressed a crowd in Pittsfield before setting out by open horse-drawn carriage toward the Pittsfield Country Club. Riding with him were Massachusetts Governor Winthrop M. Crane, presidential secretary George B. Cortelyou, and Secret Service Agent William “Big Bill” Craig.

As the carriage traveled along South Street, an electric trolley collided with it, violently throwing its occupants from the vehicle.

Craig, who had risen from his seat as the trolley approached and attempted to warn those in the carriage, was thrown beneath the trolley and killed. President Theodore Roosevelt was injured but survived.

Craig became the first United States Secret Service agent killed in the line of duty while protecting a President of the United States. A former soldier who had served in the British Army before immigrating to the United States, the 6-foot-4 Craig had become a trusted member of President Roosevelt’s protective detail and was especially close to the Roosevelt family.

President Theodore Roosevelt was deeply affected by his death, describing Craig as “the most faithful man I ever knew” and noting the affection his children had for him.

The collision became one of the closest calls of Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency—and William Craig’s death marked an important and tragic moment in the history of the United States Secret Service.

Become a TRA Member Today!
Learn More at www.theodoreroosevelt.org

in 1901, Vice President Theodore Roosevelt delivered a speech at the Minnesota State Fair in Minneapolis and publicly ...
09/02/2026

in 1901, Vice President Theodore Roosevelt delivered a speech at the Minnesota State Fair in Minneapolis and publicly used the words that would become forever associated with him:

“Speak softly and carry a big stick—you will go far.”

Theodore Roosevelt had used the expression before, including in a January 1900 letter in which he described it as a “West African proverb.” But his Minnesota speech helped introduce the phrase to a national audience and ultimately made the “Big Stick” synonymous with Theodore Roosevelt and his approach to leadership.

The timing was remarkable. TR was just 42 years old and serving as vice president under President William McKinley. Only four days later, McKinley was shot in Buffalo, NY. Following the president’s death on September 14, 1901, Theodore Roosevelt would become the 26th President of the United States.

For Theodore Roosevelt, the “Big Stick” was about more than strength. In the same speech, he warned against bluster, boastfulness, and reckless words. His message was that effective leadership required restraint backed by the strength and determination to act when necessary.

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Learn More at www.theodoreroosevelt.org

in 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt spent Labor Day traveling through Vermont and Massachusetts, delivering speeches...
09/01/2026

in 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt spent Labor Day traveling through Vermont and Massachusetts, delivering speeches on hard work, personal responsibility, good citizenship, national strength, and service to others.

In Proctor, Vermont, President Theodore Roosevelt spoke about American foreign policy and the importance of matching words with strength:

“Bragging and boasting in private life are almost always the signs of a weak man.”

In Middlebury, Vermont, he turned to the importance of labor:

“The future of our country depends on those who work.”

In Rutland, Vermont, he called Labor Day a distinctly American holiday and declared:

“The law of successful national life is the law of work.”

In Bellows Falls, Vermont, he emphasized individual responsibility and service to the common good:

“He must pull his weight and a little more.”

At Brattleboro, Vermont, where he received an enthusiastic reception, President Theodore Roosevelt spoke of Abraham Lincoln and the character demanded of Americans during the Civil War. He then continued into Massachusetts.

In Northfield, Massachusetts, he connected character with action:

“But virtue by itself is not enough, or anything like enough. Strength must be added to it, and the determination to use that strength.”

Across two states and a remarkable day of speeches, President Theodore Roosevelt returned to a central theme: words must be matched by deeds. Work hard, act with character, serve others, and have the courage to put principle into action.

Become a TRA Member Today!
Learn More at www.theodoreroosevelt.org

in 1910, Theodore Roosevelt delivered his landmark “New Nationalism” speech in Osawatomie, Kansas—one of his most impo...
08/31/2026

in 1910, Theodore Roosevelt delivered his landmark “New Nationalism” speech in Osawatomie, Kansas—one of his most important post-presidential addresses.

Speaking before an estimated 30,000 people during the dedication ceremonies for John Brown Memorial Park, Theodore Roosevelt laid out a sweeping vision for the future of American democracy. He argued that the tremendous economic and industrial changes transforming the country required government to protect the public interest and ensure a more substantial equality of opportunity.

At the heart of his vision was a familiar principle:

“I stand for the square deal.”

But Theodore Roosevelt explained that the Square Deal required more than fairness under the existing system:

“I mean not merely that I stand for fair play under the present rules of the games, but that I stand for having those rules changed so as to work for a more substantial equality of opportunity and of reward for equally good service.”

His New Nationalism called for stronger federal oversight of corporations, a graduated income tax, an inheritance tax, protections for workers, conservation of natural resources, and reforms to limit the influence of concentrated wealth and special interests in American government.

Above all, Theodore Roosevelt argued that government existed to serve its citizens:

“The object of government is the welfare of the people.”

He also emphasized that the challenges facing the country transcended state and regional boundaries:

“We are all Americans. Our common interests are as broad as the continent. I speak to you here in Kansas exactly as I would speak in New York or Georgia, for the most vital problems are those which affect us all alike.”

Less than two years later, the ideas Theodore Roosevelt presented at Osawatomie would help provide the philosophical foundation for his 1912 Progressive Party campaign and its ambitious reform platform.

More than a century later, the New Nationalism speech remains one of Theodore Roosevelt’s most significant statements on the Square Deal, equality of opportunity, responsible government, and the obligations of citizenship.

Become a TRA Member Today!
Learn More at www.theodoreroosevelt.org

“GOLF IS FATAL.” — President Theodore Roosevelt In recognition of the Theodore Roosevelt Association’s inaugural Big Sti...
08/31/2026

“GOLF IS FATAL.” — President Theodore Roosevelt

In recognition of the Theodore Roosevelt Association’s inaugural Big Stick Golf Outing on September 14th, the TRA Online Store is NOW OPEN, featuring our new limited-edition “Golf is Fatal” Collection!

In 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt wrote to William Howard Taft, then the Republican candidate to succeed him, warning about the political optics of being photographed playing golf. At the time, golf was closely associated with wealth and social elites, and President Theodore Roosevelt was acutely aware of how photographs could shape a politician’s public image.

His advice to Taft?
“Photographs of me on horseback, yes. Tennis, no. And golf is fatal.”

Fortunately, the TRA is willing to take the risk.

The store also features TRA-branded apparel by Brooks Brothers, a company with its own historic connection to President Theodore Roosevelt. TR was a Brooks Brothers customer, and the iconic American clothier supplied clothing to him during his lifetime—bringing a fitting touch of presidential history to the TRA collection.

Every purchase supports TRA programs benefiting police, military personnel, youth leadership, historical scholarship, and more.

The store is only open for TWO WEEKS (closing on September 16) so don’t wait!

Shop Today: https://midwest.mycommercio.com/tragolf2026

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