The Strenuous Life: Lessons in History and Leadership at Sagamore Hill
If you are looking to blend travel with a deep dive into history and leadership, there is no better place to visit than the Sagamore Hill National Historic Site in Oyster Bay, Long Island. Known as the “Summer White House,” this home was built in 1885 and served as the residence of Theodore Roosevelt until his passing in 1919.
A Legacy Born of Tragedy and Grit
The story of Teddy Roosevelt is one of incredible resilience. In 1884, he faced a devastating double tragedy when both his mother and his wife passed away on the same night—Valentine’s Day. Roosevelt recorded the date in his diary with the haunting note: “the day the light went out”.
To cope with his grief, he left his newborn daughter with his sister and headed to the Badlands of North Dakota, where he transformed himself into a cowboy. This was a massive shift for a man who had been a “sickly youth” struggling with asthma. Following his father’s advice to “force your body to cooperate,” Roosevelt embraced a lifestyle of hiking, riding, boxing and wrestling to build his strength.
The Meteoric Rise of a Rough Rider
Roosevelt’s career was a whirlwind of service and action. He served as:
- NYC Police Commissioner and later Assistant Secretary of the Navy.
- The leader of the “Rough Riders,” a volunteer cavalry unit composed of Ivy League athletes and his friends from the Badlands.
- Governor of New York and Vice President of the U.S., eventually becoming the youngest President in the history of the United States.
Life in the “Summer White House”
Sagamore Hill was a reflection of Roosevelt’s vibrant personality. It was a place filled with books, noise, and a variety of animals, often described as a “zoo in disguise”. As a dedicated family man, he encouraged his children to be “fun-loving, rowdy” kids. When once asked if he could control his children, he famously replied that he could either run the country or control his kids, but he could not do both.
Even while serving as President, Roosevelt lived what he called “the strenuous life”. He would often bring professional boxers and wrestlers into the White House for workouts during his lunch breaks.
The Progressive Leader
Roosevelt’s presidency was defined by his “Square Deal” philosophy, ensuring fairness for the average person against “robber barons.” His achievements included:
- Conservation: He was a major leader in protecting national treasures, famously preventing drilling in the Grand Canyon and creating numerous national parks.
- Peace: He became the first president to win a Nobel Peace Prize for his role in mediating the Russo-Japanese War.
- Resilience: Even after being shot during a speech, he insisted on continuing, proving that “no bullet’s going to stop me.”
The Leadership Lesson: The Man in the Arena
The core leadership takeaway from Roosevelt’s life is his belief that the credit belongs to the person “actually in the arena” rather than the critic on the sidelines. He championed the idea that a person is defined by their willingness to engage in the “strenuous life” and take on challenges head-on.
Whether it’s exploring the halls of Sagamore Hill or applying the “Square Deal” to your own leadership style, Teddy Roosevelt’s legacy offers a timeless blueprint for living with purpose and grit.
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Analogy for Understanding: Theodore Roosevelt’s life is much like a blacksmith’s blade: he took the raw, “sickly” iron of his youth and used the intense heat of personal tragedy and the heavy hammer of the “strenuous life” to forge himself into a resilient tool for national service.
Uncovering History. Inspiring Leadership. The Travel in Time Show is where travel, history, and leadership intermingle with history teacher, author, and speaker Dan Blanchard
*Check out Dan’s book, “Travel in Time in the Northeast: https://www.amazon.com/Travel-Time-Northeast-Timeless-Leadership-ebook/dp/B0FZBQ2FHS/
*Watch Dan’s YouTube video on this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExjmR_l2BWo
Listen to Dan’s podcast on this episode: (Coming Soon)
*See Dan’s Interview with Teddy Roosevelt: (Coming Soon)
*Learn more about Dan: https://granddaddyssecrets.com/