My Brother, Theodore RooseveltRobinson, Corinne Roosevelt
History
My Brother, Theodore Roosevelt
Robinson, Corinne Roosevelt
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
situation for me: ‘Yes, Platt and Odell did want to eject him, that
was true, but it wasn’t only that. The West felt strongly, and the
Middle West as strongly, that his name was needed on the presidential
ticket. No, he didn’t want to give up a second term as governor of New
York State; he hated the thought of a vice-presidential burial-party,
but what was he to do? He didn’t really know himself.’
At that moment, without any ceremony, the door was thrown open, and
in marched the delegation from Kansas. Fife and drum and bugle headed
the delegation with more than discordant noises. Round and round the
room they went, monotonously singing to the accompaniment of the above
raucous instruments: “We want Teddy, we want Teddy, we want Teddy.” My
brother held up his hand, but nothing seemed to stop them. Over and
over again they filed solemnly around that sitting-room, and finally,
forming in a straight line, they metaphorically presented arms, and
stood for a moment silently before him. He stepped nearer to them
and, with a somewhat anxious tone in his voice, said: “Gentlemen of
Kansas, I know that you only want what is best for the country, and
incidentally what you think is best for me; but, my friends, I wish
you would withdraw your desire that I should be the candidate for the
vice-presidency. I _want_ another term as governor of New York State.
I have initiated a good many reforms that I think would help my native
state. I have made many appointments, and the people I have appointed
would feel that I have gone back on them if I can’t be there to help
them with their work. I am sure I could be of more use to my country
as governor of New York State than as vice-president. I wish you would
change your minds and help me to do the thing which I think is the best
thing to do.” The delegation from Kansas looked the pleader gently but
firmly in the eye. The fife and drum and bugle struck up its monotonous
sound again. The leader of the Kansas delegation turned, and, with
all his followers, once more they marched slowly and steadfastly
around that room, making no answer to Governor Roosevelt except the
indomitable refrain of “We want Teddy, we want Teddy, we want Teddy,”
which sounded for a long while down the corridor. As we listened to
their retreating footsteps, he turned to me with a look of mingled
amusement and despair in his eyes, and said: “What can I do with such
people? But aren’t they good fellows!”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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