Suffering in the Badlands
"The light has gone out of my life" - Theodore Roosevelt
On February 12th, 1884, Theodore Roosevelt welcomed to the world his first child. He was in Buffalo, New York working as a young assemblyman. TR was 25 years old, a Harvard man, and on the path to great political success. During the assembly, he received a telegram from New York. His wife Alice had given birth to a baby girl late in the night before. Roosevelt proudly accepted a father’s congratulations. He was full of life, joy, and happiness.
Within four hours, he received an additional telegram. His face changed as he read it. Roosevelt rushed out of the state house and down to the train station with all the speed he could muster. The joy of fatherhood evaporated from his soul and was replaced with immense grief.
His wife Alice was dying. And so was his mother.
