"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."
...Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919)
Today, Teddy Roosevelt was in town, the late U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt in living history!
I was out photographing historic Fairoaks Square when our 26th president just walked right up on the sidewalk and introduced himself. But, instead of carrying a big stick like his famous quote says, he carried a teddy bear! The popular stuffed animal was created and named for Roosevelt after he refused to shoot a bear in an unsportsmanlike hunt down in Mississippi. Anyhow, Teddy Roosevelt has returned to life in the one-man show of Joe Wiegand. He uses his love of history, politics and government to weave an entertaining presentation about Roosevelt's adventures...from rancher to Rough Rider to U.S. president. He tells about his love of hunting from the U.S. South to Africa to the Amazon and why he established the national parks. To those who ask, he "explains without apology" his legacy of foreign and domestic policies.
Along with his wife Jenny; daughter, Sam; and golden retriever, Faith; Wiegand is making his "T.R. Tour 2008." They stopped in Selma to visit friends they met back in college at The University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn., where Joe says he took advantage of the school's "affirmative action plan for Yankees!"
Later today, Wiegand was headed to Tuskegee to tell about Roosevelt's meeting with Booker T. Washington, a black educator and scientist who advised the president on education in the South.
He began the tour with "The Teddy Roosevelt Show" in Park Ridge, Ill., and he'll return to Roosevelt's birthplace in New York City in October for the president's 150th Birthday Celebration.
10 comments:
Its not everyday that you come across a former President, especially a dead one!
Wow, he looks great for a dead guy! I am working my way through reading a bio of each president. TR is one of my favorites. Thanks so much for posting this here. I notice he isn't coming anywhere around here so I just sent him an email to find out what it takes to get him to come to town.
Wow..a walk down history LIVE!
very neat post and photo. and to meet the teddy bear's namesake as well!
Cool pic! Hope you got Teddy's autograph. :)
Gosh or golly gee he is a dead ringer for the president and would have scared the pee outta me. Wow. What an impressive guy this man is.
Abraham Lincoln in Brookville, Ohio
These one-man (or woman) performances are always entertaining and informative. It's a fun way to make education interesting. He looks very much alive!
How fun! I would love to have "met" him, too.
A great shot. Good to see the president alive and well! Hee hee! Also like your music as you visit your site. So relaxing!
Sorry for not visiting so recently. But have been VERY busy here in Toruń!
How does he keep those glasses on?
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