A Taste Of History

At Nunnawauk Meadows

By Kendra Bobowick

President Teddy Roosevelt has cast a spell on former Historical Society President Gordon Williams and for the Nunnawauk Meadows Book Talk group leader Carole Lee Berlin.

“Teddy is the bride at every wedding and the corpse at every funeral,” said Mr Williams, repeating a memorable comment about the former president meant to illustrate that Mr Roosevelt was “really out there,” he said.

Ms Berlin said, “I told the group that after this talk they will want to read that book.”

Wednesday afternoon saw a gathering of Meadows residents who regularly participate in the book discussion group, which invites speakers each month. This month Mr Williams made reference to author David McCullough’s book, Mornings on Horseback, that focuses on Roosevelt.

Revealing one anecdote after another that offered glimpses of Roosevelt’s life, Mr Williams shared with Meadows residents pieces of the trials and accomplishments that added to Roosevelt’s character and led to his Presidency. Roosevelt occupied the White House seat from 1901 until 1909.

His biggest contribution, in Mr Williams’s estimate, was conservation.

“He was so popular, he made it acceptable,” he said. Conservative-mindedness was not prevalent in the early 1900s, he explained. “Teddy made us aware of that.”

He was also a warmonger, according to Mr Williams.

“He was an aggressive person himself and always ready to engage, he was macho,” he said.