#175 Theodore Roosevelts Darkest Journey

Theodore Roosevelt's post-presidential years found him embroiled in a harrowing expedition through the Amazon rainforest, chronicled in Candace Millard's "The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey." After his crushing electoral defeat, Roosevelt sought redemption through a treacherous exploration of the uncharted River of Doubt, alongside his son Kermit and the esteemed naturalist George Cherry. Facing starvation, disease, and the constant threat of death, Roosevelt's journey tested the limits of his endurance and willpower. The expedition, marked by personal tragedy, physical hardship, and the relentless hostility of the rainforest, ultimately reflected Roosevelt's lifelong pursuit of the strenuous life—a philosophy that championed action, determination, and the embrace of new challenges as a means of overcoming adversity.

• George Cherry, a seasoned naturalist, observed Theodore Roosevelt on the brink of death in the Brazilian rainforest in 1914.
• Roosevelt had recently failed to secure an unprecedented third term as President and sought the Amazon for a new challenge.
• Known for his vigorous lifestyle, Roosevelt used physical exertion to overcome personal tragedies and setbacks throughout his life.
• The River of Doubt, an uncharted tributary of the Amazon, was Roosevelt's target for exploration.
• Despite losing equipment and facing death, Roosevelt's resilience and determination were evident.

"I don't believe he can live through the night, George Cherry wrote in his diary in the spring of 1914, a tough and highly respected naturalist who had spent 25 years exploring the Amazon."

This quote sets the scene for the dire situation Roosevelt found himself in and introduces George Cherry's perspective on Roosevelt's condition.

• Roosevelt experienced deep depression and loneliness after his defeat in the election.
• He ran as an independent after failing to secure the Republican nomination, which resulted in a split vote and his defeat.
• Roosevelt's method of coping with setbacks was to seek out physical hardships and danger.

"There is no use disguising the fact that the defeat at the polls is overwhelming, he wrote."

Roosevelt acknowledges the extent of his election defeat, indicating his emotional turmoil and the impact on his psyche.

• Roosevelt's father, Theodore Roosevelt Sr., encouraged him to strengthen his body to support his mind.
• Physical challenges were Roosevelt's way to combat depression and despair.
• Notable figures like Nelson Mandela and Sam Zemurray also recognized the value of physical labor for relieving stress.

"When confronted with sadness or setbacks that were beyond his power to overcome, Roosevelt instinctively sought out still greater tests, losing himself in punishing physical hardships and danger."

This quote highlights Roosevelt's instinctual response to adversity, which was to immerse himself in even greater challenges.

• Roosevelt Sr. played a pivotal role in shaping Theodore's character by emphasizing the importance of physical strength.
• The strenuous life was a creed that Roosevelt adhered to from childhood, shaping his approach to life's challenges.

"Theodore, you have the mind, but you do not have the body," he said. "And without the help of the body, the mind cannot go as far as it should. You must make your body."

Roosevelt Sr.'s advice to young Theodore underscores the belief in the interdependence of physical and mental strength, which became a lifelong philosophy for Roosevelt.

• The River of Doubt expedition was a shift from a benign itinerary to a perilous journey.
• Father Zam and Fiala were initially part of the planning but were later deemed incompetent and dismissed.
• Rondon, a Brazilian explorer, became an essential guide for the expedition, leading with Roosevelt.

"There was a blank, unexplored spot on the map of South America that's the size of Germany, and within it lay the vast, tangled expanse of the Amazon rainforest."

This quote describes the uncharted territory that Roosevelt aimed to explore, emphasizing the scale and mystery of the Amazon rainforest.

• Roosevelt sought genuine scientific exploration and had contempt for passive travelers.
• He believed in active participation and risk-taking during expeditions.

"The ordinary traveler, he said, who never goes off the beaten route and who on this beaten route is carried by others, without himself doing anything or risking anything, does not need to show much initiative and intelligence."

Roosevelt criticizes the lack of initiative and engagement of travelers who do not actively participate in their journeys, contrasting with his approach to exploration and life.

• Individuals who could not cope with the hardships were quickly dismissed from the expedition.
• The River of Doubt was chosen despite its great unforeseen difficulty.
• Roosevelt was in a state of depression and despair when he made the decision to explore the River of Doubt.

"People on the expedition wind up having these traits, and he disposes of them rather rapidly."

This quote highlights the rigorous standards set by Roosevelt for expedition members, indicating a no-tolerance policy for those who could not endure the challenges.

• The River of Doubt was a mysterious and remote river in the Brazilian wilderness, absent from accurate maps.
• Its name implied danger and served as a warning to explorers.
• Roosevelt chose this river for exploration, unknowingly opting for the path with the greatest unforeseen difficulty.
• The river has since been renamed the Roosevelt River.

"The river that Mueller had in mind was one of the great remaining mysteries of the brazilian wilderness."

This quote describes the enigmatic nature of the River of Doubt, emphasizing its status as an uncharted territory during that time.

• Business is likened to a series of problems that need solving.
• Successful companies are effective problem-solving machines.
• Overcoming difficulties is both inspirational and perspective-giving.
• The book about the River of Doubt is seen as metaphorical for business challenges.

"That business is just essentially a bunch of problems, right?"

This quote draws a parallel between the challenges faced in business and those encountered by Roosevelt on his expedition, suggesting that success in both realms requires effective problem-solving.

• Roosevelt sought out struggle and chose the more difficult path.
• His experiences are compared to those of Sir Ernest Shackleton's Antarctic expedition.
• Roosevelt's willingness to embrace danger is seen as a trait that resonates with entrepreneurs and leaders.

"Roosevelt's admission that his new plan was slightly more hazardous than the original was the understatement of the century."

This quote reflects Roosevelt's understated acknowledgment of the risks involved in his new plan, showcasing his acceptance of danger.

• Roosevelt was not afraid of death and saw his life as full of experiences.
• He was prepared to die for adventure and had lived a life equivalent to nine men.
• His life, filled with diverse experiences, made him an interesting character even as a supporting figure in other narratives.

"I will gladly die for adventure. Roosevelt wrote, tell Osborne, I have already lived and enjoyed as much life as nine other men."

This quote expresses Roosevelt's readiness to face death in pursuit of adventure, highlighting his perception of a life well-lived.

• The journey to the River of Doubt required a two-month trek by boat and mule.
• Rondon faced numerous personal tragedies, leading to a life of extreme discipline.
• Rondon's upbringing made him an outcast at military school, but his discipline and leadership qualities were admired by Roosevelt.

"So remote, the region that he had agreed to explore was that even getting to the river of doubt would require a journey of at least two more months, first by boat and then on mule."

This quote outlines the daunting logistics of reaching the River of Doubt, indicating the remoteness of the region.

• Roosevelt and Rondon had contrasting philosophies but shared certain traits.
• Roosevelt believed in assertive action, while Rondon mistrusted imposed solutions and avoided conflict.
• Rondon's motto, "Die if you must, but never kill," was considered suicidal by some.

"For Roosevelt, the lessons of nature and human history proved the need for assertive action, even when action entailed bloodshed or conflict."

This quote contrasts Roosevelt's philosophy of assertive action with Rondon's nonviolent approach, highlighting their differing responses to challenges.

• Roosevelt insisted on contribution from every team member and disapproved of freeloaders.
• Father Zam's demand for special treatment was rejected, emphasizing the importance of equality and shared hardships.
• Roosevelt and Rondon led by example, refusing luxuries not available to their men.

"All for each and each for all is a good motto, Roosevelt said, but only on condition that each works with might and main to so maintain himself as to not be a burden to others."

This quote encapsulates Roosevelt's belief in mutual support and self-reliance within the team, rejecting the notion of being a burden to others.

• The expedition faced relentless challenges, including constant rain, disintegrating clothes, and attacks by insects and wildlife.
• Struggle led to a shift in perspective, where simple shelters became a relief compared to the harshness of the rainforest.
• Rondon's nonviolent approach to indigenous tribes was critical for his mission's success.

"They were all tormented by hordes of gnats, sandflies, horseflies and small, stingless bees."

This quote describes the persistent and overwhelming difficulties faced by the expedition members, illustrating the relentless nature of their struggle.

• Rondon's passive, pacifist approach contrasted with Teddy Roosevelt's inclination to conquer challenges.
• Roosevelt faced the dilemma of managing limited resources and time during the expedition.
• The camaradas, who were experienced workers under Rondon, were prioritized for food rations by Roosevelt.
• The expedition was a race against time, with the necessity to navigate the river and find a route before supplies ran out.

"Rondon's passive, pacifist approach was alien to Teddy's entire way of thinking. He was much more inclined to conquer than to be slaughtered."

This quote illustrates the fundamental difference in mindset between Rondon and Roosevelt, highlighting Roosevelt's aggressive approach to overcoming obstacles.

• The expedition's struggle with time and resources is likened to a company's runway and the need to become profitable before funds deplete.
• The SpaceX example is used to demonstrate the critical nature of timing and resource management in achieving success.
• The lessons from the expedition are presented as metaphors for broader applications in business and life.

"The survival of every man would depend on their collective ability to master the churning river, evade its ever present dangers, and discover a route out of the deepest rainforest before their supplies ran out."

This quote draws a parallel between the challenges of the expedition and the struggles a business faces to survive and thrive within its operational environment.

• The magnitude of an achievement is proportional to the sacrifices required.
• Roosevelt's expedition's uniqueness lay in its strategy to descend the River of Doubt, utilizing the river's power rather than fighting against it.
• The decision to go with the river's flow was a life-or-death gamble, as turning back was not an option.

"The scale of that achievement, which is putting the river of doubt on the map... would be directly proportional to the sacrifices it would require."

This quote encapsulates the idea that great accomplishments demand significant sacrifices, setting the stage for the challenges Roosevelt's expedition would face.

• Roosevelt's dream of exploration came with an unforeseen cost and unpreparedness.
• The expedition faced logistical issues and risks due to Roosevelt's casual planning.
• The team was already exhausted before the most challenging part of their journey, indicating a dire starting point.

"Roosevelt was about to become an explorer in the truest and most unforgiving sense of the word."

This quote reflects on Roosevelt's realization of the harsh realities of exploration and the heavy price of his ambition.

• The rainforest's appearance of tranquility disguises a brutal struggle for survival.
• The ecosystem's interconnectedness and the relentless competition among its inhabitants is a metaphor for economic systems.
• The rainforest's dynamics are compared to the development of a modern economy, emphasizing competition and specialization.

"Its quiet, shaded halls of leafy opulence were not a sanctuary, but rather the greatest natural battlefield anywhere on the planet, hosting an unremitting and remorseless fight for survival."

This quote draws a vivid picture of the rainforest's deceptive nature, likening its competitive environment to the cutthroat nature of economic markets.

• The strategies of rainforest plants and animals are used to illustrate business concepts.
• Giant emergent tree species represent companies that prioritize rapid growth to outcompete others for resources.
• Smaller plants and vines exemplify smaller companies or startups finding niches and using existing structures to grow.

"For fast growing trees, the tradeoff for speed is inadequate defenses against insects and vulnerability to storms that cannot reach the lower, more sheltered layers of the forest."

This quote highlights the trade-offs involved in growth strategies, whether in nature or business, where speed can come at the cost of stability and defense.

• The rainforest's efficiency in nutrient appropriation and complex defense mechanisms represent the harsh realities of business.
• Roosevelt and his team, despite their experience, were outsiders in the Amazon, vulnerable to its dangers.
• The challenge of the jungle was not a singular adversary but the collective and relentless demands of the ecosystem.

"Within such an intricate world of resourcefulness, skill, and ruthless self interest, Roosevelt and his men were, for all of their own experience and knowledge, vulnerable outsiders."

The quote underscores the team's vulnerability and lack of control in an environment where every inhabitant is engaged in a perpetual fight for survival.

• Hunger, both literal and metaphorical, is described as having the power to transform priorities and behaviors.
• Roosevelt's adaptation to the rainforest diet, including developing a taste for monkey meat, underscores the transformative effect of extreme conditions.

"Roosevelt himself had even developed a taste for monkey meat."

This quote illustrates the drastic changes in Roosevelt's preferences and behavior due to the dire circumstances of the expedition, paralleling how desperation can drive innovation and change in business.

• The jungle where Roosevelt and his team journeyed was home to uncontacted tribes.
• These tribes were skilled at remaining unseen but left evidence of their presence.
• The tribes' abilities created a constant sense of danger for the expedition.

"The jungle was, they now knew, inhabited by a group of Indians that had had no contact with the outside world. And they let themselves, they'll never let you see them, but they'll leave signs that they were there."

The quote emphasizes the mysterious and unseen threat posed by the uncontacted tribes, heightening the expedition's sense of peril.

• Roosevelt exhibited a stoic acceptance of potential death in the jungle.
• He admired the resilience and effort of his team despite the harsh conditions.
• Roosevelt's leadership style included pushing his children to confront their fears.

"I'm either going to succeed and do something no one has ever done before, or I'm willing to leave my bones in South America."

This quote reflects Roosevelt's stoic mindset and his readiness to face death for the sake of accomplishing unprecedented feats.

• The Sinta Larga tribe demonstrated remarkable adaptability and resourcefulness.
• They used unique methods to fish, such as fishing baskets and a paralyzing liquid called timbo.
• The Incas, despite lacking certain technologies, built a powerful empire.

"The timbo allowed the Indians to spear or scoop up the fish as they floated to the river's surface."

The quote explains how the Sinta Larga tribe's innovative fishing technique compensated for their lack of conventional tools, showcasing their ingenuity.

• The expedition faced extreme hunger, which led to a constant preoccupation with food.
• Disease, exhaustion, and fear began to reveal the true characters of the men.
• A member of the expedition resorted to stealing food, leading to a fatal confrontation.

"The accumulation of disease, hunger, exhaustion, and fear had begun to wear the men down, and their true selves were starting to show."

This quote captures the transformative effect of extreme conditions on individuals, revealing underlying character traits.

• Kermit Roosevelt refused to leave his father behind despite Theodore's wishes.
• The incident marked a role reversal in their father-son relationship.
• Theodore's upbringing of Kermit instilled a relentless determination to achieve goals.

"Recognizing the resolve on his son's face, Roosevelt realized that if he wanted to save Kermit's life, he would have to allow his son to save him."

The quote illustrates the pivotal moment when Theodore Roosevelt acknowledges Kermit's determination, leading to his own survival.

• The importance of having a goal and the drive to achieve it is discussed.
• Alan Watts' philosophy on living a life doing what one loves is paralleled with Roosevelt's mindset.
• The determination to pursue one's desires is highlighted as a source of contentment.

"Given a goal, he would fight with everything he had to achieve it."

This quote underlines the powerful impact of having a clear goal and the tenacity required to pursue it, as exemplified by Kermit's determination to save his father.

• The expedition members appeared inhuman after weeks of hardship.
• Roosevelt's health never fully recovered after the journey.
• Despite later personal tragedies, Roosevelt maintained his optimistic and fighting spirit.

"After weeks of surviving on little more than a few bites of fish and a single biscuit each night, they were gaunt and hollow cheeked."

This quote paints a vivid picture of the physical toll the expedition took on the men, emphasizing the severity of their ordeal.

• Roosevelt's death evoked a profound emotional response from those who knew him.
• The testimonies of friends like John Burroughs and Cherry highlight Roosevelt's enduring influence.
• The narrative concludes with a recommendation to read the book for a deeper understanding of the events.

"I've always thought it strange, Sherry said quietly, since I had had the opportunity to know him and to know him intimately, how any man could be brought in close personal contact with Colonel Roosevelt without loving him."

The quote reveals the deep emotional bond and admiration that Roosevelt's friends felt for him, underscoring the impact of his character and leadership.