Address to the Citizens of Dickinson 1886.

AuthorHornblow, Michael

Address to the Citizens of Dickinson 1886

By Theodore Roosevelt

Text: http://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/TR_Dakota_july4.asp

Reviewed by Michael Hornblow, Associate Editor

On Valentine's Day 1884, Theodore Roosevelt lost his mother and his wife, Alice. Later that year in his cabin in the Dakota Bad Lands, he wrote about Alice: "And when my heart's dearest died, the light went out from my life forever."

Roosevelt retreated to his ranch near Medora, North Dakota, and stayed there on and off for almost two years. On July 4, 1886, he was asked to be "orator of the day" at the Independence Day celebration in Dickinson. A large crowd gathered to see the already renowned 27-year-old writer-politician-cowboy. His speech on that occasion is regarded by some scholars as his first great national oration. After the speech, TR told a friend that he could now do his best work "in a public and political way."

The speech anticipated some of the themes of his presidency: American Exceptionalism, Manifest Destiny, immigration and the responsibilities of citizenship.

He declared that the future belongs to America and...

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