Theodore Roosevelt.

Theodore Roosevelt. From hunter to United States president. Theodore Roosevelt was born in 1858. Teddy, as his friends called him, was a frail child, prone to illness, asthma attacks, and physical weakness. Yet, despite his poor health, he was a passionate lover of wildlife. Inspired by the works of James Audubon, William Bartram, and Alexander Wilson, as well as the adventure novels of Mayne Reid about boy hunters and the writings of Frank Forester, as a teenager Theodore became deeply interested in naturalism and decided to dedicate himself to taxidermy. This, of course, did little to help his asthma, so his father insisted he take up outdoor sports. The choice was obvious: Teddy chose hunting. His passion for hunting was remarkable. He took pride in shooting large numbers of birds and other wildlife, collecting impressive trophies—some of which he, as a naturalist, referred to as "specimens." But for Roosevelt, hunting wild animals and collecting their hides and horns was always about much more than sport—it was a primitive reconnection with the natural, pre-civilized world and "a free, self-reliant, adventurous life with its rugged and sturdy democracy." Hunting was not merely recreation, but a transformative journey involving apprenticeship, youthful trials, and ultimately, self-mastery. It was hunting that strengthened both his body and spirit, paving the way through a series of adventures and challenges to make him the most extraordinary American president. After graduating from Harvard University in 1880, Roosevelt felt drawn to politics. Joining the Republican Party, he won election easily. But just two years later, after serving in the New York State Legislature, Teddy abandoned his political career in favor of the freedom—then still available—of the American West. While hunting bison in Dakota in 1883, he became intrigued by the idea of establishing a cattle ranch in the region. He invested about $80,000—roughly half of his inheritance—into the venture. In the first few years, due to inexperience and harsh weather conditions, he nearly lost everything. As a ranch owner, he had to develop his skills as a rider and hunter, as such abilities were essential for conducting business in these wild territories. These were difficult and dangerous times in every respect. On one occasion, Roosevelt led a posse to capture three armed criminals who had escaped in his boat during the spring flood. The stories from Teddy’s ranch life in Dakota formed the basis of his 1885 book, Ranch Life and the Hunting Trail, which, in many ways, defined his future path. To promote the book, Theodore Roosevelt commissioned a fine buckskin suit made in the style of his childhood heroes, Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett. Wearing this outfit—complete with moccasins, a rifle, and a knife with a deer-antler handle—he posed for a publicity campaign. This was how he envisioned the hunter-heroes and trappers from the books of his youth. His boundless love of hunting was an inseparable part of his identity, and he emphasized it through his hunting wardrobe. Roosevelt’s journey toward prominence in wildlife conservation began, strangely enough, with the same 1885 publication of Ranch Life and the Hunting Trail. The book was largely well received by general readers. However, it drew mixed reactions from experts. One particularly uncomplimentary and even ironic review came from George Bird Grinnell. Grinnell wrote that Roosevelt, as a newcomer to the region, had missed many subtleties and failed to truly understand it. He criticized Roosevelt for his limited experience, claiming Teddy couldn’t separate fact from fiction or truth from exaggeration. Grinnell believed Roosevelt was too credulous toward local hunting myths and tall tales. At the same time, he acknowledged that the book’s naivety gave it a certain charm. Soon after, the two men met. Recognizing Grinnell’s expertise, Roosevelt took his critiques seriously. They became close friends. From their conversations and correspondence emerged the idea of founding the Boone and Crockett Club in 1887. The club’s goals were to “promote manly sport with the rifle,” share information about big game and its habitats, spread the ideals of ethical hunting and interest in natural science, and advocate for wildlife protection and related legislation. Membership was restricted exclusively to hunter-naturalists, emphasizing the club’s commitment to conservation. “All hunters should be nature lovers,” declared Roosevelt when elected as the club’s first president. This was his first taste of the presidency. As President of the United States, Roosevelt made the protection of America’s natural resources a top priority. He established five national parks, four game preserves, and 150 national forests to protect wildlife. During his time in the White House, he set aside 800,000 square kilometers of land as national conservation areas. In protecting the environment and regulating legal hunting, he accomplished more than any of his predecessors or successors. Even as president, Theodore Roosevelt remained true to his passion for hunting. In 1902, he was invited to Mississippi to hunt bear. The trip was difficult, and the president was feeling unwell. To please Roosevelt, one of the hunting party used dogs to corner a bear and tied it to a tree. Roosevelt could have easily shot the animal, but he refused, considering it unworthy of a true sportsman. The incident was widely reported in the American press, transforming a hunting anecdote into a national sensation. Inspired by the story, cartoonist Clifford Berryman created a cartoon with the caption: “Drawing the line in Mississippi.” A New York confectioner, Morris Michtom, and his wife sewed a plush bear toy and named it “Teddy’s Bear.” The Teddy bear was instantly beloved by children and adults alike. As often happens in the United States, a good story quickly turned into a successful business.