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The rise of Theodore Roosevelt - Edmund Morris [438]

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of his dealings with one reporter over a long period. After TR became President, he ignored Steffens for two years, until the journalist became nationally famous; he then took him up again, manipulating him with consummate skill and no little hypocrisy. Stein’s essay should be read as an antidote to the Steffens Autobiography, which suggests that the author had a powerful influence on TR.

33. Ste.258; Eve. Post, May 6, 1895.

34. Ib.; Richardson, Police, 249; New York City Police Department, Minutes of the Board, 1895–7 (TRB) 1–2.

35. World, May 10, 1895; Evening World, same date; World, May 11; Journal, May 17; World, May 17.

36. World, May 22, 1895. The Journal, May 21, noted “the constant splurge made over what Mr. Roosevelt does or says.” Also AND.67–9.

37. See, e.g., Ste.261–2. N.Y.T., July 21, 1895.

38. World, May 17, 1895. No other explanation of TR’s scar has ever been offered. It shows up clearly in numerous photographs.

39. Eve. Sun, May 8, 1895.

40. Ib.; Sun, June 27, 1896, quoting TR.

41. TR to HCL, May 18, 1895 (LOD.).

42. Mor.457.

43. N.Y.T., July 23, 1895.

44. Miss Minnie Gertrude Kelly is insinuatingly described in the World, May 10, 1895, as “young, small, and comely, with raven-black hair and … a close-fitting gown.” TR’s motives in hiring her were of the highest, however. She was to “take the place of two men employed by the previous President, at a saving of $1,200 a year.” Apparently the arrival of Miss Kelly, a family friend of the Roosevelts and a protégée of Joe Murray, “quite took the breath out of the old stagers in the Mulberry Street barracks.” Hitherto headquarters staff had been exclusively male. (Ib.)

45. Photographs of TR working survive as evidence of this curious habit. See, e.g., Bis.I.60.

46. Wise, John S., Recollections of Thirteen Presidents, 246.

47. TR to B, May 19, 1895; ib., June 2.

48. Mor.456, 458.

49. Ib.; World, May 17, 1895.

50. Rii.130; AND.36.

51. AND.78–9; Ber.51–53; Ste.261. See also N.Y.T., May 29, 1895.

52. Ste.206–14, 263; AND.79–80.

53. Ib.; N.Y.T., May 25, 1895.

54. World, June 3, 1895.

55. Jacob Riis, in Outlook, June 22, 1895, confirms that what follows was TR’s own idea.

56. Account of the night walk based on Riis, Making, 330–2; Trib., June 8, 1895; World, same date; AND.Scr.; TR.Scr.

57. World, Trib., June 8, 1895; AND.57.

58. Trib., June 8, 1895.

59. World, Trib., June 8, 1895.

60. Eve. Sun, June 8; Philadelphia Times, n.d., AND.Scr.

61. Brooklyn Times, Washington Star, June 8, 1895.

62. Davis (31) and TR had met in Washington on Dec. 6, 1892. They did not get on too well at first. TR’s insistence that Americans should approve of all things American prompted Davis to ask if that included “chewing tobacco and spitting all over the floor.” TR replied sarcastically that it did, and what was more, he always made a point of sitting with his feet on the table when dining at the British Legation. (Mor.299.) After that their relationship improved. Davis later contributed much to the Roosevelt legend.

63. Trib., June 15, 1895; Recorder, Commercial Advertiser, same date; AND.54.

64. Press, June 15, 1895.

65. Ib.

66. Excise Herald, June 29, 1895; AND. confirms the report by quoting it.

67. Sun, World, N.Y.T., June 15, 1895.

68. Press, N.Y.T., Commercial Advertiser, June 15, 1895.

69. AND.Scr.; TRB clips, 1895; Sun, Mar. 24, 1896.

70. Ib. For another, very funny anecdote about “Teddy’s Teeth,” see Edward Marshall, “The Truth about Roosevelt,” The Columbian Magazine, June 1910.

71. Ib.

72. Pri.138.

73. AND.62. See World, Aug. 22, for an account of a daytime prowl.

74. EKR to Emily Carow, n.d., TRB mss.; Mor.462; TR.Auto.205.

75. Rii.145.

76. Mor.463.

77. Bernard McCann int. FRE.; James Burke, ex–Lyon’s waiter, ib.

78. Mor.464; Brant, “TR, PC,” 33.

79. Ib., 34.

80. N.Y.T., Jan. 16, 1895.

81. TR.Wks.XIV.27; Mor.466.

82. Ib.; also 464.

83. Evening Telegraph, June 11, 1895.

84. TR.Wks.XIV.181.

85. Mor.463.

86. Ib.

87. TR.Auto.197–9; Advertiser, June 25, 1895; Ste.264; AND.113–8; N.Y.T., June 24, 1895.

88. N.Y.T., June 25,

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