Harold Holzer's collection on the (auction) block

[David Lockmiller]

(09-21-2018 12:33 PM)RJNorton Wrote:  

(09-21-2018 11:19 AM)David Lockmiller Wrote:  President Roosevelt's principal inspiration was President Abraham Lincoln.

David, I have read similar. President Roosevelt wore a ring containing a lock of Lincoln's hair when he was inaugurated in 1905. The hair had been cut by Dr. Charles C. Taft, one of the attending physicians the night of the assassination. The hair was purchased by John Hay on February 9, 1905, and was given to Roosevelt less than a month later. In his Autobiography, Roosevelt wrote, "When I was inaugurated on March 4, 1905, I wore a ring he (John Hay) sent me the night before, containing the hair of Abraham Lincoln. This ring was on my finger when the Chief Justice administered to me the oath of allegiance to the United States."

Thank you for that, Roger. That was an absolutely amazing story.

John Hay was United States Secretary of State under Presidents William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt. John Hay must have been informed by President-to-be Theodore Roosevelt of how important President Abraham Lincoln had been in his own personal and political life.

Theodore Roosevelt acknowledged his benefactor in preserving the institution of democracy by wearing the gifted ring at his inauguration the next day. Interesting, John Hay waited, until the night before the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court administered the Oath of Office for President to Theodore Roosevelt, to give to Roosevelt this gift.