Thank Goodness It's Monday #374

LESSONS FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

-- 100 YEARS AGO

Theodore Roosevelt
26th President of the United States
(in office 1901 - 1909)

Referring to the boyish and exuberant ways of her husband Theodore Roosevelt, First Lady Edith Roosevelt (1861 – 1948) identified him as “… (my) oldest and rather worst child.”

She also wrote in 1901: “To me, the shadow [of President McKinley’s assassination] still hangs over the White House, and I am in constant fear about Theodore ….” 

Remembering history: TR became President when McKinley was shot.

In the light of the following anecdote, as recounted in authors Richard Shenkman and Kurt Reiger’s book One-Night Stands with American History, it seems as if Edith Roosevelt had some foreknowledge of events that would transpire more than a decade later. 

Let’s stay alert for some TGIM Takeaways as we review the details. Here’s the first:  

TGIM Takeaway: It’s not always bad that politicians write long speeches. 

Here’s what Shenkman and Reiger write about a compelling century-old event: 

“In 1912 when Teddy Roosevelt was campaigning for the presidency as the candidate for the Bull Moose Party, he prepared his speeches on small sheets of paper with an extra spacing between the lines for easier delivery. 

“When the Rough Rider was in Milwaukee on October 14, his speech covered 50 heavy, glazed pages. Folded over and carried in his pocket, they numbered 100. This was a fortunate length, for as Roosevelt left his hotel for the rally, a would-be assassin fired a shot at the Bull Moose’s heart.

The bullet-damaged speech
and eyeglass case

“The bullet traveled through Roosevelt’s coat, vest, eyeglass case, the 100 pages of speech, and lodged against his fifth rib, cracking it, but not badly injuring the ex-President.

“Had the speech not altered the course and speed of the bullet, the missile would have passed directly through 
Roosevelt’s heart and killed him.”

Made-for-TV (had it existed) moment: The consummate campaigner and politician, TR leaped at the opportunity to turn near disaster to his advantage. Realizing the wound was superficial, he elected to take the stage and –

Deliver his speech. He told the audience of the attempt on his life, then boasted – 

“But it takes more than that to kill a bull moose!”

Theodore Roosevelt (pre-Photoshop)
allegedly riding a moose

He pulled the speech from his pocket, the bullet holes in view of all. He unbuttoned his vest to reveal his bloodstained shirt. Then he proceeded to deliver all 50 pages of his speech. (There’s a transcript of TR’s remarks HERE.) 

MORE TGIM TAKEAWAYS: To speak with greater authority and make a “bullet proof” presentation, consider adopting some of the strengths apparent in what TR managed to do a century ago.

·         Don’t delay beginning. After he was shot TR called for his driver to take him to the hall and told him, “I will make this speech or die.” If your talk is given in conjunction with a luncheon or dinner, it’s exasperating for the audience to wait until every last spoon is removed before you begin. 

·         Strive for control. Exhibit poise, regardless of the circumstances. 

·         Be earnest. And sincere. But also elicit (and demonstrate) empathy.

·         Appeal to the heart as well as the head. One moving appeal sometimes outweighs a half-hour of factual argument.

·         Never show annoyance. If TR could take a bullet and proceed, don’t show irritation when a noisy airplane passes overhead. (Don’t fight it. Stop talking and wait until the interruption stops. Then resume, without comment.)

The final word. Perhaps one more Takeaway from this tale is to caution us that, no matter how dramatic -- 

·         Speeches can go on too long. At its conclusion Roosevelt was examined in a Milwaukee hospital and then was observed for 8 days in a Chicago hospital. He was discharged on October 23, 1912 -- only a few days before the election. 

The bullet had effectively stopped TR's campaign. He finished second to Woodrow Wilson, but ahead of the incumbent President, William Howard Taft. The bullet was never removed, and caused no difficulty after the wound healed. 

Adding insult to injury: Not only did Teddy Roosevelt and the Bull Moose Party fail to win the national vote in 1912, they didn’t even carry Wisconsin.

“It’s hard to fail,” Teddy Roosevelt concluded. “but it’s worse never to have tried to succeed.”

To which I‘ll add an exuberant, “Bully!”

Geoff Steck   
Chief Catalyst
Alexander Publishing & Marketing

8 Depot Square

Englewood, NJ 07631
201-569-5373
tgimguy@gmail.com

P. S. “I never thought my speeches were too long. I enjoyed them.” Vice President Hubert Humphrey (1911 – 1978) said that.