Books with author Theodore IV Roosevelt

The Rough Riders is a documentary about the birth of America as a world power, and a personal account by Theodore Roosevelt (TR) of his exploits during the Spanish-American War. The Rough Riders is also a chronicle of the healing of America's deep Civil War wounds. TR vividly recalls the reception he and his "Rough Riders" received as they marched through the South on their way to war: "Everywhere we saw the Stars and Stripes, and everywhere we were told, half-laughingly, by grizzled ex-Confederates that they had never dreamed in the bygone days of bitterness to greet the old flag as they now were greeting it, and to send their sons, as now they were sending them, to fight and die under it." With great humility, TR recalls "a very touching incident" at the regiment's improvised open-air hospital after the fighting at Las Guasimas. "They did not groan, and made no complaint, trying to help one another," TR observed. “One of them suddenly began to hum, 'My Country 'tis of Thee,' and one by one the others joined in the chorus, which swelled out through the tropic woods, where the victors lay in camp besides their dead.” Often brash and always to the point, with great attention to detail, TR takes the reader to where the fighting is at its thickest: "At the front!" His words are inspiring, instructional, and prophetic. They are as alive with lessons for today as they were when they were written more than a century ago. The Rough Riders is the foremost historically accurate, personal account of the Spanish-American War. It is a testimonial to the valor of the "Rough Riders." As Commander of the "Rough Riders" and later as President, TR distinguished America above all others in the realm of nation-states, and in so doing secured his place in the annals of American history. TR's life was woven of courage and American initiative, ingenuity, and ideals, without which America the world power would not have been built. ~~~ From the Introduction by Judge Hal Moroz, U.S. Army Retired

A harrowing chronicle of the Roosevelt-Rondon Scientific Expedition through Brazil and Paraguay to map the 950-mile "River of Doubt." No man who ever reached Theodore Roosevelt's eminence in public life left such a varied record of what would have been a full life in itself without his activities as a statesman. Here is Colonel Roosevelt's own vivid narrative of his explorations in South America; his 500-mile journey on mule-back across the height of land between the river systems of Paraguay and the Amazon, his observations on the most brilliant and varied bird life of the South American tropics; hunting of the jaguar, the tapir, the peccary, the giant ant-eater, and other unusual animals of the jungle; all depicted in the author's most graphic and picturesque style. "The book is readable and interesting from beginning to end. It has just the right admixture of narrative, observation, and reflection. It not only represents the reactions and impressions of an exceptionally able and well-trained mind, but is the work of a superman, in the sense that it embodies the combined thought of the members of the expedition, who were so variously skilled in different ways." -The Dial "It does not need this latest labor from Colonel Roosevelt's pen to vindicate his claim as an earnest, intrepid, and in every sense of the word genuine naturalist." -The New York Times "An exceedingly fascinating story of adventure. It is the best story...that the many-sided former President of the United States has produced." -Boston Transcript "Should, above all, be secured by every school librarian anxious to promote the study and appreciation of those ideals which we, as a Nation, have come to associate with the name Theodore Roosevelt." -New Outlook "Theodore Roosevelt's account of what he calls a 'zoogeographic reconnoissance through the Brazilian hinterland.' As everyone knows who has read the newspapers, the expedition was undertaken jointly by American and Brazilian authorities and was carried through with the daring and energy as well as with the intelligence and skill which its leadership would lead one to expect....Suffice to say that the author's brilliant attainments as a naturalist and his indomitable persistency as an explorer have full demonstration here. Furthermore he has a cultivated gift of vivid narration. Even if he were not Roosevelt, the book would give satisfaction to any reader who cares for a worthy piece of work capably performed." -The Christian Advocate "Mr. Roosevelt has written a book more entertaining than the most exciting novel. Our many-sided ex-President reveals himself in these pages as explorer, hunter, naturalist, and litterateur. He collected over twenty-five hundred birds, about five hundred mammals, and a number of reptiles and fishes new to science. He put on the map a river nearly one thousand miles long, the River of Doubt, since named in his honor the Rio Teodoro by the Brazilian Government. His forty-eight day journey down this river is a story of hardships sufficient to daunt the most daring of explorers." -New Catholic World

"Roosevelt’s popular book Through the Brazilian Wilderness describes his expedition into the Brazilian jungle in 1913 as a member of the Roosevelt-Rondon Scientific Expedition co-named after its leader, Brazilian explorer Cândido Rondon. The book describes all of the scientific discovery, scenic tropical vistas and exotic flora, fauna and wild life experienced on the expedition. One goal of the expedition was to find the headwaters of the Rio da Duvida, the River of Doubt, and trace it north to the Madeira and thence to the Amazon River. It was later renamed Rio Roosevel. Roosevelt’s crew consisted of his 24-year-old son Kermit, Colonel Cândido Rondon, a naturalist sent by the American Museum of Natural History named George K. Cherrie, Brazilian Lieutenant Joao Lyra, team physician Dr. José Antonio Cajazeira, and sixteen highly skilled paddlers (called camaradas in Portuguese). The initial expedition started on December 9, 1913, at the height of the rainy season. The trip down the River of Doubt started on February 27, 1914.During the trip down the river, Roosevelt contracted malaria and a serious infection resulting from a minor leg wound. These illnesses so weakened Roosevelt that, by six weeks into the expedition, he had to be attended day and night by the expedition’s physician, Dr. Cajazeira, and his son Kermit. By this time, Roosevelt considered his own condition a threat to the survival of the others. At one point, Kermit had to talk him out of his wish to be left behind so as not to slow down the expedition, now with only a few weeks rations left. Roosevelt was having chest pains when he tried to walk, his temperature soared to 103 °F (39 °C), and at times he was delirious. He had lost over fifty pounds (20 kg). Without the constant support of his son, Kermit, Dr. Cajazeira, and the continued leadership of Colonel Rondon, Roosevelt would likely have perished. Despite his concern for Roosevelt, Rondon had been slowing down the pace of the expedition by his dedication to his own map-making and other geographical goals that demanded regular stops to fix the expedition’s position via sun-based survey.Upon his return to New York, friends and family were startled by Roosevelt’s physical appearance and fatigue. Roosevelt wrote to a friend that the trip had cut his life short by ten years. He might not have really known just how accurate that analysis would prove to be, because the effects of the South America expedition had so greatly weakened him that they significantly contributed to his declining health. For the rest of his life, he would be plagued by flareups of malaria and leg inflammations so severe that they would require hospitalization.The racial attitudes reflected in Roosevelt’s American history do not seem to carry over into his attitude toward the native Americans he encounters on this trip, although his enthusiastic anticipation of the development of the virgin wilderness he is crossing may be jaring to some contemporary readers."

This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curated for quality. Quality assurance was conducted on each of these books in an attempt to remove books with imperfections introduced by the digitization process. Though we have made best efforts - the books may have occasional errors that do not impede the reading experience. We believe this work is culturally important and have elected to bring the book back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.

For a man who grew up to become the “Bull Moose”, Theodore Roosevelt was a sickly child, suffering from asthma and other maladies. But his physical weakness actually drove him to be more active, which also fostered an interest in nature. It also helped that Teddy’s family was wealthy, allowing him privileges including home school and the ability to attend Harvard, where he was an athlete and took an interest in naval affairs. After finishing at Harvard, Teddy entered politics, but it didn’t stop him from writing The Naval War of 1812 in 1882, establishing himself as a professional writer and historian. In the 1890s, it was Teddy’s turn to make history, leading the Rough Riders during the Spanish-American War and being decorated for his service with a Medal of Honor. He parlayed his glory into the governorship of New York and then the Vice Presidency under William McKinley. When McKinley was assassinated in 1901, young Teddy was thrust into the presidency, one that would earn him a place on Mount Rushmore, Roosevelt’s “Square Deal” domestic policies favored average citizens while busting trusts and monopolies. Roosevelt also promoted conservation as an environmental stance, while his “speak softly and carry a big stick” foreign policy is still an oft used phrase today. Roosevelt even earned a Nobel Prize during his presidency. By the time Roosevelt died in 1919, he was an American icon. Today, Teddy is remembered for being an explorer, hunter, author, soldier, president, and safari adventurer, all of which combine into one unique reputation.

In 1914, with the well-wishes of the Brazilian government, Theodore Roosevelt, ex-president of the United States; his son, Kermit; and Colonel Rondon travel to South America on a quest to course the River of Doubt. While in Brazil, Theodore is also tasked with a “zoogeographic reconnaissance” of the local wilderness for the archives of the Natural History Museum of New York.In addition to the perils of the incredibly difficult and dangerous terrain, the river was nicknamed “The River of Death” as a testament to its ferocious rapids. Covering a previously undocumented area of South America, this expedition would be a momentous undertaking and fraught with danger. The expedition, officially named Expedicão Scientific Roosevelt-Rondon, was not without incident; men were lost, a cannibalistic tribe tracked the group, and at one point Roosevelt contracted flesh-eating bacteria.In the end though, the Roosevelt-Rondon expedition was a success, and the River of Doubt was renamed the Rio Roosevelt in his honor. Written by a city-born boy who grew up to be a true explorer and leader, Roosevelt’s Through the Brazilian Wilderness is a unique and important part of history, and it is indicative of the ex-president’s true wanderlust and bravery. Candid black-and-white photos from the expedition fill the pages, adding further dimensions to this remarkable journey. Through the Brazilian Wilderness is an engaging must-read for historians, Roosevelt fans, and modern-day explorers alike.

"The Rough Riders," by Theodore Roosevelt, is the author's memoir of his experiences as part of the First United States Volunteer Cavalry during the Spanish-American War. The book's title comes from the nickname earned by the unit. Originally published in 1899, the book is Roosevelt's account of the recruitment and training of the Rough Riders, their voyage to Cuba, their battles, and their return home. Much of the book concerns what, in Roosevelt's opinion, makes for good soldiers and good leaders. Although the book first appeared over a century ago, many of Roosevelt's observations are startlingly relevant to contemporary warfare; he discusses wartime refugees, guerrilla warfare, wartime atrocities, and battlefield news correspondents. Other topics covered include illness among the troops and the impact of weather and terrain on warfare. He also discusses occasional humorous material, such as the nicknames some soldiers earned. Roosevelt includes fascinating technical details about the weapons of this era. Although he frankly discusses the violence, wounds, and deaths of the battlefield, the book gives the impression that Roosevelt saw war as a grand adventure-even fun on a certain level. The writing style is very engaging and has a clear, matter-of-fact quality. Roosevelt's admiration and love for his troops ultimately gives the book a real warmth and humanity, making Rough Riders truly a landmark in the rich canon of American military memoirs.

How is this book unique? Illustrations includedOriginal & Unabridged EditionOne of the best books to readClassic historical fiction booksExtremely well formattedWith the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, Theodore Roosevelt resigned his post as assistant secretary of the navy to recruit the First U.S. Volunteer Cavalry. The legendary Rough Riders—an unlikely combination of cowboys, frontiersmen, Native Americans, African-Americans, and Ivy League alumni—trained in Texas before shipping off to Cuba. The regiment met their enemy in the tropical summer heat, fighting rain, mud, and malaria as well as the Spanish Army. Their battles climaxed with the assault on San Juan Hill, where Colonel Roosevelt rallied his troops to charge through a hail of gunfire to victory.

They were in some ways a relic of the old wars—a volunteer force, organized outside the regular military command, charging into battle. The Rough Riders, however, were no ragtag bunch thrown together to meet a national emergency; they were carefully selected for their youth, physical fitness, and adaptability to Cuba’s hot climate. They were a cavalry made up of skilled riders, of men of action—southwestern cowboys, ex-servicemen with combat experience, police officers. The Rough Riders were well-trained and well-led. Thanks to Theodore Roosevelt’s contacts in government and the military (having served as Secretary of the Navy), they were well-equipped. Roosevelt and his forces won lasting glory in the famous charge to the heights of San Juan hill. This book is Theodore Roosevelt’s tribute to those who served under him and especially to those who gave their lives to the cause for which they fought.

Remembered today for his expansive personality and grand sense of adventure, Theodore Roosevelt--politician and soldier, naturalist and historian--was also a devoted, doting father and husband. This beautiful selection of the letters he wrote to his children over the courses of their lives, as well as a few written to other correspondents about the children, reveal a man deeply in love with his family and with the joys of fatherhood. The tales of Christmases at the White House and whistle-stop tours through the American countryside offer a cozy glimpse into one of the greatest American presidencies... and Roosevelt's tenderness with his sons and daughters--as he treats them as friends, confidantes, and equals--creates a warm and intimate portrait of one of the great American characters.