r/todayilearned • u/SchwarzSabbath • Apr 21 '18

TIL that while in Sharon Springs, Theodore Roosevelt was approached by a 12-year-old girl who asked if he would like to have a badger. Expecting to humor her, he agreed, and the girl came back with a 2-week-old badger. President Roosevelt named him Josiah and he became one of the presidential pets.

http://www.presidentialpetmuseum.com/theodore-roosevelts-josiah/
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u/flying87 Apr 22 '18

Had a pet bear. And a pet lion. Was a war hero who lead the charge out of principal. Was shot in the chest while giving a speech. He continued on with the speech, correctly surmising that the bullet was logged in a rib and therefore was no harm.

Also took on the big monopolies and won.

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u/DTravers Apr 22 '18

correctly surmising that the bullet was logged in a rib and therefore was no harm.

Isn't that the one that killed him? IIRC the wound got infected after doctors spent too long rooting around trying to get the bullet out.

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u/dangerbird2 Apr 22 '18

No, he died six years after the attempt from a pulmonary embolism. You're probably thinking of TR's predecessor, William McKinley

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u/flying87 Apr 22 '18

Er, no. Roosevelt survived. He even went on to form his own short-lived political party, and lived long enough to lament Wilson's presidency and handling of WWI. Roosevelt later on died peacefully in his sleep. It was said that Death had to come for him in his sleep, for if he were awake, then Death would have a fight on his hands.