Theodore Roosevelt: Family Life

Figure 1.--President Rossevelt is pictured with his family about 1901. Note the tunic suit with short socks that Quentin is wearing. He was killed as a fighter pilot in France during World War I--changing his father's romantic view of war.

The Roosevelt family was a strong close-knit group. The President took a great interest in his children and was fascinating in watching them growup. His letters are full of comments about the children and many letters to them. The children for their part adored their parents, except perhaps Alice, and were very close to each other. The White House was sometimes a dull place, but this changed when presidents arrived with young children. Most presidents were married and had children. Often they were older men whose childen had grown up or in one tragic case died on the way to the White House. Some presidents were notable for adoring and romping with their children. One such father was Franlin Foosevelt, but his children had grown up by the time they reached the White House. Two presidents are notable for having a brood of younger children with him in the White House, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt. Tad and Willie's exploits were legend such as firing a toy but fully functional cannon at the President's cabinent. The Confederacy never got so close. The Roosevelt boys never topped that--but they came close and there were more of them. The President for his part was the kind of father every boy dreamed about. He joined right in when time allowed. Their father thoroughly enjoyed the boys and often joined them in their play, both at the White House and in near by Rock Creek Park.

The President's View

The Roosevelt family was a strong close-knit group. The President took a great interest in his children and was fascinating in watching them growup. His letters are full of comments about the children. And their are many letters wrtten bythe children to her parents. The children for their part adored their parents, except perhaps Alice, who proved more difficult to control than her brothers. The children were also very close to each other. A fascinating view of Roosevelt family life can be seen in this letter written by the President at Oyster Bay, Aug. 6, 1903. There is a real sweetness in the residet's lettrs to the children that is unmistakeable.

Play

The President was not a stand-off father. He enjoying play as much as the children. This was not all thast common at the time. The President was the kind of father every boy dreamed about. He joined right in when time allowed. And there were plenty of places to play, even when they were in Washington. Unfortunately, most of the photograohic images of them were formal portraits. We are guessing that photographs of the President romping with the children were seen as not politically advisable as they would detract from his image as aeriious statesman. The public loved to read about the children's antics, but images of the President playing with them may have been too much for the President's image.

The White House

Most presidents were married and had children. Often they were older men whose childen had grown up or in one tragic case died on the way to the White House. Some presidents were notable for adoring and romping with their children. One such father was Franlin Foosevelt, but his children had grown up by the time they reached the White House. Two presidents are notable for having a brood of younger children with him in the White House, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt. Tad and Willie's exploits were legend such as firing a toy but fully functional cannon at the President's cabinent. The Confederacy never got so close. The Roosevelt boys never topped that--but they came close and there were more of them. The White House was sometimes a dull place, but this changed when presidents arrived with young children. The McKinnely White House was a rather gloomy place. His wife was sick and he did not want her disturbed. And then tragically Presifent McKinnely was assasinated. The gloomy ambience changed when President Roosevelt arrived with him family. There were six children between 3 and 17, all but Alice boys. And the younger boys were to say the least not only active, but inventive to boot. As any parent will tell you, that combination makes for active parenting. The boys found that the White House could be turned into a huge play ground and their parents only somewhat or at least only succeeded in limited their activities to a degree. The East Room made a fine roller link and here we are not talking about staid little girl roller skating, it was sometimes more like Roller Derby. The attic could be converted into a secluded club house. The lawn made for a great place to race horses or play with other animals. Their father thoroughly enjoyed the boys and often joined them in their play. The President at times seemed just another obe of the children, only slightly larger.

Rock Creek Park

The President not only played with the children at the White House, but also at other sites as well. But there was a great place for their outings very close to the White House in Washington--nearby Rock Creek Park. This is a National Park that is not very well known. It is in fact the largest urban parl in the world. It is a heavily wooded park with a stream winding through it. It was a great place for family outings and only a short carriage ride from the White House. A favorite activity in the heavily wooded Park was cowboys and Indians. And their were great places to go swimming. After a day of tromping through Rock Creek Park and playing in Rock Creek the boys and the President himself would be dischelved and not uncommonly covered with mud. Thus they would delay their return to the White House until dusk so no one would see them.

The Potomac

The Potomas River was even closer than Rock Creek Park. The President would organize boat trips down the river where he and the boys would pretend to be pirates.