Figure 1.--This is Archie in a group portrait of the family. He did not seem very happy about having his photograph taken. Click on the image to see more of the family portrait. |
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Archie, unlike his older brothers and sisters was born in Washington, D.C. He grew up in the White House, very much in the public eye. The public loved to read about his and Quintin's antics. They were both very active, but better behaved than the Lincoln boys. Archie, according to his father, the President, was very "warm-hearted" and "loving." He even befriended the police sentries at the White House, according to report. He was wounded in both World War I and II. He married Grace Lockwood (1893-1971). They had four children (Archbald Bulloch Roosevelt, Jr. (1918-1990), Nancy, Theodora, and Edith).
Archie's parents were President Roosevelt and his wife Edith. They were by all accountsc wonderful parents. The President was just the kind of dad that appealed to active little boys. And he in turned loved being with the children. Many of his colleagues saw him as an overgrown little boy himself. Mother was much more practical.
Archie was the Roosevelt's fifth child and , unlike his older brothers and sisters was born in Washington, D.C.
(1893). His father at the time was Civil Service Commissioner. His father became president when President McKinnely was shot (1901) and he soent the mext 7 years there. Thus he essentially grew up there and very much in public eye. The public loved to read about his and Quintin's antics. They were both very active, but better behaved than the Lincoln boys. Archie, according to his father, the President, was very "warm-hearted" and "loving." He became a favorite of the White House reporters and was usually good for an interesring quote or story about life at the White House. He also befriended the police sentries at White House. A note survices in the President's handwriting to his teacher after the election of 1904. "Dear Miss Marshall, Can Archie be excused for Wednesday last, when he was suffering from 'too much election', and for yesterday, Monday, when in the hurry of bustling out of the White House he managed to forget his books. I am aware that the last seems rather a slender excuse, but Archie evidently hopes it may suffice--& I hope so too, even though I have doubts!" The White House was a great place to grow up. There was always something going on of interest. There was room for a small managerie, including ponies and badgeries and many critters in between. Therecwere also bicycles and tricycles to ride.
The family like many others often left Washington during the summer. The Roosevelts headed for Sagamore Hill. There he and Quintin often played around thev house getting into mischief. On nice days he loved to sail in the Bay with his friends and Quintin. Their boat was named the "Why." He would have wonderful adventures with his faithful dog Skip.
Archie was not as healthy as the other children. He was quite sick when he was 13 years old. The Family feared for his life.
The photograph of Archie here is part of a larger family portrait, probably taken about 1902 (figure 1). Both the President and Archie are wearing what look like riding breeches and high boots. It looks like they have just gone riding together. There is a wonderful photograph of Archie at the age of 9 years old. He is holding a favorite pet in his lap, a badger named Josiah, which he often had
to chase on his knees. You can see that he has worn out the knees of his
black stockings playing with the animal. One can understand why so many
advertisements for boys' long stockings during the 1900s made a point of
recommending doubly reinforced knees. Notice Archie's hair style, neatly cut
bangs. He is wearing play clothes--only a white shirt with white knee pants
(summer wear obviously) and long black stockings.
Archie here has his hair cut in bangs (figure 1). His younger brother Quetin had a similar hair cut.
The Press loved President Roosevelt. He was a larger than life figure that was always good for an interesting story. The press tends to like charismatic figures and Roosevelt was just the kind of figure that appealked to a young, boisdterous country. And the President was alert enough to take advantage of this. President McKinley effectively used the press. Roosevelt was a good student and made the White House the center of news every day. He provided both interviews and photo opportunities. He noticed the White House reporters standing outside in the rain. Hedecided to make a room available for them in the White House. In doing so he invented the presidential press room and briefing. [Rouse] This only further endeared the press to the press. Not all Americas were interested n affaiurs of state. Here President had a trump card. It was his large and equally appealing famly. The public loved to read about them and their goings on. This of course meant that the press was always nosing about for a good story. Edith was reticent amd rather difficult to draw out. But there were always kids about the White house who were easy to talk with and could often come up with a good story about the family. And the two most accesable were Archie and Quentin--the two youngest boys. They were like little secret agents. And they bcame stars in their oiwn right. They were the two most popular Presidential kids since Willie and Tad Lincoln.
Archie in Washington attended Sidwell Friemds, a private school. He graduated from Harvard (1916)
Archie was a captain in World War I. He was wounded and received the French French Croix de Guerre.
Archie became a businessmen.
He married Grace Lockwood (1893-1971). They had four children: Archbald Bulloch Roosevelt, Jr. (1918-1990); Nancy; Theodora; and Edith.
Archie also served and was wounded in World War II. He was stationed in the South Pacific and promoted to lieutenant colonel. He received the Silver Star and Oak Leaf Clusters.
President Roosevelt's letters are full of comments about his children. There are also many letters to them. The letters tell of intimacies with the children as well as interesting comments on world decelopments and meetings with foreign dignataries.
President Roosevelt in 1900 wrote about Kermit and Archie try to chop wood. "It is very cunning to see Kermit and Archie go to the Cove school together. They also come down and chop with me, Archie being armed with a hatchet blunt enough to be suitable for his six years. He is a most industrious small chopper, and the other day gnawed down, or as the
children call it, "beavered" down, a misshapen tulip tree, which was about fifty feet high."
Oyster Bay, Aug. 18, 1906: DEAR KERMIT, Quentin is the same cheerful pagan philosopher as ever. He swims like a little duck; rides well; stands quite severe injuries without complaint,
and is really becoming a manly little fellow. Archie is devoted to the Why (sailboat). The other day while Mother and I were coming in, rowing,
we met him sailing out, and it was too cunning for anything. The Why looks exactly like a little black wooden shoe with a sail in it, and the crew
consisted of Archie, of one of his beloved playmates, a seaman from the Sylph, and of Skip very alert and knowing.
Rouse, Robert. "Happy Anniversary to the first scheduled presidential press conference - 93 years young!". American Chronicle (March 15, 2006).
Wead, Doug. All the President's Children: Triumph and Tragedy in the Lives of America's First Families (Atria: New York, 2003), 456p.
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