Theodore Roosevelt (A Life) Lyrics

Born on October 27th, 1858

Theodore Roosevelt, in Manhattan, Eastern New York State

He was one of four children, had asthma and often ill

So, was homeschooled till he entered Harvard, to improve his skill

Politics, Theodore thought, was where he wanted to be

He fought corruption as a member of the New York Assembly

He wed twice, his first, Alice died after their child was born

In '86, Edith and he wed once he'd no longer mourn

He had six children, one with Alice, and with Edith, five

Alice, Ted, Kermit, Ethel, Archie, Quentin, all survived

He formed a volunteer regiment, The Rough Riders, their name

In '98, they battled Cuba's forces and gained fame

Theodore Roosevelt, America's President 26

He famously said to speak softly and carry a big stick

Teddy was governor of New York, then was tapped to be VP

He served five months uneventfully till the death of McKinley

He stepped into the Presidency in 1901

And focused on national parks and forests, and corruption

He helped Panama leave Columbia for the canal to begin

And for ending a war, the Nobel Peace Prize he did win

He remained a loud voice in the politics of the nation

And inside him, a bullet from an attempted assassination

On January 6, 1919, in his sleep, Teddy passed

His life was full, his energy great, even up to the last

Theodore Roosevelt, a leader of men, brave in peace and war

His greatness ever displayed on the cliffs of Mount Rushmore