October 27

"Get  action. Seize the moment. Man was never intended to become an oyster."

Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President, 1901-1909- attributed to Roosevelt in letters to his children. First quoted from a letter to J. A. Roosevelt (Roosevelt's uncle) written by Theodore's father, Theodore Roosevelt, Senior. (McCullough, David, "Mornings on Horseback", Simon and Schuster, New York, New York, 1981, p. 31) Although this phrase may not have been originally uttered by the future President, it certainly is a standard theme and motivating idea and a driving force in his life. Roosevelt was quite sickly as a young boy, nervous and afraid of many things, and suffered from severe asthma. When little Theodore would suffer an attack at night, his father would " take him in his arms and walk the floor with him for hours." (ibid, p. 36)The rest of the time, Roosevelt's father was an authority figure but also a great companion. He taught his children to ride horses and to climb trees. As they grew older he tried to include them in his own outside activities. Roosevelt's father hated idleness. From that point of view, the phrase and sentiment most likely arose: "Get action. Seize the moment. Man was not intended to become and oyster." Perhaps the phrase had some reference to the Roosevelt's summer home at Oyster Bay on Long Island. Oysters are similar to clams, but early in their life, they attach themselves to a safe spot and remain there their entire lives. Young Theodore became interested in, almost obsessed, with natural history and wild life. He began a collection of birds that he would capture and stuff them himself. He became a reader of books on poetry, science, and history would report on what he had read to anyone who would listen. However, he remained sickly until his father took him aside and told him that he had to build and take charge of his body. He began an exercise regimen and his father even hired boxing coaches and took him on summer hikes and camping expeditions. He started to "get action" and never stopped. Even long after his father passed away, he remained a strong guiding influence on Roosevelt. When Theodore left to go to college at Harvard, his father wrote to him, "Take care of your morals first, your health next, and, finally, your studies.'' (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/transcript/tr-transcript/) Theodore was a boon companion to his children as well. He became President at the age of 42 and he and his second wife, Edith, brought their six children and the Roosevelt rambunctiousness to the White House. One child had been born to his previous wife, Alice, who had died as a result of complications from giving birth. The children had free run of the White House and were known to have dropped water balloons on the guards and given elevator rides to their shetland pony, Algonquin. Their menagerie also included six dogs, snakes, a macaw parrot, cats, rats, guinea pigs, and a flying squirrel. Roosevelt also took great pleasure in telling ghost and cowboy stories and in leading the children and guests on hikes and swims at their Sagamore Hill summer home.