TR's post-presidency study in Sagamore Hill, which always provides expected & unexpected pleasures of history & seasonal beauty, is the ultimate man-cave built by the ultimate man of the world for his era.
Brilliant. Thank you. The quote from Rauchway is also brilliant, making this a must-read book for me. It’s always fun, especially early on a Sunday morning, to have your mind expanded. TR, by the way, was not only all you say but was also the most efficient chief executive we’ve ever had. He set himself a strict limit of four hours a day in the office. The rest of the time he was boxing (great cardio!), or riding horses or something. Boundless energy. There’s a wax figure of him in the Smithsonian that captures some of his defiance, which I wish I could upload here. On a different note G: how was “The Dawn of Everything”?
Not just "modern GQP types." He was hated by his contemporaries also. TR, like Lincoln and Eisenhower, was a GOP fluke. They made him VP to get rid of him, then McKinley got assassinated and Mega-fixer Mark Hanna said "Now we have that damned Roosevelt!" Lincoln was the only one of their leaders with a national reputation, though many of the early leadership didn't like him, they had to run him because no one else had a chance. They put Eisenhower in over Robert Taft because after 20 years out of power, they were desperate and figured he'd get the "GI vote," which he did. All three were opposed by the GOP establishment and were only in office because the only thing the GOP believes in is taking power.
I pooped out on "Dawn." I got their point early on, and I'm sure they are right, but I was put off by what I thought was an arrogant tone. And they fall into what I consider a fallacy of flipping the script completely, an all-or-nothing approach. Maybe I'll get back to it.
Greg you continue to impress! Another great Sunday morning read. I can’t imagine how many people knew who the assassin was, or how TR and he shared similar thoughts.
"Dispatches," along with Phil Caputo's "A Rumor of War" and Bob Mason's "Chickenhawk" are the three books to read that are contemporary accounts of the war.
He wrote this wonderful book "Eleanor and Franklin" which details Eleanor's outreach to unions, civil rights organizers and other activist organizations. What an amazing woman. She also engaged FDR as much as she could to support a more inclusive agenda. She's been one of my idols since I was a little girl. Here's a link to the book:
Two other great books about TR: The Bully Pulpit (Doris Kearns Goodwin) and River of Doubt (Candice Millard). The latter is about TR's adventures in the Amazon after he lost the race to which you refer, and it's incredible how much stamina he had.
Thanks so much for this first of hopefully many more reviews of your “finds”. I will definitely read this, more for the TR stuff than McKinley. Ha! Poor McKinley will never get the respect he may deserve. Last TR piece I read was Doris Kearns Goodwin’s Bully Pulpit. Came away loving Taft and less in love with Teddy.
You'll like "Theodore Rex." I found my copy the same way you did. "Hunting books like Seal Team Six,"yeah that describes me. When I found the 1933 Aeroplane Book Club edition of James McCudden's "Flying Fury" (he was a World War I British flying ace, and the the book is considered rare - it's reputation is that it was one of the best first-person memoirs from one of those guys) in good shape and only $3, I almost fainted for joy. We haven't had a book sale since March 2020. Used to have them quarterly. I hope they return.
They really are the best, the book fairs. I read the prologue last night. It's terrific. And it's the part of his life I'm most interested in, which helps.
That 1912 speech from which you quote says everything. Are we going to stay a country where some feast and others starve? It's remarkable, the number of lessons in living that must be learned over and over again.
"I'm with the Band" is an excellent snapshot of the music world in LA during the 60's and 70's. I grew up in Hollywood during that time and I learn so much about the world that was all around me that I didn't know at the time.
TR's post-presidency study in Sagamore Hill, which always provides expected & unexpected pleasures of history & seasonal beauty, is the ultimate man-cave built by the ultimate man of the world for his era.
TR was just up in everything. Astonishing, really.
The longer I follow you the more I learn! Thanks Greg, interesting as as usual! My MIL always went to our library’s book fair!!
Thanks, Christine!
“a Manhattanite who could credibly wear a cowboy hat.”
Reminds me of my favorite line from Blazing Saddles. "What's a dazzling urbanite like you doing in a rustic setting like this?"
Ha! I love that movie.
I want credit for reading this. Pass fail.
Sandy, do you know when your podcast interview with Greg is supposed to be out...or did I miss it?
Do not know.
Miss it? No. Missed nothing, Lynell.
I'm working on it. It's going to be great, and well worth the wait. Within a month, god willing and the crick don't rise.
OK...No pressure!
Brilliant. Thank you. The quote from Rauchway is also brilliant, making this a must-read book for me. It’s always fun, especially early on a Sunday morning, to have your mind expanded. TR, by the way, was not only all you say but was also the most efficient chief executive we’ve ever had. He set himself a strict limit of four hours a day in the office. The rest of the time he was boxing (great cardio!), or riding horses or something. Boundless energy. There’s a wax figure of him in the Smithsonian that captures some of his defiance, which I wish I could upload here. On a different note G: how was “The Dawn of Everything”?
TR was a super human, outsized character, and is notably hated by modern GQP types
Not just "modern GQP types." He was hated by his contemporaries also. TR, like Lincoln and Eisenhower, was a GOP fluke. They made him VP to get rid of him, then McKinley got assassinated and Mega-fixer Mark Hanna said "Now we have that damned Roosevelt!" Lincoln was the only one of their leaders with a national reputation, though many of the early leadership didn't like him, they had to run him because no one else had a chance. They put Eisenhower in over Robert Taft because after 20 years out of power, they were desperate and figured he'd get the "GI vote," which he did. All three were opposed by the GOP establishment and were only in office because the only thing the GOP believes in is taking power.
This sums it up nicely. The only good GOP presidents are the ones who rejected the "we are not allowed to do anything" ethos.
He was notably hated by many of his contemporary GOP too.
The Dawn has been weighing down my bedside table for a month, so I'll call it "heavy" reading.
Amazing person he was. Truly.
I pooped out on "Dawn." I got their point early on, and I'm sure they are right, but I was put off by what I thought was an arrogant tone. And they fall into what I consider a fallacy of flipping the script completely, an all-or-nothing approach. Maybe I'll get back to it.
Greg you continue to impress! Another great Sunday morning read. I can’t imagine how many people knew who the assassin was, or how TR and he shared similar thoughts.
If he had a shorter, cooler name, like say "Oswald," people would know, I'm sure.
I knew, I knew! But I owe that claim entirely to Stephen Sondheim.
Happy experience of the book fair, and I will vouch for "Dispatches" which was once a lucky used store find to me
"Dispatches," along with Phil Caputo's "A Rumor of War" and Bob Mason's "Chickenhawk" are the three books to read that are contemporary accounts of the war.
"Born on the 4th of July" deserves a mention
I read the first page and it's terrific. Looking forward to it.
I dreamt of a Sunday of Bukowski poems and got got reminded of the rough riding (in the night) Elephant Assassin, T.R.
Ps
I hold him reponsible for the disastrous Flood irrigation of the Great Sonoran Desert.
Speaking of Roosevelts. You easterners might recall a possible cousin, Joseph Lash.
He was tight with Eleanor.
I have to look him up.
He wrote this wonderful book "Eleanor and Franklin" which details Eleanor's outreach to unions, civil rights organizers and other activist organizations. What an amazing woman. She also engaged FDR as much as she could to support a more inclusive agenda. She's been one of my idols since I was a little girl. Here's a link to the book:
https://www.amazon.com/Eleanor-Franklin-Relationship-Roosevelts-Private/dp/0393074595
Two other great books about TR: The Bully Pulpit (Doris Kearns Goodwin) and River of Doubt (Candice Millard). The latter is about TR's adventures in the Amazon after he lost the race to which you refer, and it's incredible how much stamina he had.
He's an amazing person. Then or now.
Thanks so much for this first of hopefully many more reviews of your “finds”. I will definitely read this, more for the TR stuff than McKinley. Ha! Poor McKinley will never get the respect he may deserve. Last TR piece I read was Doris Kearns Goodwin’s Bully Pulpit. Came away loving Taft and less in love with Teddy.
Interesting. Taft, meh. But late-stage TR was a proto-Perot spoiler, so maybe that was the angle.
Between the two administrations an unbelievably productive period in America’s forward progress.
I think most of us never heard of this guy Czolgosz, likely due to "an unpronounceable name chockablock with consonants".
Exactly.
"Chockablock" made my day yesterday. Haven't heard that one in years.
You'll like "Theodore Rex." I found my copy the same way you did. "Hunting books like Seal Team Six,"yeah that describes me. When I found the 1933 Aeroplane Book Club edition of James McCudden's "Flying Fury" (he was a World War I British flying ace, and the the book is considered rare - it's reputation is that it was one of the best first-person memoirs from one of those guys) in good shape and only $3, I almost fainted for joy. We haven't had a book sale since March 2020. Used to have them quarterly. I hope they return.
They really are the best, the book fairs. I read the prologue last night. It's terrific. And it's the part of his life I'm most interested in, which helps.
That 1912 speech from which you quote says everything. Are we going to stay a country where some feast and others starve? It's remarkable, the number of lessons in living that must be learned over and over again.
Over and over and over again.
Interesting collection of books! And interesting facts about Teddy Roosevelt. I’d be curious to hear about your analysis/opinions of “The Cathars”.
I will share where I get to it!
"I'm with the Band" is an excellent snapshot of the music world in LA during the 60's and 70's. I grew up in Hollywood during that time and I learn so much about the world that was all around me that I didn't know at the time.
Hope to see a Sunday Pages devoted to it!