Retro Riley: The poet and the president

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10/16/2024

James Whitcomb Riley and Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt

James Whitcomb Riley and Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt had many things in common.

James Whitcomb Riley and Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt had many things in common.

Both Riley and Roosevelt were prolific writers. Riley wrote approximately 1,000 poems, most in rustic Hoosier dialect. Books and volumes of Riley’s poetry and short stories were published regularly and became national bestsellers. President Roosevelt produced more than 30 books, 150,000 letters and countless articles and columns. Three of Roosevelt’s books, “The Naval War of 1812” (1882), the four-volume “Winning of the West” (1889-96) and “Autobiography” (1913), are regarded as American classics.

Both did early recordings of their presentations. Audio recordings of Riley reciting selections of his poetry can be found at the Indianapolis Public Library and in the Library of Congress. Audio recordings of Roosevelt can be found in the Library of Congress and at the G. Robert Vincent Voice Library of Michigan State University.

James Whitcomb Riley and Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt
James Whitcomb Riley

Riley and Roosevelt preserved the nation’s past, but in different ways. Riley’s poetry was wildly popular and has been recognized for capturing memories of simpler times when change was transforming the country from an agrarian to an industrial society. Roosevelt, as president, took steps to preserve the nation’s natural resources and used his authority to protect wildlife and public lands by creating the United States Forest Service (USFS) and establishing 150 national forests, 51 federal bird reserves, four national game preserves, five national parks and 18 national monuments. During his presidency, Theodore Roosevelt protected approximately 230 million acres of public land.

James Whitcomb Riley and Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt
Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt

The two men were accomplished speakers and drew large crowds wherever they were to speak. Famed literary contemporary Mark Twain was said to be reluctant to share the speaker’s platform with Riley, who often stole the show with his humorous poetry. As a speaker, Roosevelt brought great energy, a rousing presence, fearlessness and determination to his delivery. In 1912, he was shot by a would-be-assassin on his way to deliver a campaign speech. He told the crowd once he got there that he had been shot and then showed them where the bullet had been stopped – by Roosevelt’s dense overcoat, steel reinforced eyeglasses and his hefty 50-page speech tucked in his right jacket pocket. Roosevelt went on to talk for 90 minutes before heading to the hospital for medical care.

James Whitcomb Riley and Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt
Cartoon of Theodore Roosevelt by Clifford Berryman

Two similarities between Riley and Roosevelt that particularly stand out have to do with bears and lasting legacies. One of Riley’s most treasured poems, “The Bear Story,” is a long-time favorite of many. The 1897 poem chronicles the story of Alex, a little boy who makes up a story of his encounter with a bear. President Roosevelt actually had an encounter with a real bear. In 1902, Roosevelt went to Mississippi at the invitation of the state’s governor to hunt for bears. After three days, the president had not spotted a bear. When one of his guides found an old bear that was injured and suffering, the president asked that the old bear be put down to end its pain and suffering, but he refused to shoot the bear, saying it would be unsportsmanlike. Political cartoonist Clifford Berryman picked up the story showing how the president had refused to shoot the bear while hunting in Mississippi. Berryman continued to draw political cartoons featuring President Roosevelt and the bear that kept getting smaller and smaller to an endearing bear cub size. The president who refused to shoot a bear won the hearts of the American public. American and German toy companies started making stuffed bears that became known as teddy bears. The popularity of teddy bears endures today.

James Whitcomb Riley and Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt

Four days after the death of Riley in 1916, prominent friends gathered to talk about ideas for how to honor the Hoosier poet. By 1919, the idea of naming a children’s hospital for him had gathered steam, and Riley Hospital for Children opened in 1924. This month marks its centennial birthday. Three days after the death of Roosevelt in 1919, the Roosevelt Permanent Memorial National Committee came into being, later renamed the Roosevelt Memorial Association. The 105th annual meeting of the association takes place Oct. 18-20 in Indianapolis. In advance of the meeting, the Indiana chapter delivered more than 100 teddy bears to Riley’s Cheer Guild for distribution to hospital patients.

--Compiled by the Riley Hospital Historic Preservation Committee