- "But I want to see Roosevelt. He's the best. A president, a boxer and a hunter."
- ―Indiana Jones[src]
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 25th Vice President and 26th President of the United States of America, in office from 1901 to 1909, after President McKinley was assassinated in 1901. He was one of the most famous presidents of the United States, known for his energy and zeal for physical life. Prior to becoming president, he led the Rough Riders during the Spanish-American War. Apart from that role, he was also known as a big game hunter, boxer, explorer and author. A champion of conservation, he established the first US National Monument. For brokering the end of the Russo-Japanese War, he was awarded the 1906 Nobel Peace Prize, the first American to receive one.
Roosevelt was Vice President in 1901 when President William McKinley was assassinated.
Biography[]
After his second term as president had completed in the spring of 1909, he and one of his sons, Kermit, traveled to British East Africa on a hunting expedition to help collect animal specimens for the Smithsonian Institution. They were joined by big game hunter Frederick Selous. Roosevelt brought along his weights for weight training in the camp.[1]
In September, Roosevelt's camp received some guests, Richard Medlicot and the Jones family. Roosevelt was impressed with young Indiana Jones, teaching him to fire a gun, and the importance of conservation, and how this hunt was important in bringing education to America through the museums that would benefit from stuffed animals. Giving the boy a pair of binoculars, Roosevelt encouraged Indy to explore and witness nature. One night, over a game of checkers, Roosevelt agreed to allow Indy to help solve the mystery of the Burton's fringe-eared oryx. Indy was presumed lost the next day and Roosevelt led the search parties. When Indy appeared in the evening, Roosevelt sternly rebuked him in front of his parents. However, the next morning at breakfast, Roosevelt was pleased when Indy and Meto had discovered where the oryx was to be found, and the scientific reasoning that Indy provided as to why so few were around.[1]
Roosevelt and his crew followed Indy and Meto to the oryx's grounds, and shot three of the creatures before being stopped by a pleading Indy. Realizing that his young friend was distressed, he stood down his rifle and rationalized to the hunting party that Indy was right -- there were too few of these creatures to kill any more of them.[1]
Indy kept a photo of himself and Theodore Roosevelt in his journal[2].
Behind the scenes[]
James Gammon played the role of Theodore Roosevelt in the episode "British East Africa, September 1909" of The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles.[1]
Appearances[]
- The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles – "British East Africa, September 1909"" → Passion for Life
- British East Africa, September 1909 comic
- Safari Sleuth
- Race to Danger (Mentioned only)
- The Mata Hari Affair (Mentioned only)
- Indiana Jones and the Interior World (Mentioned only)
Sources[]
- Who Are Those Guys? (Non-fiction source)
- The Man with the Big Stick (Non-fiction source)
- Indiana Jones' Marshall College entry on IndianaJones.com (backup link on Archive.org)
- Theodore Roosevelt and The American Century (Non-fiction source)
- The Lost Journal of Indiana Jones
- Indiana Jones: The Official Magazine 3
- Indiana Jones: The Ultimate Guide
- The Real Indiana Jones: Courage & Perseverance on Lucasfilm.com (backup link on Archive.org)