THEODORE ROOSEVELT

 

Riding Off Into The Sunset

  You will probably not be surprised that the statue of the old Rough Rider is being removed from the pavement around the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Although he was the governor of New York and the 26th president of the United States, the behaviour of this Roosevelt is a little too robust for our time. As well, he is flanked above by an Indigenous man and an African American. A study of the statue yielded a report and in it is this: “Height is power in public art, and Roosevelt’s stature on his noble steed visibly expresses dominance and superiority over the Native American and African figures..."

  

   The "Equestrian Statue of Theodore Roosevelt" was at the museum, not because Roosevelt was the governor or the president, but because his father was one of the founders of the Museum and Roosevelt himself was a naturalist. The statue has been in place for over 80 years, but in more recent ones has been criticized. An attempt was made to "contextualize" it and soften the statue with some signage, but after the George Floyd incident in 2020, it was "abundantly clear that this approach is not sufficient."

Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library

   You will be surprised that a new home for President Roosevelt has been found on the grounds of the new Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, North Dakota. It is scheduled to open in 2026 and the people associated with it think "The World Needs Theodore Roosevelt Now More Than Ever."  In addition, they think: "We can embrace his flaws, understand T.R. as a human being, and discover what we can learn from him, not just about him. We can embrace immersive storytelling, new technologies, and build a digital library for an analog president; this museum can be a platform for embracing civic dialogue, thoughtful debate, and inspiration around the globe." Seems reasonable to me. 

   Although Theodore Roosevelt is being sent into exile, at least the statue will still exist. It should be comfortable there since Roosevelt spend a lot of time in the west and owned a ranch in the Dakotas. It will also be both a cleaner and quieter location. 

   As I mentioned, I think it clear that the old Rough Rider is too rambunctious for our time and even out west he may face some difficulties given that almost 100 acres of land is being devoted to him. It was already owned by the U.S.Forest Service, but still there are many out there who don't think the government should own any land at all.  The subtitle of one Roosevelt biography calls him a "Many Sided American" and wherever he ends up in the United States, there will be one side, speaking loudly and carrying big sticks, who thinks he should not be around. 

Sources:

"New York City's Natural History Museum Has Removed a Theodore Roosevelt Statue," Rachael Treisman,  NPR, January 20, 2022.

"Roosevelt Statue to Head to Presidential Library in North Dakota: The American Museum of Natural History’s memorial, which has stirred objections as a symbol of colonialism and racism, is planned for display at a library opening in 2026. NYT, Sarah Bahr Nov. 19, 2021.

The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library. 

The Bonus:

   If you don't mind seeing lots of trophy mounts, take the virtual tour of Roosevelt's place on Long Island: The Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, Oyster Bay, NY.