History: Teddy Roosevelt yells at a child, teaches a lesson

Of all the men that have called the Oval Office home, Teddy Roosevelt was perhaps the most unique. History has remembered the 26th president for his bullish personality, war record and, of course, the teddy bear.

Just nine days into his presidency, and shortly after the assassination of President William McKinley, Roosevelt found himself leaving a local Washington, D.C. church. According to an article in the Washington Post, Roosevelt was leaving Grace Reformed Church, located near Logan Circle.

Upon exiting, Roosevelt — accompanied by a police officer — noticed a young boy eagerly awaiting his arrival. The boy, armed with a rather large period camera wished to take a photograph of the then-president. This did not make the man that stormed up San Juan Hill very happy.

“You ought to be ashamed of yourself. Trying to take a man’s picture as he leaves a house of worship. It’s a disgrace. You ought to be ashamed of yourself,” the president called out to the no-doubt frightened child.

The Post story goes on to describe Roosevelt’s walk across the city to the home of Captain William S. Cowle, his brother-in-law. Though history has lost the reaction of the child being criticized by a president, one can imagine he was mortified. Despite the outcome for the child, it is interesting to imagine turn-of-the-century Washington. This was a time in which the leader of the free world could not only attend mass at a public church, but also walk around the city to visit family.

Almost 100 years since his death, it is sad that perhaps our greatest president has been reduced to this:

Douglas Barclay is an intern at Rare. Follow him on Twitter @douglabarclay17

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History: Teddy Roosevelt yells at a child, teaches a lesson