The Fox News Rundown Evening Edition: Why President Roosevelt Spearheaded The Conservation Movement
Jun 20, 2026
Brad Meltzer, bestselling author known for Ordinary People Change the World, talks about Theodore Roosevelt’s rise as the Conservation President. He explores Teddy’s childhood love of nature, how personal loss led him outdoors, the parks and refuges Roosevelt protected, and the power of showing historical figures as kids through illustration.
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Teddy's Childhood Natural History Museum
- Brad Meltzer recounts young Teddy Roosevelt keeping snakes, ants, birds, a dead seal, and mice in his pockets as a child fascinated by nature.
- Meltzer says Roosevelt called his childhood room the "Roosevelt Museum of Natural History," showing how early curiosity shaped his conservation passion.
Responsibility Shaped Roosevelt's Conservation Drive
- Meltzer links Theodore Roosevelt's upbringing — lessons from his father and empathy for the vulnerable — to his later commitment to protecting people and the environment.
- He emphasizes Roosevelt learned responsibility: wealth and power mean duty to help orphans, workers, and the environment.
Loss Sent Roosevelt To The Badlands
- Meltzer describes Roosevelt's personal losses: his wife and mother died on the same day, driving him to North Dakota to grieve alone under the stars.
- That solitude led Roosevelt to find strength in nature through long horse rides and outdoor labor.
