Theodore Roosevelt's words on Lincoln

[LincolnMan]

It has been claimed that young Theodore Roosevelt witnessed the Lincoln funeral procession in New York when he was a young boy. Whether true or not, Roosevelt thought very highly of Abraham Lincoln. The almost poetic quote below comes from a speech given by him delivered at Lincoln's birthplace February 12, 1909. Speaking of Lincoln, he said:

"....He grew to know greatness, but never happiness, save that which springs from doing well a painful and a vital task. Power was his, but not pleasure. The furrows deepened on his brow, but his eyes were undimmed by either hate or fear. His gaunt shoulders were bowed, but his steel thews never faltered as he bore for a burden the destinies of his people. His great and tender heart shrank from giving pain; and the task allotted him was to pour out like water the life-blood of the young men, and to feel in his every fibre the sorrow of the women. Disaster saddened but never dismayed him. As the red years of war went by they found him ever doing his duty in the present, ever facing the future with fearless front, high of heart, and dauntless of soul. Unbroken by hatred, unshaken by scorn, he worked and suffered for the people. Triumph was his at the last; and barely had he tasted it before murder found him, and the kindly, patient, fearless eyes were closed forever."

[Joe Di Cola]

(09-18-2012 02:52 PM)LincolnMan Wrote:  It has been claimed that young Theodore Roosevelt witnessed the Lincoln funeral procession in New York when he was a young boy. Whether true or not, Roosevelt thought very highly of Abraham Lincoln. The almost poetic quote below comes from a speech given by him delivered at Lincoln's birthplace February 12, 1909. Speaking of Lincoln, he said:

"....He grew to know greatness, but never happiness, save that which springs from doing well a painful and a vital task. Power was his, but not pleasure. The furrows deepened on his brow, but his eyes were undimmed by either hate or fear. His gaunt shoulders were bowed, but his steel thews never faltered as he bore for a burden the destinies of his people. His great and tender heart shrank from giving pain; and the task allotted him was to pour out like water the life-blood of the young men, and to feel in his every fibre the sorrow of the women. Disaster saddened but never dismayed him. As the red years of war went by they found him ever doing his duty in the present, ever facing the future with fearless front, high of heart, and dauntless of soul. Unbroken by hatred, unshaken by scorn, he worked and suffered for the people. Triumph was his at the last; and barely had he tasted it before murder found him, and the kindly, patient, fearless eyes were closed forever."

Bill,
Go to page 168 in TWENTY DAYS where you will see the photo that also shows Theodore Roosevelt (age 6 and a half and his brother Elliott (later to be father of Eleanor) in a 2nd story window watching the funeral procession of A.L. in New York City.

[RJNorton]

I cannot recall where I read it, but I did read somewhere that there was some skepticism that this was really young Teddy. I agree with Joe that it is Teddy, and I have asked Richard Sloan about this, and he also agrees it is him. But I know I read a book in which the author expressed skepticism, but where that was escapes me right now.

[LincolnMan]

I wonder if TR himself ever mentioned witnessing it?

[emma1231]

TR never mentioned witrnessing the funeral, but one of his young female relatives who was in the house at the time, confirmed that he was there to watch it (from inside). (I ant recall off hand who that was. I think it was Teddy's sister. I won't have a chance to double check it for a while. There weren't any other kids the same ages of TR and Elliot there at the time, to my knowledge. It's pretty safe to conclude it is TR and Elliot in that opened window. I don't think many people know that the soldiers on the street below constituted the head of the funeral procession. That's right. Even tho the procession began at City Hall, the front of the line was in front of the Van Shaack mansion. They were standing about in most of the photos (all but one such pic) waiting for their cue to start marching. The word that the procession had begun (and late!) came by a soldier on horselback, who galloped all the way up from City Hall to give them the word, in effect, "start marching!"

[Laurie Verge]

If you ever have the opportunity to see "emma" aka Richard Sloan put on his dual-projector presentation with music and narration on the Lincoln funeral proceedings and procession through New York City, please avail yourselves of it. It is excellent and very moving.

[LincolnMan]

Great information. What an impact the sight of the funeral procession must have had!

[Joe Di Cola]

(09-19-2012 03:08 PM)emma1231 Wrote:  TR never mentioned witrnessing the funeral, but one of his young female relatives who was in the house at the time, confirmed that he was there to watch it (from inside). (I ant recall off hand who that was. I think it was Teddy's sister. I won't have a chance to double check it for a while. There weren't any other kids the same ages of TR and Elliot there at the time, to my knowledge. It's pretty safe to conclude it is TR and Elliot in that opened window. I don't think many people know that the soldiers on the street below constituted the head of the funeral procession. That's right. Even tho the procession began at City Hall, the front of the line was in front of the Van Shaack mansion. They were standing about in most of the photos (all but one such pic) waiting for their cue to start marching. The word that the procession had begun (and late!) came by a soldier on horselback, who galloped all the way up from City Hall to give them the word, in effect, "start marching!"

My guess is the female relative who remembered was Anna "Bamie" or "Bye", TR's older sister who would have been around 16 or 18 years of age at the time of Lincoln's funeral.

[LincolnMan]

Joe: Well, once again I pulled out my copy of Twenyt Days. You're right-page 168! Too bad the picture doesn't more clearing show TR watching-but the photographer could not have known. Are there any other pics of TR from the window?







tr from the window?

[RJNorton]

Bill, this is the one I use on my Lincoln funeral train page in my website:

Maybe others exist, but I have never seen one.

[Joe Di Cola]

(09-20-2012 07:58 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  Bill, this is the one I use on my Lincoln funeral train page in my website:

Maybe others exist, but I have never seen one.

One of the ways this has been identified is the fact that the building was the Roosevelt's townhome.

[LincolnMan]

Thanks, Roger!
Joe: the whole building?

On another note, I think I remember that TR had a Union army ancestor? Was it his father?

[Joe Di Cola]

(09-20-2012 08:05 AM)LincolnMan Wrote:  Thanks, Roger!
Joe: the whole building?

On another note, I think I remember that TR had a Union army ancestor? Was it his father?

Bill,
TR's father was an ardent supporter of Lincoln and the Union, but did not serve in the miitary. TR's mother was a Bulloch from Georgia and she was a Confederate sympathizer--bit nothing traitorous. The Bullochs served in the Confederate military--primarily in the navy and one of them was instrumental in getting the CSS Alabama built and launched. Can you imagine what the media and political ad gurus would do with that today?!
The house was a four-story brownstone and quite large.
Joe

[LincolnMan]

They would have a field day! He probably would not have been elected.

[L Verge]

I assume that the Roosevelt townhouse no longer exists?