8/14/2009

Brinkley's new book examines Teddy Roosevelt's role in preserving US wilderness

BY FRANZ BROTZEN
Rice News staff

Rice historian Douglas Brinkley's latest book delves into President Theodore Roosevelt's zealous devotion to conservationism that resulted in 234 million acres saved for posterity.

"The Wilderness Warrior: Theodore Roosevelt and the Crusade for America" (HarperCollins) chronicles how the 26th president transformed his interest in the outdoors into edicts that preserved such sites as the Grand Canyon, Devils Tower and the Petrified Forest.

"Literally from childhood until his death in January 1919 -- following his arduous journey down the River of Doubt through Brazil's uncharted Amazon jungle -- he epitomized Ralph Waldo Emerson's criterion for being an incurable naturalist," wrote Brinkley, professor of history and fellow in the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy.

In his book, Brinkley noted that Roosevelt would "light up with glee" at the mere sight of a flying squirrel or box turtle.

"At times revealing a Saint Francis complex regarding animals, Roosevelt wanted to understand all living matter," he wrote.

Unlike most other children, the young Roosevelt wanted to learn about wildlife scientifically -- by firsthand observation. "The cuteness of anthropomorphized animals in the popular press annoyed Theodore; Darwinian wildlife biology, on the other hand, captured his imagination and had the effect of smelling salts," Brinkley wrote.

"The multilayered puzzle that was Roosevelt, in fact, was titillated by the very sound of species names in both English and Latin."

Roosevelt's interest in nature often helped him cope with asthma.

"Often wheezing, the young Roosevelt found physical relief by simply observing creatures' habits and breathing fresh air," Brinkley wrote. "Nature served as a curative agent for Roosevelt, as it's been known to do for millions afflicted with respiratory illness."

Interviewed about his book on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" this week, Brinkley said Roosevelt was fascinated by birds all his life and was "one of the top ornithologists of his day."

He said Roosevelt created 51 federal bird reservations. "That gave birth to U.S. fish and national wildlife systems."

Brinkley told host Jon Stewart that Roosevelt referred to places like the Grand Canyon and Crater Lake as "heirlooms," and Roosevelt always wanted to make sure that the Rockies, Cascades and Appalachians had wildlife.

"He felt the wilderness made our city life better," Brinkley said.

Earlier this month Brinkley discussed his book with CBS News' Jeff Glor. "Roosevelt went so far as to say the No. 1 issue in America is conservation," Brinkley said. Noting that the issue remains relevant today, he added, "If we don't save our own landscape, what are we going to have?"

Currently No. 7 on the New York Times best-seller list and a Book of the Month on amazon.com, "The Wilderness Warrior" has garnered critical acclaim.

New York Times reviewer Janet Maslin noted how Brinkley "conveys the great vigor with which Roosevelt approached his conservation mission."

Historian and author Ken Burns wrote, "No president has been a greater champion of our natural world -- especially its wildlife -- than Theodore Roosevelt. Now that extraordinary force of nature has his own champion in Douglas Brinkley's stirring account of the man who turned our attention to conservation and the many glories of our American landscape."

Brinkley is a prolific writer who is perhaps best-known for his biographies of Dean Acheson, James Forrestal, Jimmy Carter and Henry Ford. His book "The Great Deluge: Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast" (2006) won the prestigious 2007 Robert F. Kennedy Book Award. He also wrote the best-selling histories "The Boys of Pointe du Hoc: Ronald Reagan, D-Day and the U.S. Army 2nd Ranger Battalion" (2005), "Tour of Duty: John Kerry and the Vietnam War" (2004) and "Parish Priest: Father McGivney and American Catholicism" (2006) and edited "The Reagan Diaries" (2007).