Monday, November 7, 2011

Theodore Roosevelt and the River of Doubt



In December 1913, Theodore Roosevelt, 55, plunged into an exciting journey to the River of Doubt in Brazil. This river, then uncharted, was seen as an escape route from New York and the political troubles he was dealing with there, as well as an opportunity to visit his son, Kermit. The trip, however, was terribly hazardous and nearly killed Roosevelt in his fifties. Aided by Candido Rondon, Brazil’s most famous explorer of that time, Roosevelt and his group made it out alive, though not completely healthy. Theodore Roosevelt caught malaria and a high-fever during his journey, and was bedridden for weeks. Once he finished his journey in the River of Doubt, Roosevelt published a book, Through the Brazilian Wilderness, which documented his and Kermit’s tale. Kermit married the US Ambassador of Spain’s daughter, Belle Willard, and the Rio of Doubt was later renamed the Rio Roosevelt to honor his father. A tributary of the Rio Roosevelt was also renamed the Rio Kermit to honor him as well.

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