The Everything Theodore Roosevelt Book Read Online Free PDF Page B

in the Glee Club as an associate member, which indicated that it was not one of his primary interests. He did prioritize his club activities.
    A Cluttered Room
    The clues to what clubs TR was mostly interested lay in the paraphernalia in his room. Among the items he had there were a rifle, a hunting kit, and trophies from his hunting expeditions. He also had live turtles and insects in the room.

One of TR’s classmates, Mark Sullivan, remembered when “a particularly large turtle, sent by a friend from the southern seas, got out of its box one night and started toward the bathroom in search of water.” TR did know how to create excitement in his college living quarters.
    Even though TR belonged to many clubs, he was never overextended. He rarely attended meetings of some of them. TR needed some time to study. He was an unorthodox student, but he still did well when it came to grades—sometimes.

Graduating with Honors
    Somehow, TR completed his studies in the allotted four years at Harvard and graduated Phi Beta Kappa, which recognizes and encourages scholarship, friendship, and cultural interests at the undergraduate level. That was not easy, considering that he had failed a couple of courses along the way and did not write an honors thesis.
    Not surprisingly, TR’s best grades were in natural history, where he averaged in the high eighties and nineties. He failed two courses, Greek and French. His grade averages for the four years were 75, 87, 82, and 78, for an overall average of 80.5. There is no telling what he could have done if he had applied himself.
    There is some discrepancy about TR’s overall average at Harvard. Estimates range from 80.5 to 87. Regardless, he graduated magna cum laude (with great honor) and finished in the top tenth of his 174-member class, although he was not sure if it was the tenth of the whole number who entered or of those who graduated. Either way, TR had a college degree—and an achievement to be proud of.

    Theodore Roosevelt, Harvard graduate, circa 1881

TR’s Most Remarkable Friend
    TR developed a few friendships at Harvard. The most cherished friend, however, was a young lady named Alice Hathaway Lee, whom he met on October 18, 1878. She changed his life forever. Soon, she became his primary interest. He found himself chasing two goals at a time: his degree and a wife.
QUIZ
    2-1 When did the first YMCA in New York City open?
A. 1748
B. 1812
C. 1852
D. 1865
    2-2 U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes’s wife Lucy was nicknamed “Lemonade Lucy” because she:
A. ran a lemonade stand to earn extra money as a child.
B. refused to serve alcohol in the White House.
C. invented lemonade.
D. grew lemons in the West Wing.
    2-3 Thee Roosevelt established a Newsboys’ Lodging House in New York City because he:
A. was not satisfied with the delivery of his daily newspaper, so he wanted the newsboys to live closer to his house.
B. wanted a place available for newsboys who had no other place to sleep.
C. needed a place for TR to stay after he completed his paper route every day.
D. thought newsboys were all living under terrible conditions at their own homes.
    2-4 Who or what was Thucydides?
A. a form of thistle found in the western Badlands
B. a bird discovered by TR on a trip to Egypt
C. a Latin word for suburban road
D. a Greek historian best known for writing The History of the Peloponnesian War
    2-5 The Hasty Pudding Club at Harvard is named for:
A. the first meal club members ate at a meeting.
B. the need for staff members to serve food quickly at a club meeting.
C. Harold H. Hasty, the founder of the club.
D. Haste Tea, the beverage of choice at early club meetings.
    2-6 Richard Saltonstall played a major role in TR’s life. He:
A. beat TR for the intramural boxing championship at Harvard in 1877.
B. commanded the SS Oyster Park during the Spanish-American War.
C. introduced TR to Alice Hathaway Lee.
D. developed the “Saltonstall” diet that was popular in the 1890s.
    ANSWERS
    2-1.