Theodore Roosevelt was born into a very prominent and wealthy New York family. He was an extremely intellectual child and he took a great interest in nature. Young “Teddie,” as he was called, even learned basic taxidermy, wrote academic papers, and began a “mini-museum” of his taxidermy projects with his cousins. He was also an avid reader. However, Roosevelt was weak, sickly, and suffered from severe asthma, which was a serious and sometimes fatal condition at the time. His father, Theodore Roosevelt Sr., once told him, “Theodore you have the mind but you have not the body, and without the help of the body the mind cannot go as far as it should. I am giving you the tools, but it is up to you to make your body” (www.artofmanliness.com). Teddie…show more content… His father, often called “Thee,” was the voice of encouragement that motivated him to learn and grow intellectually. His father was the one who issued young Teedie the challenge to overcome his physical ailments and “make his body.” His father was the one who impressed upon the son the values of hard work and “living the strenuous life.” Roosevelt once described his father as “the greatest man he ever knew” (www.nps.gov), and there is no doubt that he strove his entire life to live up to his father’s high standards. The death of the senior Roosevelt left one final lasting impact on Roosevelt’s life. There was not only a very successful businessman, but more importantly a very benevolent philanthropist. Much of his time, money, and energy was spent on the betterment of American culture and society and the welfare of those less fortunate. Roosevelt, Sr. established many organizations such as the Children’s Aid Society, the American Museum of Natural History, the American Museum of Art, and the New York Orthopedic Hospital all for the purpose of bettering and helping others. Thee set an example for his son of service to others, and the use of wealth and resources to improve the lives of other