Here is a quick fun and quirky fact about American football. Did you know that American football players wear helmets because a player named Teddy Roosevelt once threatened to ban the sport due to its violence?
He was worried about the safety of the players and thought helmets would help. And you know what? He was right! Helmets have made the game much safer for players. This was because may players always got severely injured while playing the rigours game of football.
Teddy Roosevelt later became the 26th president of the United States. He became president after the assassination of William McKinley in 1901. He was known for his love of the outdoors and his efforts to protect the environment. He also had a pet badger named Josiah!
President Roosevelt was not confined to a wheelchair during his presidency. He used a wheelchair at home and during his private life, but he refused to use one in public. He believed that being seen in a wheelchair would make him look weak and would negatively impact his image as president. Instead, he relied on crutches, braces, and the support of others to get around in public. It’s fascinating to see how he overcame his disability and continued to lead an active and successful life.
Here are 30 facts about Theodore ‘Teddy’ Rossevelt that you may not have heard of before.
1. He had a pet badger named Josiah.
2. He loved to go on camping trips with his friends and even invited a famous naturalist named John Muir to go with him.
3. He helped establish five national parks and 150 national forests.
4. He was the first president to ride in an automobile.
5. He was the first president to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, in 1906.
6. He was a sickly child and suffered from asthma.
7. He was the first president to have his voice recorded.
8. He had a very large family – he was one of six children, and he had five children of his own.
9. He was an avid reader and read up to three books per day.
10. He was shot in the chest during a speech, but he continued to give his speech for another hour and a half before going to the hospital.
11. He boxed as a hobby, and he reportedly knocked out a professional boxer during a sparring session.
12. He had a pet bear named Jonathan Edwards.
13. He helped establish the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
14. He was the first president to travel outside the country while in office, when he went to Panama.
15. He was the first president to invite an African American to dine at the White House.
16. He had over 100 species of animals at the White House, including bears, a lion, a zebra, and even a one-legged rooster.
17. He was the first president to fly in an airplane.
18. He loved to ride horses, and he even took a horseback ride with the King of England.
19. He was only 42 years old when he became president, making him the youngest president ever.
20. He helped pass the Pure Food and Drug Act, which made it illegal to sell food or drugs that were mislabeled or adulterated.
21. He had a pet hyena named Bill.
22. He was the first president to have a movie made about his life.
23. He was a prolific writer and wrote over 40 books, including an autobiography.
24. He was a big proponent of conservation and established the United States Forest Service.
25. He was the first president to invite a Native American to the White House.
26. His nickname was “Teddy,” which was the inspiration for the teddy bear.
27. He was a skilled boxer and was once even knocked unconscious during a sparring match.
28. He was an avid hunter and once shot over 11,000 animals during an expedition to Africa.
29. He was an accomplished horseman and once won a race against a professional jockey.
30. He survived an assassination attempt, during which he was shot in the chest but was saved by a folded-up speech and a metal glasses case in his jacket pocket.
31. He was blind in one eye due to an injury he sustained as a child.
32. He was a big fan of hiking and once hiked more than 50 miles in a single day.
33. In 1892, at the age of 39, he contracted polio and was partially paralyzed as a result. However, he overcame the illness and went on to become president, which is a testament to his determination and perseverance. And he never let the illness stop him from living a full and active life.
Hope you enjoyed the article. Feel free to drop your comments in the comments box below 👇🏽.
Glad to know Rossevelt overcame his polio to perform his presidential duties