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President Teddy Roosevelt, his wife Edith, and their six children celebrated their second Christmas morning in the White House. They opened stockings filled with presents. But no presents were tucked underneath a big, sparkling Christmas tree. There were no Christmas trees in the White House, or so the president thought.
The president’s eight-year-old son Archie had other ideas. He brought a small tree into the White House. He decorated it with presents and hid it in a closet. Archie revealed his big surprise on Christmas morning.
Archie Roosevelt and his pony Algonquin
The president tells the story in a letter to a friend dated December 26, 1902:
“…Yesterday morning at a quarter of seven all the children were up and dressed and began to hammer at the door of their mother’s and my room, in which their six stockings… were hanging from the fireplace. So their mother and I got up, shut the window, lit the fire taking down the stockings of course, put on our wrappers and prepared to admit the children.
But first there was a surprise for me, also for their good mother, for Archie had a little birthday tree of his own which he had rigged up with the help of one of the carpenters in a big closet; and we all had to look at the tree and each of us got a present off of it. There was also one present each for Jack the dog, Tom Quartz the kitten, and Algonquin the pony, whom Archie would no more think of neglecting that I would neglect his brothers and sisters. Then all the children came into our bed and opened their stockings.”
Author Gary Hines imagines the story in full detail in his book, A Christmas Tree in the White House. Archie enlists his younger brother Quentin’s help and the two raise the tree tied to a bed sheet to the second floor. Does the president know?
Theodore Roosevelt with Archie and Quentin
If you like this article, then please consider sharing it and leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author
The Teddy Roosevelt Family, https://www.whitehousehistory.org/photos/the-theodore-roosevelt-family
Archie, President Roosevelt and Quentin
Archie Roosevelt, the nine-year-old son of President Teddy Roosevelt was recovering from the measles. He missed his pony, Algonquin, and wasn’t allowed outside to ride him.
His five-year-old brother, Quentin, had an idea. He enlisted the help of a footman who pushed the pony into the White House elevator while Quentin pulled. Algonquin resisted at first but when he saw his face in the mirror, he calmed down. The three rode up to the second floor and Quentin surprised Archie who was overjoyed to see his pony.
The New York Times reported on April 27, 1903, that “this is the first time that a horse has ridden in a White House elevator.
A Fine Little Bad Boy: Quentin Roosevelt in the White House
By Barbara Lowell, Illustrated by Antonio Marinoni
Coming: August 13, 2024
Quentin may be the “littlest Roosevelt,” but he soon rivals his father, the famous Teddy, as the biggest personality in the White House of the early 1900’s. From roller skating in the halls to shooting spitballs at Andrew Jackson’s portrait. From swimming in the fountains to taking a pony for an elevator ride. This “fine little bad boy” takes full advantage of his father’s long tenure as president, believing the good times will never end. 4-8 years
Archie and Algonquin his Icelandic Shetland Pony
If you like this post, then please consider sharing it and leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author