Popular Culture Review Vol. 13, No. 1, January 2002 | Page 136

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Popular Culture Review

The original road departs to the south from the current U.S. 2, although there is no
sign to indicate it. After leaving U.S. 2, however, that road becomes ''Roosevelt
Street” and through town it bears street signs as a reminder of the TRLH. Along the
way, every intersection displays modem street signs bearing the name "Roosevelt.”
The Theodore Roosevelt International Highway ends in Oregon, in the
other Portland. The route terminates at "The Rough Rider,” a heroic equestrian
statue of TR which is a twin of the one in Roosevelt Park in Minot, North Dakota.
Dr. Henry Waldo Coe donated this statue as well, both having been cast from the
same mold. The Portland, Oregon statue bears a plaque with the following words
from T R ’s most admiring (and obviously uncritical) biographer, Hermann
Hagedom:
HE WAS FOUND FAITHFUL OVER A FEW THINGS,
AND HE WAS MADE RULER OVER MANY. HE WAS
FRAIL; HE MADE HIMSELF A LION OF COURAGE.
HE WAS A DREAMER. HE BECAME ONE OF THE
GREAT DOERS OF ALL TIME. WOMEN FOUND A
CHAMPION IN HIM. KINGS STOOD IN AWE OF
HIM. BUT CHILDREN MADE HIM THEIR
PLAYMATE. HE BROKE A NATION’S SLUMBER
WITH HIS CRY, AND IT ROSE UP. SOULS BECAME
SWORDS THROUGH HIM. SWORDS BECAME
SERVANTS OF GOD. HE WAS LOYAL TO HIS
COUNTRY, AND HE EXACTED LOYALTY; HE
LOVED MANY LANDS, BUT HE LOVED HIS OWN
LAND BEST. HE WAS TERRIBLE IN BATTLE BUT
TENDER TO THE WEAK; JOYOUS AND TIRELESS,
BEING FREE FROM SELF-PITY. CLEAN WITH A
CLEANNESS THAT CLEANSED THE AIR LIKE A
GALE. HIS COURTESY KNEW NO WEALTH OR
CLASS; HIS FRIENDSHIP NO CREED OR COLOR OR
RACE. HIS COURAGE STOOD EVERY ONSLAUGHT
OF SAVAGE BEAST AND RUTHLESS MAN, OF
LONELINESS, OF VICTORY, OF DEFEAT. HIS MIND
WAS EAGER, HIS HEART WAS TRUE, HIS BODY
AND SPIRIT DEFIANT OF OBSTACLES, READY TO
MEET WHAT MIGHT COME. HE FOUGHT
INJUSTICE AND TYRANNY; BORE SORROW
GALLANTLY; LOVED ALL NATURE, BLEAK