Theodore Roosevelt, the second of four children, was born in New York, New York on October 27, 1858. He was part Dutch, English, Welsh, Scottish, Irish, French, and German. Because of Roosevelt's poor health, he suffered from asthma and defective vision. He had great energy, curiosity, and determination like his father. "Teedie" as his family would call him, loved books and the outdoors. He combined these interests into nature study. When he was ten and again when he was fourteen, Teedie went with his family on yearlong trips to Europe and the Middle East. His father built a gymnasium in his house so he could exercise regularly. His father said that he would need a strong body to give his mind a chance to develop fully. Over time, Roosevelt overcame his asthma and built up unusual physical strength.
             On October 27, 1880, Roosevelt married Alice Hathaway. They were a happily married couple for about 3 years until she died on February 13, 1884, following a baby girl the next day named, Alice Roosevelt's mother died on the same day as Theodore's wife. Baby Alice survived, and was subsequently married in a lavish White House ceremony to Nicholas Longworth.
             Meanwhile, Roosevelt married his childhood sweetheart, Edith Kermit Carow, in London. She was an intelligent, sensitive and cultivated woman. Resignedly, she accepted many of her husband's most disruptive decisions, such as his break with the Republican Party in 1912. She gave four sons-Theodore, Jr.; Archibals; Quentin; and a daughrt Ethel. The energetic kids in the Roosevelt family were the liveliest group of children to live in the White House.
             September 14, 1901 Roosevelt took the oath of office at Buffalo and became the twenty-sixth President of the United States. At age 42, he was the youngest man to hold that office. In May of 1902, Crater Lake National Park was established. Other National Parks established by Roosevelt are Windy Cave National Pa...