The 27th of October, 2013 marks the 155th birthday of Theodore Roosevelt. One year on from the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial reopening at the American Museum of Natural History, why not celebrate the occasion by learning more about Theodore’s conservation efforts — a passion shared by the Alienist books’ author, Caleb Carr — at the Museum’s YouTube channel.
I am more impressed by TR all the time! I have watched the PBS (Ken Burns) series about the National Parks twice. What I remember most is how much TR had to fight the business interests to preserve lands. If the money-obsessed people of the time had had their way, the Grand Canyon, among many treasures, would be a fully developed business enterprise to make money any way possible; obviously, a totally exploited GC would look very different today. TR had to use his presidential power to just shove his park plans through. Now when I hear people complain about presidential powers overriding the wishes of the business class, I realize it can be a good thing!
I completely agree; TR is such an inspiration, and thank goodness he was able to do what he did! Speaking of his drive for reform, although in a different arena, the next book on my reading list is Richard Zacks’ Island of Vice: Theodore Roosevelt’s Quest to Clean Up Sin-Loving New York. I’m really looking forward to it! I don’t know much about TR’s brief time as Police Commissioner (beyond what I’ve learnt in connection to The Alienist), and the reviews sound promising.
That title immediately reminded me of some recent NYC mayors who received both praise and criticism about their cleanup efforts. As I recall, Mr. Carr was firmly in the camp complaining about too much cleaning. Maybe he believes that TR finished the job?
Haha, perhaps he does. ;) Although, if I’m to believe the reviews, it sounds as though New Yorkers were as divided on the cleanup then as they are now! I wonder which camp Mr. Carr would have fallen in back in the 1890s?