Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.

Assistant Secretary of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt Jr. during a visit to the Naval Training Station, Newport, Rhode Island, circa 1923.

Theodore Roosevelt Jr. or Theodore Roosevelt II (also known as Ted Roosevelt or Teddy Roosevelt) (September 13, 1887 – July 12, 1944) was an American political, business and military leader. He served as the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Governor of Puerto Rico (1929–32), Governor General of the Philippines (1932–33), chairman of the board of American Express Company, Vice President at Doubleday, and Brigadier General in the United States Army.

Early years

"Teddy", as he was universally known, was the son of President Theodore Roosevelt. He was born at the family estate in Oyster Bay, New York when his father was just starting his political career. He attended the Groton School and then Harvard University, graduating in 1908.

After graduating from Harvard, he entered the business world. He took positions in the steel business and carpet business before becoming the branch manager of an investment bank.

Political career

After service in World War I, he began his political career. In 1919 he was elected to the New York State Assembly. In 1921 when Warren G. Harding was elected president, Teddy was appointed Assistant Secretary of the Navy. Here he oversaw the transferring of oil leases from the Navy to private corporations. This later became known as the Teapot Dome scandal. Although he was cleared of all charges, his image was tarnished.

In 1924, he was the Republican nominee for the office of governor of New York. His opponent, Alfred E. Smith, defeated him by 105,000 votes. In the simultaneous race for President, the Republican Calvin Coolidge won New York by over 850,000 votes.

In September of 1929, President Herbert Hoover appointed him Governor of Puerto Rico. Hoover was impressed with his work there and moved him to Governor General of the Philippines in 1932. Teddy resigned that position and returned to the United States after his cousin, Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected President.

In 1935, he was the vice president of the publisher Doubleday Doran & Company.

Military service

World War I Service

He enlisted in the Army with two of his brothers, Quentin and Archibald, shortly after World War I broke out. He was a major with the First Division, eventually rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel. He fought in several major battles. He was gassed and wounded at Soissons during the summer of 1918. In July of that year his brother, Quentin, was killed in combat. Teddy received the Distinguished Service Cross for his action during the war.

Despite a heart condition and arthritis that forced him to use a cane, General Roosevelt led the assault on Utah Beach, landing with the first wave of troops. He died in France less than a month later of a heart attack.

World War II Service

In 1940, he attended a military refresher course offered to many business men. He returned to active duty in April 1941 and was placed in command of the Twenty-sixth Infantry, the same group he fought with in World War I. Late in 1941, he was given the rank of brigadier general.

He was known as a general who often visited the front lines. He preferred the heat of the battle to the comfort of the command post. This culminated in his action on D-day.

Teddy led his regiment in an attack on Oran, Africa on November 8, 1942. During 1943, he was the second in command of the 1st Infantry Division that fought in the Tunisian campaign. He was cited for the Croix de Guerre by the military commander of French Africa, General Alphonse Juin:

As commander of a Franco-American detachment on the Ousseltia plain in the region of Pichon, in the face of a very aggressive enemy, he showed the finest qualities of decision and determination in the defense of his sector.

Showing complete contempt for personal danger, he never ceased during the period of Jan 28 – Feb 21, visiting troops in the front lines, making vital decisions on the spot, winning the esteem and admiration of the units under his command and developing throughout his detachment the finest fraternity of arms.

He saw action in Sicily, commanded Allied Forces in Sardinia, and fought on the Italian mainland. He was the chief liaison officer to the French Army in Italy for General Dwight D. Eisenhower. In February 1944, he was assigned to England to help lead the Normandy invasion.

After repeatedly petitioning and lobbying, he was granted permission to land with one of the first waves of troops at Utah Beach. On D-day, he led the US 4th Infantry Division's landing at Utah Beach.

The landing could have been a disaster. Although it was on time, it was 2000 yards off course. Teddy, as the senior officer on the scene, improvised a new plan. Based upon his own reconnaissance of enemy strongholds on the beach, he contacted the commanding officers on the scene and modified their orders. Thus, he was able to obtain the mission objective. He was later awarded the Medal of Honor for this service.

Throughout World War II, he suffered from health problems. He had arthritis and walked with a cane. He also had heart trouble. One month after the landing at Utah Beach, he died of a heart attack in France. He is buried at the American cemetery in Normandy, next to his brother, Quentin.

Roosevelt was portrayed by Henry Fonda in The Longest Day.

Medal of Honor

His Medal of Honor citation reads:

For gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 6 June 1944, in France. After 2 verbal requests to accompany the leading assault elements in the Normandy invasion had been denied, Brig. Gen. Roosevelt's written request for this mission was approved and he landed with the first wave of the forces assaulting the enemy-held beaches. He repeatedly led groups from the beach, over the seawall and established them inland. His valor, courage, and presence in the very front of the attack and his complete unconcern at being under heavy fire inspired the troops to heights of enthusiasm and self-sacrifice. Although the enemy had the beach under constant direct fire, Brig. Gen. Roosevelt moved from one locality to another, rallying men around him, directed and personally led them against the enemy. Under his seasoned, precise, calm, and unfaltering leadership, assault troops reduced beach strong points and rapidly moved inland with minimum casualties. He thus contributed substantially to the successful establishment of the beachhead in France.