Malone Telegram
St. Regis Falls –– It’s been 114 years since Teddy Roosevelt made his famous journey from the depths of the Adirondacks to become the nation’s 26th president. Next week, Roosevelt –– or at least his doppelganger –– will make a return trip to the region to help the St. Regis Falls American Legion post raise money to support troops serving overseas.
The real President Theodore Roosevelt has been gone for many years, but Joe Wiegand has taken on the persona of the late president. “It is a role I have grown into,” said Wiegand.
The Solana Beach, California, resident looks, acts and sounds like Teddy Roosevelt. Like Robin Williams in the “Night at the Museum” films, he makes Roosevelt come to life. Wiegand has performed nationally in all 50 states and has even stepped into the role for President George W. Bush.
Wiegand knows a great deal of the history involving Roosevelt. He said that he has tried to live his life as a great family man, philanthropist and public servant –– much the same as Roosevelt.
Wiegand said that as a child he was interested in American history and came to empathize with Roosevelt as the young asthmatic he was as a child. He read as much as he could about the presidents. He studied American history and political science in college and graduate school.
As an adult he gave speeches at political dinners, appearances that soon took on more of an entertainment aura. As he moved from speaker to entertainer, he adopted the Roosevelt persona.
The shift from just another speaker to a showman reflects something of Roosevelt’s own character. Wiegand quoted Roosevelt’s daughter Alice Roosevelt Longforth –– “Father wanted to be the bride at every wedding, the corpse at every funeral and the baby at every christening.”
Wiegand is very excited about his trip to St. Regis Falls, since Roosevelt loved the Adirondack Mountains and being able to vacation in the area. The former Rough Rider, who served as William McKinley’s vice president, was actually vacationing in the region when he received word that the president had succumbed to his wounds from an assassination attempt. Roosevelt’s frantic trip from a camp near the Essex County community of Newcomb to Buffalo, where he was sworn in as McKinley’s successor, has become legendary.
St. Regis Falls American Legion Post commander Lanny Gagnier had the opportunity to see Wiegan’s show in Plattsburgh. He wanted to ask Wiegand a question –– “What is your opinion of Frederic Remington’s portrait of you going up San Juan Hill?” Wiegand thanked Gagnier for his years of service in the military, then answered –– in character –– “Freddie is a friend of mine but he got it all wrong. We left the animals behind as we charged up San Juan Hill.” It was then that Gagnier decided that he wanted the other veterans to see Wiegand’s show.
Gagnier said he hopes that many will attend Wiegand’s Election Day performance, since the proceeds will be going to buy necessary items for troops that are serving overseas this Christmas.
Wiegand said that he is “honored” to come to St. Regis Falls. He said that he was the first person to attend college in his family and that his first scholarship came from an American Legion Post.
Wiegand hopes that in addition to the veterans that the event will be attended by children. “It will be a lesson in history,” he said.
Roosevelt’s appearance will take place at 7 p.m. Nov. 3 at Saint Regis Falls Central School. There will be a meet and greet at the American Legion Post on Main Street in St. Regis Falls at 5 p.m.
For more information about Wiegand, visit his website at www.teddyrooseveltshow.com.
