Theodore Roosevelt is best remembered as the bespectacled US president who said “Speak softly and carry a big stick,” but the politician was also an avid and accomplished hunter. He went on many hunting trips throughout his life, including a year long safari in Africa where he took down all manner of exotic and ferocious animals.
These pictures show that rich white guys have been going to Africa to kill majestic animals since for over a hundred years, which probably isn’t that surprising, but the pictures certainly are striking. Roosevelt looks pretty nonplussed about the whole situation in each picture, but I guess maybe that bushy moustache is covering up his smile.
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Photos from Teddy Roosevelt’s 1907 bear hunt in the New York Tribune
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Roosevelt posing with an Elephant he killed in Africa, 1909
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Theodore Roosevelt and his guide Arthur Lirette pose with a moose’s antlers, circa 1915
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Trophies of Roosevelt’s 1904 bear hunt
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Photos of Theodore Roosevelt hunting a bear, 1904
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Kermit Roosevelt with a tiger he killed in Nepal, 1925
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Roosevelt posing with a hunted cougar, 1901
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Roosevelt with a hunted bear, 1905
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Roosevelt with a dead hippo, 1919
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Roosevelt on a hunting trip in Colorado, 1905
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Roosevelt with a hunted lion in Africa with natives, 1910
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Roosevelt with two hunted leopards in Africa, 1910
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Teddy Roosevelt and his son Kermit posing with a cape buffalo they hunted in Africa, circa 1909-1910
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Theodore Roosevelt hunting big game, circa 1910
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“President Theodore Roosevelt and Group of Noted West Texans on Famous Wolf Hunt.” 1906
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Roosevelt on a scientific expedition to South America, 1913
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Roosevelt’s black bear hunting party in 1907
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Theodore Roosevelt watching over three thieves who had stolen his boat, 1886
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Teddy Roosevelt on his favorite hunting pony, circa 1903
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Roosevelt with a hunted rhino, circa 1909
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Teddy Roosevelt with a dead rhino, circa 1909
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Teddy Roosevelt in his hunting suit holding a rifle, 1885
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Roosevelt with an elephant he hunted in Africa, 1909
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Roosevelt’s African expedition party, 1909