This was a lovely read. Mornings on Horseback by David McCullough traces Teddy Roosevelt's childhood and his family background up to his marriage to Edith Carow. It is incredibly interesting and McCullough writes in such a highly readable but intelligent way. He obviously loves Roosevelt and writes about him with great respect and with a nuanced perception of all the many factors that went into the shaping of this unusual and complex man. We learn all about Roosevelt's peculiarities as well as his flashes of brilliance that give us a taste of what is to come.
Roosevelt was born to one of the most prominent and wealthy families in New York city. His family really had it all, wealth, education, intelligence, a strong sense of virtue, a sense of moral and social duties. His father (also Theodore) was a really interesting and admirable man who managed to balance vast wealth with a strong sense of philanthropy and a sense of modesty. Teddy adored his father, but tragically he died from stomach cancer at age 46, while Teddy was studying at Harvard. The way McCullough tells it will bring tears to your eyes. The Roosevelt family for all their money really struggled with health issues; oldest daughter's deformed back; Teddy's asthma, Elliot's 'nervous' issues and then his alcoholism, etc. They were an extremely loving and close family. They home schooled their children because of health issues and frankly I think this contributed to Teddy's ability to think outside the box!
Two things struck me about politics as it is written about in this book: One, things were really corrupt even back then! I think we tend to get so focused on the here and now, we forget that it has always been like this! And two, it was so strange reading about the Republican party and how it was the party of Lincoln, civil rights, reform. Oh that it could go back to those days! Actually, even during Teddy's time they were trying to reform the party. After Lincoln, when Grant took over, there was a lot of corruption. This was politics done Tammany Hall style and it did not sit well with many, including both the elder Roosevelt and Teddy. The book only goes up Teddy's first unsuccessful run for mayor. He had been an assemblyman in Albany and had really aroused people's interest in him. He was truly seen as a maverick who was guided by a strong sense of justice.
One really cool thing about reading this book that I didn't expect, Teddy Roosevelt and Samuel Gompers (my great grandfather) visiting the cigar makers homes. They lived in overcrowded tenements and worked in horrific conditions. Roosevelt tried to pass laws protecting them. Samuel Gompers seemed to have really liked Teddy! It was fun reading about my own great grandfather.
And while that was interesting, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Teddy Roosevelt's unusual and privileged childhood and also about his escapades ranching out in the Badlands, after his first wife died so tragically when he was only 25.
I highly recommend this book. This is the second book I've read by McCullough. I read 1776 a couple years ago. That one follows George Washington month by month in that important year. That was a great book too. I look forward to learning more history at McCullough's knee. He is a great storyteller!
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