Thank you for this piece of history. When I support National Parks I always think of Theodore Roosevelt, a very human reformer. Both Roosevelts, among the wealthiest of our presidents, were aristocrats in the true sense of the word. Sadly, other wealthy presidents have not been as magnanimous. It takes tragedy to form the best humans.
Thank you for this piece of history. When I support National Parks I always think of Theodore Roosevelt, a very human reformer. Both Roosevelts, among the wealthiest of our presidents, were aristocrats in the true sense of the word. Sadly, other wealthy presidents have not been as magnanimous. It takes tragedy to form the best humans.
Mary Pat IтАЩve just commenced re-reading Catherine Drinker BowenтАЩs magnificent MIRACLE AT PHILADELPHIA. It is the compelling story of how representatives of 12 states (Rogue Island refused to come) sweltered for four months, many extraordinary compromises, and produced the best working political document that the world had ever seen.
It was a near thing on the edge of failure. Similarly with the antsy ratification process. Reading the Federalist Papers and James MadisonтАЩs daily accounts, I say shame to pseudo-originalists.
The Gilded Age. An era of great wealth making for a few at the direct expense of the working class and the small businessmen whoтАЩs ingenuity was crushed by the Robber Barons
Of course, I may be misreading this, but might Jon be suggesting that we are going through a Gilded Age 2.0 right now? Certainly looks that way to me....
Interesting - from Wikipedia: The "Gilded Age" term came into use in the 1920s and 1930s and was derived from writer Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner's 1873 novel The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today, which satirized an era of serious social problems masked by a thin gold gilding.
When I think of the gilded age, both today and тАЬyesterdayтАЭ, I refer to the wildly disproportionate wealth distribution across all economic classes and, consequently , the disproportionate (top heavy) accumulation of political power.
Yes, often that is the case. Some collapse under the weight of such pain. Others fight back.
I have read a lot about TR, so I knew this story well. He was a powerful and fascinating man. TR used his grief to become even more consequential. To make a difference.
But if you read about his childhood, you will see a pattern. As a kid, he was sickly and weak. His response was to fight even harder against his infirmities. He embarked on a lifetime of exercise and vigorous activities that literally rebuilt his body and his character.
Sometimes, a very painful experience, which at the time seems overwhelming can be motivating and powerful. I attribute my ability to handle pain and adversity to the terrifying health challenges I had as a kid.
Teddy took it to the highest levels. He was far from the perfect guy. But he was incredibly inspiring, nonetheless. I yearn for more like him to lead us.
Your comment reminds me that TR was an adherent of "muscular Christianity," the mid- and late-19th-century movement in both the UK and the US that emphasized physical health, sports, and outdoor activities ways to promote masculinity. It was a reaction against what these reformers saw as the "feminization" of Christianity (never mind that both the Catholic Church and the mainstream Protestant denominations were all led by men).
Those strong leaders that so many long for are almost invariably male, and they usually come accompanied by a heaping dose of sexism and even misogyny. This helps explain why, among those who long for "strong leaders," the names of, say, Nancy Pelosi and Stacey Abrams rarely come up.
This fact inspired my mother, who believed women had to excel beyond menтАЩs achievement to even be set as their equals. In her elder years, she did a genealogy of my fatherтАЩs family, but she detoured from standard genealogy to include the female lines. She died before doing her own genealogy, so I guess that will be my project in the coming years. Thankfully, she assembled copious notes, records, and photographs which she passed on to me. ЁЯдЧ
Love this! My sister is the genealogist in my family, along with her husband, but I'm happily guesting on their Ancestry site -- and learning some interesting connections that weren't all that obvious, because the family names of the women tend to get erased when they marry. Seeing the genealogy makes it clearer where they came from and who might have influenced them.
Gosh, IтАЩll need to learn more about the Ancestry site!
My mother (and father) loved this work, had many adventures, and made many connections over their research & writing years. She was first inspired by the TV miniseries тАЬRootsтАЭ (1977) and published her book in 1982.
Published by Gateway Press, it was called тАЬThe Descendants of Thomas Hutchinson of Southold, N. Y. 1666-1982тАЭ. Author: Jane Errickson Hutchinson. My real name is actually Jennie Hutchinson Shanks! Note we both kept our maiden names. ^^
My parents passed in September and October of 2005. IтАЩve still got a few hundred of her books in my basement, because I couldnтАЩt bear the thought of taking them to the dump!!
Yes. Enjoyed that as well. A whole other angle on TR is "River of Doubt" by Candace Millard. A little less flattering and quite revealing of TR in his later life. Millard is a favorite author.
Thank you for this piece of history. When I support National Parks I always think of Theodore Roosevelt, a very human reformer. Both Roosevelts, among the wealthiest of our presidents, were aristocrats in the true sense of the word. Sadly, other wealthy presidents have not been as magnanimous. It takes tragedy to form the best humans.
Virginia Doris Kearns Goodwin wrote a. Book describing how both Roosevelts overcame great adversity which contributed to their greatness.
"Leadership in Turbulent Times". My current read, can't put it down. Covers Abraham Lincoln ans Lyndon Johnson, too.
Mary Pat IтАЩve just commenced re-reading Catherine Drinker BowenтАЩs magnificent MIRACLE AT PHILADELPHIA. It is the compelling story of how representatives of 12 states (Rogue Island refused to come) sweltered for four months, many extraordinary compromises, and produced the best working political document that the world had ever seen.
It was a near thing on the edge of failure. Similarly with the antsy ratification process. Reading the Federalist Papers and James MadisonтАЩs daily accounts, I say shame to pseudo-originalists.
Sounds like a Must Read! Adding to my list, Keith. Thanks!
adding it to my "to read" list NOW! Thanks
The Gilded Age. An era of great wealth making for a few at the direct expense of the working class and the small businessmen whoтАЩs ingenuity was crushed by the Robber Barons
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robber_baron_(industrialist)
Teddy Roosevelt was a bad ass
The Gilded AgeтАФsound familiar? Note that gilt is a thin covering, obscuring baser stuff beneath.
Sorry, but I тАШm not understanding your comment
Of course, I may be misreading this, but might Jon be suggesting that we are going through a Gilded Age 2.0 right now? Certainly looks that way to me....
Me too
Interesting - from Wikipedia: The "Gilded Age" term came into use in the 1920s and 1930s and was derived from writer Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner's 1873 novel The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today, which satirized an era of serious social problems masked by a thin gold gilding.
When I think of the gilded age, both today and тАЬyesterdayтАЭ, I refer to the wildly disproportionate wealth distribution across all economic classes and, consequently , the disproportionate (top heavy) accumulation of political power.
The Gilded Age IтАЩm referring to was the Era of the Robber Barons in the late 1800тАЩs
...and the gilding is, indeed, thin. Lot of ugliness under that shiny coating.
Yes, often that is the case. Some collapse under the weight of such pain. Others fight back.
I have read a lot about TR, so I knew this story well. He was a powerful and fascinating man. TR used his grief to become even more consequential. To make a difference.
But if you read about his childhood, you will see a pattern. As a kid, he was sickly and weak. His response was to fight even harder against his infirmities. He embarked on a lifetime of exercise and vigorous activities that literally rebuilt his body and his character.
Sometimes, a very painful experience, which at the time seems overwhelming can be motivating and powerful. I attribute my ability to handle pain and adversity to the terrifying health challenges I had as a kid.
Teddy took it to the highest levels. He was far from the perfect guy. But he was incredibly inspiring, nonetheless. I yearn for more like him to lead us.
Your comment reminds me that TR was an adherent of "muscular Christianity," the mid- and late-19th-century movement in both the UK and the US that emphasized physical health, sports, and outdoor activities ways to promote masculinity. It was a reaction against what these reformers saw as the "feminization" of Christianity (never mind that both the Catholic Church and the mainstream Protestant denominations were all led by men).
Those strong leaders that so many long for are almost invariably male, and they usually come accompanied by a heaping dose of sexism and even misogyny. This helps explain why, among those who long for "strong leaders," the names of, say, Nancy Pelosi and Stacey Abrams rarely come up.
Good point. History courses tend to primarily focus on the тАЬachievementsтАЭ of men.
This fact inspired my mother, who believed women had to excel beyond menтАЩs achievement to even be set as their equals. In her elder years, she did a genealogy of my fatherтАЩs family, but she detoured from standard genealogy to include the female lines. She died before doing her own genealogy, so I guess that will be my project in the coming years. Thankfully, she assembled copious notes, records, and photographs which she passed on to me. ЁЯдЧ
Love this! My sister is the genealogist in my family, along with her husband, but I'm happily guesting on their Ancestry site -- and learning some interesting connections that weren't all that obvious, because the family names of the women tend to get erased when they marry. Seeing the genealogy makes it clearer where they came from and who might have influenced them.
Gosh, IтАЩll need to learn more about the Ancestry site!
My mother (and father) loved this work, had many adventures, and made many connections over their research & writing years. She was first inspired by the TV miniseries тАЬRootsтАЭ (1977) and published her book in 1982.
Published by Gateway Press, it was called тАЬThe Descendants of Thomas Hutchinson of Southold, N. Y. 1666-1982тАЭ. Author: Jane Errickson Hutchinson. My real name is actually Jennie Hutchinson Shanks! Note we both kept our maiden names. ^^
My parents passed in September and October of 2005. IтАЩve still got a few hundred of her books in my basement, because I couldnтАЩt bear the thought of taking them to the dump!!
YтАЩall have fun, good luck, and be well!!
patriarchy is the HIStory we learn ... which explains a lot
The Bully Pulpit by Doris K Goodwin is a fantastic book!
YES!!!!!
A must read, for sure.
Another good biography about TR is "Mornings on Horseback" by David McCoullough.
Yes. Enjoyed that as well. A whole other angle on TR is "River of Doubt" by Candace Millard. A little less flattering and quite revealing of TR in his later life. Millard is a favorite author.
Thanks for the referral!!
Indeed suffering can sculpt us into our best selves.