15. Apr. 19, 1913-May 13, 1914: The River of Doubt

President Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) was a prolific writer of books, articles, and especially letters, and received as much mail as he sent. His correspondents ranged from heads of states to average Americans, and covered a wide range of topics. Discover what Roosevelt and his correspondents had to say about the issues of their day.

T. R. appeared in a Michigan courtroom in April 1913, having sued a newspaper editor for libel after an editorial claimed T. R. was a drunkard. His honor upheld by the jury’s verdict, T. R. turned his attention southward.  As had been the case in 1909, an adventure appealed to the restless former president and he agreed to accompany Brazilian Col. Candido Rondon’s expedition to chart a tributary of the Amazon River. Joined by son Kermit, the dangerous journey on the “River of Doubt” nearly proved fatal for T. R., who returned to the U.S. in May 1914 a physically less robust man due to injuries and illnesses suffered in Brazil.