Theodore Roosevelt - The Strenuous Life - Hear and Read the 1899 Chicago Speech

Listen to and Read New York Governor Theodore Roosevelt’s speech on The Strenuous Life, delivered in Chicago, Illinois in 1899. In this address, Governor Roosevelt challenges U.S. citizens to avoid easy living and to work hard to achieve national greatness.
Narrator: Timelessreader1
Photographer: Timelessreader1
Text: The text of this speech, delivered in 1899, is in the Public Domain.

[@welcher6470]

Every word is a lash for us. We are what Roosevelt feared and despised

[@Holmnielsen-]

so sad to agree. there is nothing i've feared more than motherhood....

[@pandabase911]

Teddy was a BOSS

[@HappyMomma412]

PandaBase Yaaaaas!! He was. Good way to put it! 🦋🧚🏾‍♀️

[@hellaflyphotoguy]

I appreciate that this reading was done since it's the only one I can find that specifically covers the Hamilton Club speech, but hoooly crap, this narrator's voice is annoying as hell. I seriously can't stand his speech pattern and awkward fluctuations.

[@traviswilliams4548]

agreed 100%

[@muhammedhammad1329]

yes

[@jonlee2553]

Yea what a strange way to read.

[@NinjaofApathy]

I agree that the effort to read a great speech is admirable, but this reading sounds like one of those awful TikTok voices.
Hopefully the narrator improves over time :)

[@rogermpeacock604]

I agree.

[@renx5569]

2:31 we do not admire the man of timid peace.

[@AustinGarrett777]

Hard to get the feeling of great strength when it's so entrenched in misogyny and racist imperialism. Strength derives not from domination over others, but from the fortitude of an individual's sense of self.

[@denal132]

Only people who cannot dominate others say that strength derives from one's "sense of self".

[@test4el]

Beta male

[@SchizoMelody]

There's nothing remotely misogynist or racist in this speech - what the heck are you talking about?

[@wayne47able]

@@denal132 only a creep or predator would gets pleasure out of exerting dominance over others

[@arkhammemery4712]

It's ludicrous to me both sides of this argument are so out of touch with this speech. This man was born before the civil war, and somehow you blame him because he doesn't know what will get you cancelled on Twitter as of last week. Furthermore you're both wrong about his idea of domination. Mr Roosevelt believed the US should play a dominant role in world politics, but not through gunboat diplomacy. Yes he didn't shy away from war when he deemed it necessary but it was never a priority. Dominant in this sense merely mean leading. A good example is Cuba and the Philipines. Nations which the US sought to nation build, not conquer. Because Theodore believed building strong democracies was the best bastion against future wars. This is especially highlighted in his "civilized vs barbarian" stance. Obviously a very obsolete and base oversimplification but not without its facets of truth.

[@getit9066]

Democrats turned his words into a curse.