Theodore Roosevelt

Early beginnings  Born into a wealthy family  Struggled with his health, later became an advocate of the strenuous life  Graduated from Harvard in 1880 with honors  Marries Alice Hathaway Lee  elected into State Assembly youngest man ever

Tragedy strikes twice  Mother and first wife die on the same day  moves to Medora, (ND today)  "I never would have been President if it had not been for my experiences in North Dakota," commented Theodore Roosevelt. He felt his experiences in the Badlands, initially as a sportsman hunter, and later as a rancher "took the snob out of him" and taught him to see people as worthy based on their character and accomplishments, rather than on their economic worth, formal education or social standing.