• Lion in the White House

  • A Life of Theodore Roosevelt
  • By: Aida D. Donald
  • Narrated by: Pam Ward
  • Length: 8 hrs and 6 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (639 ratings)

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Lion in the White House

By: Aida D. Donald
Narrated by: Pam Ward
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Publisher's summary

New York state assemblyman, assistant secretary of the Navy, New York City police commissioner, governor of New York, vice president, and, at 42, the youngest president ever: in his own words, Theodore Roosevelt "rose like a rocket". He was also a cowboy, a soldier, an historian, an intrepid explorer, and an unsurpassed environmentalist - all in all, perhaps the most accomplished chief executive in our nation's history.

Roosevelt built the Panama Canal and engaged the country in world affairs, putting a temporary end to American isolationism. And he won the Nobel Peace Prize, the only sitting president so honored. In Lion in the White House, historian Aida D. Donald masterfully chronicles the life of this first modern president.

©2007 Aida D. Donald (P)2007 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Critic reviews

"Donald's swift prose makes this a satisfying read." ( Publishers Weekly)
"Aida D. Donald's elegant and affectionate portrait of Theodore Roosevelt is less a biography than a masterful essay on idealism and power....[A] beautifully written and deeply intelligent book." (Alan Brinkley, Professor of History, Columbia University)

What listeners say about Lion in the White House

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Concise version of Teddy's life

This was mentioned in the Washington Post book review and I listened to it on a long car trip. I have read several Teddy books including the one on his childhood, Mornings on Horseback, so some of this I had heard before. The author did a good job of reviewing his life without getting stuck in the minute details. I thought the discussion of the political situation at the time of his prime and the cast of characters around him was the most interesting part. It is so hard to realize that he left the presidency just several years before World War I. I always thought the the fact that his youngest son died in the War contributed to his relatively early death. I toured his rebuilt house in NYC where they have lots of artifacts. There is a picture of Teddy and his brother as children leaning out a window and watching Lincoln's funeral procession going by. This book covers Teddy's place in history extremely well, and is not overly scholarly, which I appreciate.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Hero in the Making

Before reading this book, Theodore Roosevelt was an obscure President with minor interest to me. LION IN THE WHITE HOUSE reveals much about his true character and passion. I found we share the same values in multiple arenas. In fact, Theodore Roosevelt has become a hero to me.
Thanks!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Wanting More

Lion in the Whitehouse was interesting, but in my estimation, left the reader with large informational gaps; especially regarding TR's death. Additionally, there should be a reader warning prior to the big game hunting passage. Both disgustingly brutal and honest.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Expect some political bias

Author is obviously not a fan of the Republican Party. I prefer a more objective approach to historical topics.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Biased Writer

The writer is biased, and does not portray everything as what happened without adding a biased perspective on the actions of Theodore. This is not good for a biography. It would be understandable if it was a autobiography.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Struggled To Get Through this

There were little tidbits of information about President Roosevelt that now make me want to go find a better book on him. The narrator was hard to connect with, where at times it sounded like they edited audio clips. The impersonation of the President's voice was also hard to listen to.

Completely lost faith in the book when in chapter 6 it says the President's desk "the resolute" was given to him by queen Victoria. It wasn't, it was a gift to President Hayes 20 years prior.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

informative and easy listening

Was written and read very well. The great look into the life of Teddy Roosevelt

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Good biography

It was an interesting listening that kept the interest of the reader all the book

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

I love Teddy

Great book and pretty good naration. makes me love T.R and puts him on the top of greatest president of all time.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A good abbreviated biography of a great man

Very good for a first timer reading about Roosevelt. It covers his major points in life, his laudable standings, and the low marks of his views. A fascinating man and a well read performance.

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