Mr. Roosevelt Goes to North Dakota
January 20, 2022 12:52 PM Subscribe
Over 18 months of discussion and planning, the racist statue of Theodore Roosevelt at the entrance to the American Museum of National History has finally been removed. The statue will be re-contextualized at the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, North Dakota, set to open in 2026.
While dozens of racist statues and monuments have been removed in the United States, dozens more remain.
While dozens of racist statues and monuments have been removed in the United States, dozens more remain.
I work for AMNH, and I am more than happy to see this thing go.
I am not happy about the MAGA Chuds and other dipshits who are going to flood the general inbox I monitor with insipid thoughts about how we're destroying history and so on and so forth. Never mind, of course, that the current descendants of Teddy Roosevelt who sit on the museum's board supported the removal, that there's a (non-racist) statue of the man inside the Rotunda, and we named a second hall after Teddy Roosevelt as part of this whole process.
posted by SansPoint at 1:10 PM on January 20, 2022 [37 favorites]
I am not happy about the MAGA Chuds and other dipshits who are going to flood the general inbox I monitor with insipid thoughts about how we're destroying history and so on and so forth. Never mind, of course, that the current descendants of Teddy Roosevelt who sit on the museum's board supported the removal, that there's a (non-racist) statue of the man inside the Rotunda, and we named a second hall after Teddy Roosevelt as part of this whole process.
posted by SansPoint at 1:10 PM on January 20, 2022 [37 favorites]
I am not happy about the MAGA Chuds and other dipshits who are going to flood the general inbox I monitor with insipid thoughts about how we're destroying history and so on and so forth.
May I suggest a form letter in response?
May I suggest a form letter in response?
Thank you for your feedback regarding the Theodore Roosevelt statue. While the statue will no longer be on display at the American Museum of Natural History, you may visit it at its new permanent home at the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, North Dakota.posted by Faint of Butt at 1:16 PM on January 20, 2022 [17 favorites]
Picture of statue. Before I saw it I was like "how racist could this statue really be?" and then I saw it and was all "ohhhh.. oh dear".
I hope the recontextualization goes well. It's a good idea, it is a strong answer to the "but ur erasing history!!!1!" complaints. Also the German examples of addressing Nazi and Stasi history show it's possible to report on things like this in an honest way that is helpful in informing people.
This NYT article says in 2018 "It ultimately decided to leave the statue in place [in New York], with added context"; the first link in the post has more about that, and here's NYT coverage of it in 2019.
posted by Nelson at 1:17 PM on January 20, 2022 [16 favorites]
#/media/File:Theodore_Roosevelt_Memorial_Hall_entrance_(detail).jpg){kind=link}
I hope the recontextualization goes well. It's a good idea, it is a strong answer to the "but ur erasing history!!!1!" complaints. Also the German examples of addressing Nazi and Stasi history show it's possible to report on things like this in an honest way that is helpful in informing people.
This NYT article says in 2018 "It ultimately decided to leave the statue in place [in New York], with added context"; the first link in the post has more about that, and here's NYT coverage of it in 2019.
posted by Nelson at 1:17 PM on January 20, 2022 [16 favorites]
Faint of Butt: It's only my job to process the incoming chud mail, not respond to it (thank goodness). It gets forwarded to our internal comms folks who then proceed to track it. As far as I know, there's no direct responses to these dipshits.
posted by SansPoint at 1:18 PM on January 20, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by SansPoint at 1:18 PM on January 20, 2022 [5 favorites]
> May I suggest a form letter in response?
As far as I know, there's no direct responses to these dipshits.
I kinda hope they tell them about the entire exhibition devoted to the statue and then spend about 5 minutes giving a talk-your-ear-off sales pitch trying to encourage them to come see it. I'd bet nobody would take them up on it because "hell we ain't going to New York City that's a cesspool".
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:41 PM on January 20, 2022 [2 favorites]
As far as I know, there's no direct responses to these dipshits.
I kinda hope they tell them about the entire exhibition devoted to the statue and then spend about 5 minutes giving a talk-your-ear-off sales pitch trying to encourage them to come see it. I'd bet nobody would take them up on it because "hell we ain't going to New York City that's a cesspool".
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:41 PM on January 20, 2022 [2 favorites]
Proper.
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 1:43 PM on January 20, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 1:43 PM on January 20, 2022 [1 favorite]
I just saw the wall of "added context" as a tourist a few months ago and also the stand up sign next to it that basically said, "Never mind! We can't contextualize this, actually! The statue is going away!" Was a fascinating look at the ongoing internal processes of an organization wrestling with a tough legacy.
posted by merriment at 1:44 PM on January 20, 2022 [6 favorites]
posted by merriment at 1:44 PM on January 20, 2022 [6 favorites]
In this instance: goodbye racist statue.
RE: Commemoration of Theodore Roosevelt- this one is difficult. More so than Nixon, Wilson, or Eisenhower, Roosevelt achieved some of the greatest goods and the greatest evils of any American president.
In the goods column, he was a core figure in environmentalism and progressivism. The National Parks Act, the Food & Drug Act saved millions, he was the most anti-monopoly President we ever had (the Sherman Act), he was the first president to try to get a national health care system (preceding Truman's defeat by 41 years), he came closer than anybody else ever did to breaking up the Democrat-Republican duopoly that is so fatal to Democracy.
In the evils column, a genocidal imperialist, also a racist eugenicist, who, if not responsible for eugenic policies, did little to reign in the actions of his racist allies, such as the 'Gentleman's Agreement' with Japan.
I don't know, maybe we should give Theodore Roosevelt's statues the Two Face treatment- keep them up, leave one half shiny and polished and bright, scar up the other half with acid ash and excrement.
posted by LeRoienJaune at 1:44 PM on January 20, 2022 [10 favorites]
RE: Commemoration of Theodore Roosevelt- this one is difficult. More so than Nixon, Wilson, or Eisenhower, Roosevelt achieved some of the greatest goods and the greatest evils of any American president.
In the goods column, he was a core figure in environmentalism and progressivism. The National Parks Act, the Food & Drug Act saved millions, he was the most anti-monopoly President we ever had (the Sherman Act), he was the first president to try to get a national health care system (preceding Truman's defeat by 41 years), he came closer than anybody else ever did to breaking up the Democrat-Republican duopoly that is so fatal to Democracy.
In the evils column, a genocidal imperialist, also a racist eugenicist, who, if not responsible for eugenic policies, did little to reign in the actions of his racist allies, such as the 'Gentleman's Agreement' with Japan.
I don't know, maybe we should give Theodore Roosevelt's statues the Two Face treatment- keep them up, leave one half shiny and polished and bright, scar up the other half with acid ash and excrement.
posted by LeRoienJaune at 1:44 PM on January 20, 2022 [10 favorites]
Before I saw it I was like "how racist could this statue really be?" and then I saw it and was all "ohhhh.. oh dear".
Oh My. I was like "it can't be that bad?" and then I saw it and... "yes, it can."
posted by ovvl at 2:21 PM on January 20, 2022 [6 favorites]
Oh My. I was like "it can't be that bad?" and then I saw it and... "yes, it can."
posted by ovvl at 2:21 PM on January 20, 2022 [6 favorites]
"The world does not need statues, relics of another age, that reflect neither the values of the person they intend to honor nor the values of equality and justice."
— Theodore Roosevelt IV.
posted by clavdivs at 2:51 PM on January 20, 2022 [12 favorites]
— Theodore Roosevelt IV.
posted by clavdivs at 2:51 PM on January 20, 2022 [12 favorites]
I am not happy about the MAGA Chuds and other dipshits who are going to flood the general inbox I monitor with insipid thoughts about how we're destroying history and so on and so forth
History is okay to destroy if it causes discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress to Florida Republicans.
posted by clawsoon at 3:29 PM on January 20, 2022 [6 favorites]
History is okay to destroy if it causes discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress to Florida Republicans.
posted by clawsoon at 3:29 PM on January 20, 2022 [6 favorites]
Yeah, created the National Parks, and was kindof a racist genocider...
And a direct line from himself and his appeal to the country, to our last president.
posted by Windopaene at 3:35 PM on January 20, 2022 [1 favorite]
And a direct line from himself and his appeal to the country, to our last president.
posted by Windopaene at 3:35 PM on January 20, 2022 [1 favorite]
the crawling, sixty-year-old carpeting in the Hall of Gems a few years back
As someone who grew up going to AMNH and whose mother is a volunteer explainer, I am 100% glad to see that statue go.
I'm also glad when I see the museum making headway on repatriation, though I am guessing there's way, way more work to do on that front.
However, I remain entirely emotionally attached to the Hall of Gems' mood lighting, inexplicable ramps, and gross beige wall carpeting, which used to be my playground/childhood dream.
RIP, weird old carpeting. Miss you.
posted by evidenceofabsence at 3:41 PM on January 20, 2022 [8 favorites]
As someone who grew up going to AMNH and whose mother is a volunteer explainer, I am 100% glad to see that statue go.
I'm also glad when I see the museum making headway on repatriation, though I am guessing there's way, way more work to do on that front.
However, I remain entirely emotionally attached to the Hall of Gems' mood lighting, inexplicable ramps, and gross beige wall carpeting, which used to be my playground/childhood dream.
RIP, weird old carpeting. Miss you.
posted by evidenceofabsence at 3:41 PM on January 20, 2022 [8 favorites]
RIP, weird old carpeting. Miss you.
(And at risk of total derail: also those old specimen cases organized to be of more interest to actual gemologists and chemists v. people who want to see 'teh pretty rocks.')
posted by Insert Clever Name Here at 3:49 PM on January 20, 2022 [2 favorites]
(And at risk of total derail: also those old specimen cases organized to be of more interest to actual gemologists and chemists v. people who want to see 'teh pretty rocks.')
posted by Insert Clever Name Here at 3:49 PM on January 20, 2022 [2 favorites]
Don't forget the explanatory tape loop, complete with filmstrip-style "bing!" to indicate that it was time to move to the next cabinet. (SansPoint, please please please tell me somebody has digitized that tape.)
posted by phooky at 3:49 PM on January 20, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by phooky at 3:49 PM on January 20, 2022 [3 favorites]
But to be clear: I am glad to see the Teddy statue removed and I am glad to see the museum owning the decision the way it has. These corrections aren't limited to formerly Confederate states.
posted by Insert Clever Name Here at 3:57 PM on January 20, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by Insert Clever Name Here at 3:57 PM on January 20, 2022 [1 favorite]
The statue is horribly, hilariously bad. I'm sure I saw it as a kid many times in the '70s, and having no memory of it I assumed it was at most typically bad for the time. Like Nelson, actually looking at a picture rapidly disabused me of that notion.
Re: TR's political legacy. I agree it's complicated, but going to rate him lower. He did break with the stifling "comfort the comfortable" approach of the previous decades, and especially McKinley, but for someone who claimed to "speak softly and carry a big stick" his domestic policy was the opposite. A lot of bluster about being tough with business and the Gilded Age aristocrats, a lot of quiet compromise behind the scenes. No accident one of his better remembered speeches was made to belittle the progressive muckrakers of the time.
I highly recommend Unreasonable Men, about TR, Taft, Aldrich and La Follette, for being a riveting read about the personalities of the time and having an interpretation of events that I happen to agree with. : )
the most anti-monopoly President we ever had
Well, he did fewer anti-trust prosecutions in two terms than Taft did in one. Of course there's an argument Taft doesn't do them if Roosevelt isn't there first. Which is why Roosevelt is complicated, rather than just bad.
posted by mark k at 4:02 PM on January 20, 2022 [3 favorites]
Re: TR's political legacy. I agree it's complicated, but going to rate him lower. He did break with the stifling "comfort the comfortable" approach of the previous decades, and especially McKinley, but for someone who claimed to "speak softly and carry a big stick" his domestic policy was the opposite. A lot of bluster about being tough with business and the Gilded Age aristocrats, a lot of quiet compromise behind the scenes. No accident one of his better remembered speeches was made to belittle the progressive muckrakers of the time.
I highly recommend Unreasonable Men, about TR, Taft, Aldrich and La Follette, for being a riveting read about the personalities of the time and having an interpretation of events that I happen to agree with. : )
the most anti-monopoly President we ever had
Well, he did fewer anti-trust prosecutions in two terms than Taft did in one. Of course there's an argument Taft doesn't do them if Roosevelt isn't there first. Which is why Roosevelt is complicated, rather than just bad.
posted by mark k at 4:02 PM on January 20, 2022 [3 favorites]
Of course TR isn't responsible for the statue, designed and cast long after his death. The person mainly responsible would have to be Henry Fairfield Osborne, well known for his racial theories about human origins and his eugenics advocacy. Osborne also seems to have dictated the program of the murals inside the museum's entrance hall, which show TR brokering the peace agreement between Japan and Russia in 1905. A statesmanlike deed that avoided many further deaths on both sides. But the Osborne-inspired mural shows TR and the Japanese and Russian sovereigns signing the document with a parade of their ancestors behind them, as if what we do in this world is just the shadow of our genetic endowments-- a highly dubious thesis combated even at the time by Boas and most of the other social scientists whose work is still read today.
posted by homerica at 5:12 AM on January 21, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by homerica at 5:12 AM on January 21, 2022 [4 favorites]
But the Osborne-inspired mural shows TR and the Japanese and Russian sovereigns signing the document with a parade of their ancestors behind them, as if what we do in this world is just the shadow of our genetic endowments-- a highly dubious thesis combated even at the time by Boas and most of the other social scientists whose work is still read today.
Yeah, that was also just part of the mindset of that particular era. I know I've spoken about this before, but there's this book History in the Making which is an anthology of excerpts from US history textbooks throughout the years; there's an excerpt from a textbook from about this time which describes the opening salvo in the Mexican/American war as this cosmically pre-ordained battle royale between the races and nations of the world in some kind of Ultimate showdown of ultimate destiny or something.
As for Teddy himself: he had some progressive ideas, but he also had some reactionary nuances to those ideas. Much is made of the famous trip that Roosevelt made to Yosemite, where he joined John Muir on a camping trip and was inspired to join with Muir on setting up the National Park system. But Muir was advocating a more pristine-wilderness, commune-with-nature approach, while Roosevelt was more into the hiking/boating/adventuring/big-game-hunting approach. (They ultimately agreed on "no hunting" in the parks.) Also, Yosemite park included the valley of Hetch Hetchy, another equally beautiful valley just to the north of Yosemite valley; in 1906, Roosevelt authorized building a dam there to create a reservoir to create a water supply for San Francisco, and Muir considered it a betrayal of their original plan and never really forgave him. Roosevelt's justification was that Hetch Hetchy valley wasn't really "unique" and that they weren't really destroying anything.
Judge for yourself.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:20 AM on January 21, 2022 [5 favorites]
Yeah, that was also just part of the mindset of that particular era. I know I've spoken about this before, but there's this book History in the Making which is an anthology of excerpts from US history textbooks throughout the years; there's an excerpt from a textbook from about this time which describes the opening salvo in the Mexican/American war as this cosmically pre-ordained battle royale between the races and nations of the world in some kind of Ultimate showdown of ultimate destiny or something.
As for Teddy himself: he had some progressive ideas, but he also had some reactionary nuances to those ideas. Much is made of the famous trip that Roosevelt made to Yosemite, where he joined John Muir on a camping trip and was inspired to join with Muir on setting up the National Park system. But Muir was advocating a more pristine-wilderness, commune-with-nature approach, while Roosevelt was more into the hiking/boating/adventuring/big-game-hunting approach. (They ultimately agreed on "no hunting" in the parks.) Also, Yosemite park included the valley of Hetch Hetchy, another equally beautiful valley just to the north of Yosemite valley; in 1906, Roosevelt authorized building a dam there to create a reservoir to create a water supply for San Francisco, and Muir considered it a betrayal of their original plan and never really forgave him. Roosevelt's justification was that Hetch Hetchy valley wasn't really "unique" and that they weren't really destroying anything.
Judge for yourself.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:20 AM on January 21, 2022 [5 favorites]
Heh: discussing that Roosevelt and Muir trip reminds me of my last trip to Yosemite; at the same time, an actor I know was getting ready to play Roosevelt in a play about that exact camping trip. I found a memorial stone set up in Yosemite Valley marking one of the spots where they'd pitched camp on that trip, one that gave a fantastic view of El Capitan; I snapped a couple pictures and texted them to him. As luck would have it, I sent them at the exact moment that he was en route to his very first rehearsal for this play, so just before they started, he held up his phone with a grin and said "incidentally, if you want to know what Roosevelt and Muir were looking at...."
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:28 AM on January 21, 2022 [6 favorites]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:28 AM on January 21, 2022 [6 favorites]
EmpressCallipygos, thank you for sharing that. Those before photos are heartbreakingly beautiful.
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 8:53 AM on January 21, 2022
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 8:53 AM on January 21, 2022
Before I saw it I was like "how racist could this statue really be?" and then I saw it and was all "ohhhh.. oh dear".
I've seen racist iconography before, but usually it's racist against one group. This was, um, racistiest? Racister?
posted by kirkaracha at 10:12 PM on January 21, 2022
I've seen racist iconography before, but usually it's racist against one group. This was, um, racistiest? Racister?
posted by kirkaracha at 10:12 PM on January 21, 2022
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posted by phooky at 1:08 PM on January 20, 2022 [2 favorites]