The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey

Frustrated with his loss in the 1912 presidential election, Roosevelt characteristically threw himself into the “cruelest trials that nature could offer him” (2). He embarked on a journey to explore the River of Doubt, “a churning, ink-black tributary of the Amazon that winds nearly a thousand miles through the dense Brazilian rain forest” (2). His son Kermit, who accompanied him, and George Cherrie thought that Roosevelt was going to die, as Roosevelt had a high fever and was delirious. The expedition by this point had already lost one man, most of its provisions, and five out of seven canoes.

On Halloween 1912, the Progressive Party held its last major rally at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Hundreds of thousands gathered outside the facility to get a glimpse of its presidential candidate, Theodore Roosevelt. Two weeks before, Roosevelt had been shot giving a campaign speech in Milwaukee. Saved by a manuscript and an eyeglass case, Roosevelt proceeded to give the speech despite the bullet penetrating inches into his skin. At this venue in New York, Roosevelt delivered a lively speech about character, moral strength, compassion, and responsibility (11).

Since Roosevelt split the Republican vote with his third-party candidacy, the Democrat, Woodrow Wilson, won in a landslide.