Fit As a Bull Moose

“The boy who is going to make a great man must not make up his mind merely to overcome a thousand obstacles, but to win in spite of a thousand repulses and defeats.” – Theodore Roosevelt

Teddy Roosevelt was born into extreme privilege, but he also experienced his share of trials in life. For instance, he suffered with debilitating asthma throughout his childhood, eventually overcoming the disease by intentionally living a physically strenuous lifestyle.

Then, on February 14, 1884, his first wife Alice died at age 22 from Bright’s Disease, just two days after giving birth to their first and only child. That same day, his mother died. A grief-stricken Roosevelt wrote a giant X on that date in his diary along with these words, “The light has gone out of my life.”

Overcome with depression, Roosevelt left his baby daughter in the care of his sister and sought refuge in the Dakota Territory where he hunted, fished, and became a rancher. However, when the severe winter of 1886-1887 wiped out his entire cattle herd and half of his $80,000 investment ($2.71 million today), Roosevelt returned to New York.

Over the next 13 years, Roosevelt served as Police Commissioner of New York City, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Governor of New York, and Vice President of the United States. He also famously led the Rough Riders up San Juan Hill during the Spanish-American War. When William McKinley was assassinated in September 1901, Roosevelt became America’s 26th President.

After serving the rest of McKinley’s term and being elected in 1904 in his own right, Roosevelt chose not to run for re-election in 1908, endorsing his hand-picked successor William Howard Taft instead. Unhappy with Taft’s policies and perhaps missing the limelight, Roosevelt sought the Republican Party’s nomination in 1912, but narrowly lost to Taft. Undaunted, Roosevelt ran as the nominee of the Progressive or “Bull Moose” Party, finishing ahead of Taft but second to Democrat Woodrow Wilson.

During the 1912 campaign, Roosevelt was shot in the chest by a would-be assassin while in Milwaukee. The bullet tore through his eyeglass case and the 50-page speech in his coat pocket, lodging in Roosevelt’s chest but not penetrating his lung. Against his doctor’s advice, Roosevelt insisted on delivering his entire 90-minute speech with blood soaking through his shirt.

Roosevelt died in his sleep on January 6, 1919, of a pulmonary embolism at the age of 60. Thomas R. Marshall, who served as vice president under Woodrow Wilson, said that “Death had to take Roosevelt sleeping, for if he had been awake, there would have been a fight."

Say what you want, but Teddy Roosevelt lived a very full life and overcame every obstacle that was thrown at him. With God’s help, may you and I be overcomers too.

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NKJV)

“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” I John 5:4 (ESV)

- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President