Theodore Roosevelt
Life After the Presidency

Roosevelt left the Presidency in 1909 and went on an African safari. Soon after returning to the U.S., he jumped right back into politics. In 1912, he decided to again run for President, and tried to win the Republican nomination against William Howard Taft. However, Roosevelt lost the nomination.

Feeling rather bitter, Roosevelt ran on the independent ticket of the Progressive Party. In October, during his campaign, John Schrane shot Roosevelt. Schrane was an assassin who was later committed to an asylum. Roosevelt was not seriously injured and, in fact, refused to see a doctor until after he delivered his speech. The speech lasted an hour-and-a-half. Despite Roosevelt efforts, Democrat Woodrow Wilson was elected President.

Between 1918 and 1919, Roosevelt remained active in politics. He published editorials and wrote manuscripts, even though his health was failing. He was often so ill that he was bedridden much of the time.

On January 6, 1919, Theodore Roosevelt died in his sleep. Vice President Marshal wrote, "Death had to take him sleeping, for it Roosevelt had been awake there would have been a fight."

In Roosevelt's own words: "No man has had a happier life than I have led; a happier life in every way." (National Park Service documents.)

Learn more about Theodore Roosevelt:

Life Before the Presidency
Roosevelt: Rancher, Historian, and Author
Presidential Accomplishments
Did You Know?
The Father of Conservation
Life After the Presidency