Theodore Roosevelt

Life in the Badlands

Roosevelt was an activist in his years in the Assembly, writing more bills than any other New York state legislator. He often worked for the poor and the disadvantaged. In 1884, he attended the Republican National Convention and fought as a progressive, but lost to the conservative faction that nominated James G. Blaine. Reluctantly, he backed Blaine over New York's governor and Democratic Presidential candidate Grover Cleveland, whom he counted as a friend.

Related Topics:
1884 - James G. Blaine - Grover Cleveland

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

His wife and mother died on the same day earlier that year, and in the same house. This was two days after his wife gave birth to their only daughter, Alice. Roosevelt was distraught and would write in his diary, "the light has gone out of my life forever." Later that year, he left the General Assembly and moved to the Badlands of the Dakotas for the life of a rancher and lawman.

Related Topics:
Alice - Badlands

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Living near the boomtown of Medora, North Dakota, Roosevelt learned to ride and rope, and he occasionally got into trouble, having fistfights and spending his time with the rough-and-tumble world of the final days of the Wild West. On one occasion, he hunted down notorious outlaws on the Little Missouri River, heading into the uninhabited forests of the Badlands. At another time, he had a row with the legendary French duelist the Marquis de Mores, who challenged him to a duel. Roosevelt, because he was challenged, claimed the right to pick the weapon, the shotgun, stating that it was the weapon he was most comfortable with. The duel was later called off and they reconciled.

Related Topics:
Medora, North Dakota - Little Missouri River - Duelist - Marquis de Mores - Shotgun

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

After a blizzard wiped out Roosevelt's herd of cattle, he returned to the east, where in 1885, he purchased Sagamore Hill in Oyster Bay, New York. It would be his home and estate until his death. Roosevelt ran for mayor of New York City in 1886, coming in a distant third. Following the election, he went to London and married his childhood sweetheart Edith Kermit Carow. They honeymooned in Europe, and Roosevelt took the time to climb Mount Blanc, leading only the third expedition to successfully reach the top (the first was in 1865). He is the only President to have become a widower and remarry before becoming President.

Related Topics:
1885 - Sagamore Hill - Oyster Bay, New York - 1886 - London - Edith Kermit Carow - Mount Blanc - 1865

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~