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Eric Stromquist's avatar

How we almost lost our democracy. "America First. It's Going Fast" should be the new MAGA slogan.

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Andrew Smith's avatar

I am reminded that our nation (and world) might look very, very different if not for TR.

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Peter Pappas's avatar

So true, TR’s contributions to conservation were monumental! At the same time, his policies towards Native Americans remind us that even great leaders have deeply flawed aspects in their legacies.

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Andrew Smith's avatar

Very much so, and an excellent point. This is why I don't ever like to have heroes, but instead enjoy studying the impact of individuals and celebrating individual decisions.

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Peter Pappas's avatar

Here's a little-known factoid. As young NYS Assemblyman, Teddy Roosevelt proposed a bill to inflict corporal punishment on wife beaters. Magazine cover celebrates it https://forgottenfiles.substack.com/p/sensible-roosevelt-a-whipping-post

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Andrew Smith's avatar

Fantastic cover! I remember hearing about that. I think Ken Burns did an okay job of introducing TR, FDR, and Eleanor to a popular audience. I can't remember if I've read any bios of TR yet, but I have really enjoyed learning about his life. Fascinating dude.

Also: a judo practitioner!

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Peter Pappas's avatar

TR was a complex guy. Here’s a poignant artifact from his saddest day https://forgottenfiles.substack.com/p/teddy-roosevelt-valentines-day-1884

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E.R. Flynn's avatar

Having attended college in Buffalo, I'd been to Niagara Falls many a time. The US side is where people go to toss themselves over the falls. The Canadian side is where you go to be enamored by the falls' beauty—before ducking into one of the many Ft. Erie bars and Strip Joints.

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Peter Pappas's avatar

I grew up in Rochester, and did a grad school stint at UB. We used to go hang out in a park on the Niagara River all the time (I think in Tonawanda?) We would sun and watch folks tubing down the Niagara towards the falls loaded with beer. It was quite a distance upstream from the falls … but still a weird place to be getting drunk

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E.R. Flynn's avatar

UB! A fellow alum! Yep. Tonawanda Park. I always wondered if anyone just drifted off, literally.

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Peter Pappas's avatar

It was quite a scene in that park on a summer day. Drunk tubers floating by on the river and then just behind you - drunks in jacked up cars cruising by on the park road looking for hot girls. Multi-modal party.

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Stephen Rutledge's avatar

Thankfully the Falls remain uninteresting to tourists in our own era. Except on the Canadian side.

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Peter Pappas's avatar

Agreed. I grew up just over an hour away from the falls. So we went there many times. The American side was a joke. The Canadian side was much classier.

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