In an era of political turmoil (What era isn’t such?), we might consider what Teddy Roosevelt said about William McKinley in 1897. Roosevelt, then Assistant Secretary of the Navy, said, “McKinley has no more backbone than a chocolate éclair.” Really?
First, consider Teddy. He received the Medal of Honor posthumously (2001) for his role in the Battle of San Juan Hill on July 1, 1898, that occurred during McKinley’s first term as President. Roosevelt was a tough guy. You remember the story about his delivering a speech after being shot, don’t you? That seems to define a guy with backbone par excellence.
Second, consider McKinley. From 1861 to 1865 he served the Union Army as a soldier, rising through the ranks to brevet major. Rutherford B. Hayes—yes, that guy—said of McKinley, “Young as he was, we soon found that in the business of a soldier, requiring much executive ability, young McKinley showed unusual and unsurpassed capacity, especially for a boy of his age. When battles were fought or service was to be performed in warlike things, he always filled his place.” McKinley fought a number battles, risking his life in service to his unit during the battles at Antietam, South Mountain, Buffington’s Island, Clay’s Mountain, and Winchester. In some instances, he carried messages while under heavy fire. That doesn’t sound like a chocolate éclair.
Now there seems to be little doubt about the “backbone” of Teddy Roosevelt. He did receive that Medal of Honor. The fight San Juan Hill was an intense battle. But what was the fight at Antietam if not one of the most frightful engagements of the Civil War? Twenty-five thousand casualties in Virginia vs. about 2,000 casualties at San Juan Hill in Cuba!
Roosevelt was younger than McKinley. When McKinley was engaged for four years in battles, Roosevelt was 3 to 8 years old. So, Teddy would not have known personally the courageous acts of McKinley and might never have learned about the “chocolate éclair’s” wartime heroism.
I mentioned Roosevelt’s delivering a speech with a bullet wound. That’s an example of tough-as-tough gets. But consider this. When anarchist Leon F. Czolgosz shot McKinley, the President saw his attacker under attack by his guardians and bystanders and said, “Don’t let them hurt him.”
Where’s this going? If I think of my own lapses in judging others by stereotyping, I think of my lack of knowledge about the variety and breadth of their lives. When I read about or hear politicians labeling or stereotyping individuals or groups today (e.g, “the rich,” “the poor,” “the middle class,” and a list that goes on ad infinitum), I think of Roosevelt’s characterization of McKinley. In ignorance, it’s easy to reduce someone’s life to a chocolate éclair.
First, consider Teddy. He received the Medal of Honor posthumously (2001) for his role in the Battle of San Juan Hill on July 1, 1898, that occurred during McKinley’s first term as President. Roosevelt was a tough guy. You remember the story about his delivering a speech after being shot, don’t you? That seems to define a guy with backbone par excellence.
Second, consider McKinley. From 1861 to 1865 he served the Union Army as a soldier, rising through the ranks to brevet major. Rutherford B. Hayes—yes, that guy—said of McKinley, “Young as he was, we soon found that in the business of a soldier, requiring much executive ability, young McKinley showed unusual and unsurpassed capacity, especially for a boy of his age. When battles were fought or service was to be performed in warlike things, he always filled his place.” McKinley fought a number battles, risking his life in service to his unit during the battles at Antietam, South Mountain, Buffington’s Island, Clay’s Mountain, and Winchester. In some instances, he carried messages while under heavy fire. That doesn’t sound like a chocolate éclair.
Now there seems to be little doubt about the “backbone” of Teddy Roosevelt. He did receive that Medal of Honor. The fight San Juan Hill was an intense battle. But what was the fight at Antietam if not one of the most frightful engagements of the Civil War? Twenty-five thousand casualties in Virginia vs. about 2,000 casualties at San Juan Hill in Cuba!
Roosevelt was younger than McKinley. When McKinley was engaged for four years in battles, Roosevelt was 3 to 8 years old. So, Teddy would not have known personally the courageous acts of McKinley and might never have learned about the “chocolate éclair’s” wartime heroism.
I mentioned Roosevelt’s delivering a speech with a bullet wound. That’s an example of tough-as-tough gets. But consider this. When anarchist Leon F. Czolgosz shot McKinley, the President saw his attacker under attack by his guardians and bystanders and said, “Don’t let them hurt him.”
Where’s this going? If I think of my own lapses in judging others by stereotyping, I think of my lack of knowledge about the variety and breadth of their lives. When I read about or hear politicians labeling or stereotyping individuals or groups today (e.g, “the rich,” “the poor,” “the middle class,” and a list that goes on ad infinitum), I think of Roosevelt’s characterization of McKinley. In ignorance, it’s easy to reduce someone’s life to a chocolate éclair.
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