Stars: 4
Review by: Mandy Apgar
This accomplished one thing really well - it explained what
the heck Teddy Roosevelt was doing down there. Back when TR was busting
heads in New York the Spanish invaded Cuba, which of course was a huge
problem on multiple fronts that were all
explained pretty well. Best I've ever seen in fact. Also, despite that
he was in his late 30s with a large family and had a stable political
career TR of course decided to be in charge of a volunteer regiment.
Assembled of folks from all walks of life (including
Thomas Edison's brother in law, merchants, actual cowboys, and genuine
spoiled city boys) they were united by the sheer magnetism that TR
managed to command. Although they suffered pretty intense losses, they
did manage to survive San Juan Hill and several grueling
jungle marches, among other things. One soldier received the Medal of
Honor for his actions during San Juan, having carried 5 of his comrades
to safety under enemy gunfire. Despite requests at the time to award TR
one it was never done, until almost a century
later when Bill Clinton awarded him the medal posthumously, making him
the only president to have that honor (and, oddly enough, the Nobel
Peace Prize). It was through his interactions with the Rough Riders
(assisted by a separate regiment of African Americans
never given credit for their work) that TR was able to gain a stronger
foothold in his steps from official to governor to president. A somewhat
odd man, he was doubtless brilliant in his own way, but said his only
regret of the battles was that "I didn't receive
a severe and disfiguring wound." Okay then.
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