Theodore Roosevelt Association

Theodore Roosevelt Association Chartered by Congress in 1920, the Theodore Roosevelt Association perpetuates the legacy of the twenty-sixth President of the United States.
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in 1910, Theodore Roosevelt returned to New York City after a fifteen-month tour of Africa and Europe. An estimated on...
06/18/2026

in 1910, Theodore Roosevelt returned to New York City after a fifteen-month tour of Africa and Europe. An estimated one million people turned out to celebrate the former president’s homecoming.

Arriving aboard the Kaiserin Auguste Victoria, Roosevelt was reunited with his family before boarding the cutter Androscoggin as an official guest of the city. Escorted by a water parade of nearly 100 vessels, he traveled to Battery Park, where Mayor William J. Gaynor welcomed him before a massive crowd.

The festivities continued with a grand parade up Broadway and Fifth Avenue. Roosevelt rode in an open carriage with Mayor Gaynor and Cornelius Vanderbilt, preceded by his famed Rough Riders and joined by approximately 2,000 veterans of the Spanish-American War.

Reflecting on his return, Roosevelt told the crowd:
“I am more glad than I can say to get home, back in my own country, back among the people I love.”

More than a celebration, the day demonstrated that even out of office, Theodore Roosevelt remained one of the most beloved figures in American public life.

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Learn More at www.theodoreroosevelt.org

Video Courtesy: Library of Congress International Collections

in 1912, speaking in Chicago during his Progressive Party campaign, Theodore Roosevelt articulated a principle that re...
06/17/2026

in 1912, speaking in Chicago during his Progressive Party campaign, Theodore Roosevelt articulated a principle that remains central to his public philosophy:

“This country will not be a permanently good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a reasonably good place for all of us to live in.”

TR believed that America's strength rested not only on individual achievement but on the health of the nation as a whole. Through his advocacy for the Square Deal, labor protections, corporate accountability, conservation, and political reform, he argued that lasting prosperity requires fairness, opportunity, and responsibility shared across society.

More than a century later, the quote continues to resonate as a reminder that our collective future depends on ensuring that the benefits of citizenship and economic progress are broadly accessible. For Theodore Roosevelt, good government and active citizenship were not opposing ideas—they were partners in building a stronger republic.

Become a TRA Member Today!
Learn More at www.theodoreroosevelt.org

The Theodore Roosevelt Association Announces the 2026 Wings Over America Scholarship Foundation RecipientsThe Theodore R...
06/17/2026

The Theodore Roosevelt Association Announces the 2026 Wings Over America Scholarship Foundation Recipients

The Theodore Roosevelt Association is proud to recognize five exceptional students as recipients of the 2026 Wings Over America Scholarship Program, providing educational support to family members of sailors who have served aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71).

This year, the TRA awarded a record-breaking $10,000 in scholarships, the largest commitment in the program's history.

These outstanding students exemplify the values Theodore Roosevelt championed throughout his life—leadership, service, perseverance, courage, and excellence. Coming from U.S. Navy families, they have demonstrated remarkable achievement in academics, community service, and leadership.

Congratulations to our 2026 scholarship recipients:

• Brady Semones – East Carolina University
• Campbell Fox – Virginia Tech
• Maximilian Gammache – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• Katelynn Jackson – Texas A&M University
• Joshua Knicely – West Virginia University

Through our partnership with Wings Over America, we are honored to invest in the next generation of leaders and continue Theodore Roosevelt's legacy of service and citizenship.

Please join us in congratulating these remarkable students as they pursue their educational and professional aspirations!

Become a TRA Member Today!
Learn More at www.theodoreroosevelt.org

On June 11th at Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, the Theodore Roosevelt Association, in partnership with the Friend...
06/16/2026

On June 11th at Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, the Theodore Roosevelt Association, in partnership with the Friends of Sagamore Hill, proudly presented the 32nd Annual Theodore Roosevelt Police Awards to Police Officer Joseph Mueller of the Nassau County Police Department and Sergeant Micheal Patrick Donlon of the Suffolk County Police Department.

These distinguished officers exemplify the courage, perseverance, and dedication to public service that Theodore Roosevelt championed throughout his life. Both overcame extraordinary physical challenges and continued to serve their communities with honor and distinction.

Officer Mueller, a member of Nassau County’s Bureau of Special Operations and Precision Fi****ms Team, returned to full duty after surviving a life-threatening aortic aneurysm and undergoing complex open-heart surgery. Sergeant Donlon, a highly decorated Suffolk County Police Department veteran, courageously battled pancreatic cancer and retired cancer-free after 25 years of exemplary service.

Each recipient received a bronze bust of Theodore Roosevelt, the Theodore Roosevelt Police Award medal and lapel pin, and a charitable donation from the Theodore Roosevelt Association to the charity of their choice. Officer Mueller’s award supports the family of the late Police Officer Sean Ledwith through the Nassau County Police Department Foundation, while Sergeant Donlon’s award supports the Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research.

We congratulate both honorees and thank them for their extraordinary service, sacrifice, and commitment to their communities.

Special thanks to our presenting sponsor, Flushing Bank, for its continued generous support of this program.

Full Story at www.theodoreroosevelt.org

in 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt signed the Oklahoma Enabling Act, paving the way for Oklahoma's admission to the...
06/16/2026

in 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt signed the Oklahoma Enabling Act, paving the way for Oklahoma's admission to the Union and bringing to a close a years-long debate over whether Oklahoma Territory and Indian Territory would enter as separate states or a single state.

For decades, the region that would become Oklahoma was home to Native nations, military outposts, explorers, and later settlers seeking representation in government. As population grew, Congress established Oklahoma Territory and Indian Territory, and residents held numerous statehood conventions while debating whether the territories should be admitted separately or combined into one state. After the proposed State of Sequoyah failed to gain approval in Congress, President Roosevelt endorsed joint statehood.

The Enabling Act authorized the people of Oklahoma and Indian territories to elect delegates to a constitutional convention and draft a constitution for a single state. It established Guthrie as the temporary capital and outlined requirements for the new state government, including public education, religious freedom, and a state judiciary.

The Senate approved the bill on June 13th, the House on June 14th, and President Theodore Roosevelt signed it on June 16, 1906—setting in motion the final steps toward statehood. After Oklahoma voters ratified their constitution, President Roosevelt officially proclaimed Oklahoma the 46th state on November 16, 1907.

Become a TRA Member Today!
Learn More at www.theodoreroosevelt.org

Oklahoma Historical Society

Theodore Roosevelt helped give us the Lincoln penny?The story began when President Theodore Roosevelt sat for sculptor...
06/15/2026

Theodore Roosevelt helped give us the Lincoln penny?

The story began when President Theodore Roosevelt sat for sculptor Victor David Brenner, who was creating a Panama Canal service medal featuring TR's likeness. During their conversations, Brenner showed Roosevelt a plaque he had created of Abraham Lincoln.

TR was so impressed by the portrait that he encouraged Brenner to adapt it for a U.S. coin. As the nation prepared to celebrate the centennial of Lincoln's birth in 1909, President Roosevelt and the Treasury Department approved a redesign of the one-cent piece.

The result was the Lincoln cent—the first circulating U.S. coin to feature an American president. More than a century later, Brenner's portrait of Lincoln still appears on the penny in your pocket.

Become a TRA Member Today!
Learn More at www.theodoreroosevelt.org

in 1901, Vice President Theodore Roosevelt attended a military “sham battle” at the parade grounds of Van Cortlandt Pa...
06/15/2026

in 1901, Vice President Theodore Roosevelt attended a military “sham battle” at the parade grounds of Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx. These mock combat exercises were designed to simulate battlefield conditions, giving troops an opportunity to practice maneuvers, strategy, and coordination.

A veteran of the Spanish-American War and a strong advocate for military preparedness, TR maintained a deep interest in the nation’s armed forces throughout his public career. His attendance at the event reflected his belief that rigorous training and readiness were vital to the strength and security of the United States.

The parade grounds at Van Cortlandt Park served for many years as an important training site for military units, making Theodore Roosevelt’s visit a fitting intersection of his military interests and public service.

Become a TRA Member Today!
Learn More at www.theodoreroosevelt.org

Photos Courtesy of The New York Historical

in 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt wrote to his longtime friend William Wingate Sewall from the White House, expres...
06/13/2026

in 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt wrote to his longtime friend William Wingate Sewall from the White House, expressing his admiration for one of America's greatest leaders.

"I do not have to tell you that my great hero is Abraham Lincoln, and I have wanted while President to be the representative of the "plain people" in the sense that he was - not, of course, with the genius and power that he was, but according to my lights, along the same lines."

Lincoln's example profoundly influenced TR's understanding of leadership, public service, and the presidency. While acknowledging that he could never match Lincoln's “genius and power,” TR aspired to follow the same path of serving the American people with courage, integrity, and purpose.

Become a TRA Member Today!
Learn More at www.theodoreroosevelt.org

Join us at the Big Stick Golf Outing on September 14, 2026 at the Town of Oyster Bay Golf Course presented by New York L...
06/12/2026

Join us at the Big Stick Golf Outing on September 14, 2026 at the Town of Oyster Bay Golf Course presented by New York Life Insurance Company.

Each hole will be TR-Themed, and the event benefits the Theodore Roosevelt Association’s programs supporting military, police, youth, and education, as well as our partners - the Nassau County Lions youth hockey program.

Book your foursomes today and sponsorships are available!

Learn More at www.theodoreroosevelt.org/golf

Long Island Golf Outings Long Island Golf Junkies

Now Open! TRA Rough Riders Collection Online StoreThe Theodore Roosevelt Association is proud to announce the next relea...
06/10/2026

Now Open! TRA Rough Riders Collection Online Store

The Theodore Roosevelt Association is proud to announce the next release in our Online Store series: The Rough Riders Collection, featuring original designs by TRA Member Gabriella Frame.

The store will be open from June 10, 2026 through June 24, 2026
Throughout the year, the TRA releases special online stores featuring unique designs available only for a limited time, making each collection a one-of-a-kind opportunity for our members. Every design appears in just one store window—once the store closes, that specific collection will not return.

This release coincides with the anniversary of the Rough Riders' first combat in Cuba in June 1898. Those June engagements, followed by the charge up Kettle Hill and the Battle of San Juan Heights on July 1st, cemented the regiment's place in American history and transformed TR into a national hero.

Additionally, the store features a commemorative TRA coffee mug and tumbler.

Sales from the store directly support the TRA's mission-driven programs, helping to preserve and promote Theodore Roosevelt's ideals for future generations.

Shop Today: https://midwest.mycommercio.com/tra2026

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