Roosevelt Victorious!
TR and the Election of 1904
With his distinctive glasses, grin and moustache, it is no surprise that Theodore Roosevelt inspired a number of intriguing campaign items during the 1904 election. Perhaps one of the most unusual pieces is a tin whistle called "Teddy's Teeth". The whistle itself resembles a kazoo, but the eye-catching front piece is really what makes this novelty item so much fun-imagine walking down the street in 1904, demonstrating your support for TR by blasting on a whistle that (temporarily, at least) gave you a toothy grin equal to that of the President of the United States! Said to be "The Hit of the Campaign," the whistle's bright red lips and over-sized teeth are currently on display at the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site, as part of a new exhibit called Roosevelt Victorious! TR and the Election of 1904.
Roosevelt Victorious! uses period photos, music and a wide variety of artifacts to tell the story of the 1904 campaign and election, as well as TR's lavish inauguration in March of 1905. "Teddy's Teeth," which is on loan from the New York State Museum in Albany, is displayed alongside political buttons and other memorabilia from the Site's collection. Several pieces, including buttons that promote the "First Voters Club" and Alton B. Parker (Roosevelt's Democratic opponent), are new and on display for the first time. Other objects, such as a Talking Machine Record and a souvenir program from TR's inauguration, are coming out of storage for the first time in many years. Still other items have been reformatted and will be displayed at the Site for the very first time. Among these are political cartoons from turn-of-the-twentieth-century magazines like Puck and Harper's Weekly, a reproduction poster promoting Socialist candidate Eugene V. Debs, as well as a spectacular illustration and description of the 1905 inaugural ball.
The New York State Museum and local collector Bren Price have also opened the doors to their collections and added to the wonderful array of material being used in Roosevelt Victorious! to interpret and understand Theodore Roosevelt's only successful bid for the presidency. One of the most intriguing items on loan to the Site is a piece of the wooden dance floor that was installed at the Pension Building for the 1905 inaugural ball. A children's book is also on loan to the Site because of the inscription it bears: "For Marjorie and Clinton - From Papa - Election Day, 1904 - In Honor of the Election of Theodore Roosevelt." Unlike many of the other items in the exhibit, which were developed and created specifically as a result of the election/political process, these pieces show how ordinary individuals can transform seemingly humble items into artifacts that speak to future generations.
Visitors are invited to explore Roosevelt Victorious! and see for themselves what sorts of treasures are on display at the TR Site. The exhibit will continue through March, 2005 and is available during the Site's normal business hours.
In association with this special exhibit, the Site is also offering related education programs, adult presentations, lectures, and a special event, Theodore Roosevelt's Inaugural Ball Centennial…1905-2005.
This exhibit has been generously supported by major sponsors including: M&T Bank, Delaware North Companies, Inc., and The Buffalo News.