Theodore 'Teddy' Roosevelt

TR and the Medal of Honor

Citation
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, March 3, 1863, has awarded in the name of Congress the Medal of Honor to:

Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Roosevelt
United States Army

for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.

Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Roosevelt distinquished himself by acts of bravery on July 1, 1898, near Santiago de Cuba, Republic of Cuba, while leading a daring charge up San Juan Hill. Lieutenant Colonel Roosevelt, in total disregard for his personal safety and accompanied by only four or five men, lead a desperate and gallant charge up San Juan Hill, encouraging his troops to continue the assault through withering enemy fire over open countryside. Facing the enemy's heavy fire, he displayed extraordinary bravery throughout the charge, and was the first to reach the enemy's trenches, where he quickly killed one of the enemy with his pistol, allowing his men to continue the assault. His leadership and valor turned the tide in the Battle of San Juan Hill. Lieutenant Colonel Roosevelt's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
- from the presentation ceremony, Roosevelt Room of the White House, January 16, 2001

"TR [is] the first president to win the Medal of Honor, and the only winnner of the Nobel Peace Prize to receive the Medal of Honor. Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. was, it should be noted, posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his brave leadership at the D-Day landings in 1944, during World War II. He died of a heart attack shortly after D-Day. President Theodore Roosevelt and his son Brig. Gen. Ted Roosevelt [are] the second father and son to the Medal of Honor. The only other father and son duo to hold the Medal are General Arthur MacArthur (Civil War) and his son General of the Armies Douglas MacArthur (World War II). TR's victory in Congress during the centennial year of the Spanish-American War writes a new ending to that chapter in all the TR biographies. History isn't over till it is over."
- from the 'Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal', Vol. XXII, No. 4, 1998

TR Excerpts

"With all my heart I believe in the joy of living; but those who achieve it do not seek it as an end in itself, but as a seized and prized incident of hard work well done and of risk and danger never wontonly courted, but never shirked when duty commands that they be faced. And those who have earned joy, but are rewarded only with sorrow, must learn the stern comfort dear to great souls, the comfort that springs from the knowledge taught in times of iron that the law of worthy living is not fulfilled by pleasure, but by service, and by sacrifice when only thereby can service be rendered."
'The Great Adventure', Theodore Roosevelt, 1918

Here's a list of books in my collection by and about Theodore Roosevelt:

Bully Father, A - Joan Kerr, Random House 1995
A collection of Theodore Roosevelt's letters to his children. The 1st third of the book is an outline of TR's home life. Forward by David McCullough, author of "Mornings on Horseback". Great photos, no index.
Bully Pulpit, The: A Teddy Roosevelt Book of Quotations - H. Paul Jeffers, Taylor Publishing 1998
A whole host of quotations about children, happiness, principles, the Presidency, Lincoln, literature, etc. Also a chronology of his life and a list of books by and about him.
Colonel Roosevelt: Theodore Roosevelt Goes to War, 1897-1898 - H. Paul Jeffers, Wiley 1996
A nice, rather easy read. Jeffers concentrates on two main areas: TR as Undersecratary for the Navy (ordering Dewey to attack in the PI), and his exploits in Cuba. He skips the Rough Rider training camp all together. Recommended.
Commissioner Roosevelt - H. Paul Jeffers, Wiley 1994
The story of Theodore Roosevelt and the New York City Police, 1885-1897. What an absolute dynamo this man was.
Essential Theodore Roosevelt, The - John Gabriel Hunt, Gramercy Books 1994
A collection of TR's speeches and writing. Shows the immense amount of depth this man had.
Lion's Pride, The - Edward Renehan Jr., Oxford University Press 1998
Mainly focuses on Teddy Roosevelt's sons (Ted Jr., Archie, Kermit, Quentin) in World War I. Some biographical sketches of them growing up with Father. A final chapter on Ted Jr. as a general in WWII.
Mornings on Horseback - David McCullough, Simon & Schuster 1981
TR growing up, in the White House, with Edith and the Kids, and the Fun of being President. Recommended. Softcover. VG
Presidency of Theodore Roosevelt - Lewis Gould, University Press of Kansas 1991
In-depth look at the TR administration. A sound, balanced breakdown of Panama, trust busting, the White Fleet, cabinet members, Congress, the nation - all at TR's feet. Softcover, VG
Rough Riders, The - Theodore Roosevelt, Taylor Publishing 1997
Colonel TR on his exploits in the jungles of Cuba during the Spanish-American War (1898) and the famous charge up San Jaun Hill. Additional text by Richard Bak, slightly oversize, many photos, drawings, sidebars, and paintings. No index.
Strenuous Life, The - Theodore Roosevelt, Applewood Books 1905
TRs 1905 Chicago speech which epitomized his views on living the full life.
The Old West: The Frontiersmen - Various , Time-Life Books 1977
Anderw Jackson, Daniel Boone, the opening of the Lousiana Territory, and a small byline on Teddy Roosevelt (who traveled widely in the the Dakotas.)
Theodore Rex - Edmund Morris, Random House 2001
The TR presidency 1901-1909. Very heavy notes section.
Theodore Roosevelt on Leadership - James Strock, Forum 2001
Subtitled 'Executive Lessons from the Bully Pulpit', this book outlines TR's thoughts on leadership
Theodore Roosevelt: An Autobiography - Theodore Roosevelt, Macmillan 1914
The autobiography of one of the most influential men of the 20th century
Theodore Roosevelt - Henry F. Pringle, Konecky & Konecky 2000
The Pultizer Prize winning biography of one the greatest presidents.
Theodore Roosevelt - Nathan Miller, William Morrow & Co 1992
An unspectacular story of TR, from his childhood through his Presidency.
TR: The Last Romantic - H.W. Brands, Basic Books 1997
The one, the only, Teddy. Tomes can be, and have been, written by and about this man. What a fantastic life. This book is the begining to end story.