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Kids Corner
Teddy Roosevelt: The People’s President
As a little boy, Teddy Roosevelt was a sickly and frail child. No one expected that he would grow up to be a strong, energetic man who would become one of America’s most popular presidents.
But Teddy pushed himself. He exercised hard and studied hard and read hundreds of books. He was an avid bird-watcher and wrote books about his research. He hunted big game and ran a ranch. He mastered every subject he studied.
His zest for life made him care deeply about people. Even though he was raised in a wealthy New York family, he understood the needs of everyday working men and women. He brought these values to office when he became New York’s governor and then the 26th president of the United States in 1901.
Roosevelt was a progressive Republican. As governor, he put a tax on corporations, began regulating sweatshops, raised teachers’ salaries and started a conservation program. His reforms angered many businesspeople, but Roosevelt didn’t back down.
As president, Roosevelt launched what he called the “Square Deal.” He fought for fair wages, fair prices and safe and healthy living conditions for all Americans. He believed in hard work, but also compassion. “There is not a man of us who does not at times need a helping hand to be stretched out to him, and then shame upon him who will not stretch out the helping hand to his brother,” he said in 1903.
In October 1902, he became the first president to intervene in a labor strike without taking management’s side. Five months earlier, anthracite coal miners in Pennsylvania had walked off the job demanding better wages, union recognition and an eight-hour workday.
Roosevelt met with both the coal field operators and the miners and urged them to reach a settlement. The United Mine Workers agreed to talks but the operators resisted. With winter coming, the country badly needed coal. Roosevelt threatened to turn the mines over to military forces to restore coal production. The owners were forced to negotiate.
In the end, the miners won a 10 percent increase in pay and reduced work hours. The strike helped the UMW grow from fewer than 10,000 members to more than 100,000, making it the nation’s largest trade union at the time.
Roosevelt served as president until 1908. He died in 1919 at the age of 61, the end of a full and happy life. “I don’t think any president ever enjoyed himself more than I did. Moreover, I don’t think any ex-president ever enjoyed himself more,” he said in 1910. “Success — the real success — does not depend upon the position you hold, but upon how you carry yourself in that position.”
Presidential Puzzler
In honor of President’s Day, February 18, we thought we’d have a little fun with presidential history. Can you match the presidents on the left with the fun facts on the right? The dates note the year each was sworn into office.
1. Jimmy Carter (1977)
2. Andrew Jackson (1829)
3. William Henry Harrison (1841)
4. Thomas Jefferson (1801)
5. Abraham Lincoln (1861)
6. Woodrow Wilson (1913)
7. John Quincy Adams (1825)
8. Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933)
9. Ulysses S. Grant (1869)
10. Dwight Eisenhower (1953)
11. James Garfield (1881)
12. George Washington (1797)
a. His picture is on the $20 bill.
b. He commanded American forces in Europe during World War II.
c. He kept sheep on the White House’s lawn, using their wool for soldiers’ blankets.
d. He was the first left-handed president.
e. He wrote the Declaration of Independence.
f. He died after catching a cold at his inauguration.
g. He had false teeth made from animal teeth and bone — not wood!
h. He was the first president to have his photograph taken.
i. He was the first president to wear a beard in office.
j. He was elected to four terms, more than any other president.
k. A former peanut farmer, he was the first president born in a hospital.
l. He led the Union army to victory in the Civil War.
Answers to Presidential Puzzler:
1 – k, 2 — a, 3 – f, 4 – e, 5 – i, 6 – c, 7 – h, 8 – j, 9 – l, 10 – b, 11 – d, 12 – g
As a little boy, Teddy Roosevelt was a sickly and frail child. No one expected that he would grow up to be a strong, energetic man who would become one of America’s most popular presidents.
But Teddy pushed himself. He exercised hard and studied hard and read hundreds of books. He was an avid bird-watcher and wrote books about his research. He hunted big game and ran a ranch. He mastered every subject he studied.
His zest for life made him care deeply about people. Even though he was raised in a wealthy New York family, he understood the needs of everyday working men and women. He brought these values to office when he became New York’s governor and then the 26th president of the United States in 1901.
Roosevelt was a progressive Republican. As governor, he put a tax on corporations, began regulating sweatshops, raised teachers’ salaries and started a conservation program. His reforms angered many businesspeople, but Roosevelt didn’t back down.
As president, Roosevelt launched what he called the “Square Deal.” He fought for fair wages, fair prices and safe and healthy living conditions for all Americans. He believed in hard work, but also compassion. “There is not a man of us who does not at times need a helping hand to be stretched out to him, and then shame upon him who will not stretch out the helping hand to his brother,” he said in 1903.
In October 1902, he became the first president to intervene in a labor strike without taking management’s side. Five months earlier, anthracite coal miners in Pennsylvania had walked off the job demanding better wages, union recognition and an eight-hour workday.
Roosevelt met with both the coal field operators and the miners and urged them to reach a settlement. The United Mine Workers agreed to talks but the operators resisted. With winter coming, the country badly needed coal. Roosevelt threatened to turn the mines over to military forces to restore coal production. The owners were forced to negotiate.
In the end, the miners won a 10 percent increase in pay and reduced work hours. The strike helped the UMW grow from fewer than 10,000 members to more than 100,000, making it the nation’s largest trade union at the time.
Roosevelt served as president until 1908. He died in 1919 at the age of 61, the end of a full and happy life. “I don’t think any president ever enjoyed himself more than I did. Moreover, I don’t think any ex-president ever enjoyed himself more,” he said in 1910. “Success — the real success — does not depend upon the position you hold, but upon how you carry yourself in that position.”
Presidential Puzzler
In honor of President’s Day, February 18, we thought we’d have a little fun with presidential history. Can you match the presidents on the left with the fun facts on the right? The dates note the year each was sworn into office.
1. Jimmy Carter (1977)
2. Andrew Jackson (1829)
3. William Henry Harrison (1841)
4. Thomas Jefferson (1801)
5. Abraham Lincoln (1861)
6. Woodrow Wilson (1913)
7. John Quincy Adams (1825)
8. Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933)
9. Ulysses S. Grant (1869)
10. Dwight Eisenhower (1953)
11. James Garfield (1881)
12. George Washington (1797)
a. His picture is on the $20 bill.
b. He commanded American forces in Europe during World War II.
c. He kept sheep on the White House’s lawn, using their wool for soldiers’ blankets.
d. He was the first left-handed president.
e. He wrote the Declaration of Independence.
f. He died after catching a cold at his inauguration.
g. He had false teeth made from animal teeth and bone — not wood!
h. He was the first president to have his photograph taken.
i. He was the first president to wear a beard in office.
j. He was elected to four terms, more than any other president.
k. A former peanut farmer, he was the first president born in a hospital.
l. He led the Union army to victory in the Civil War.
Answers to Presidential Puzzler:
1 – k, 2 — a, 3 – f, 4 – e, 5 – i, 6 – c, 7 – h, 8 – j, 9 – l, 10 – b, 11 – d, 12 – g