Teddy Roosevelt Still Popular In North Dakota

TR Comes To Life In Medora
In Medora, Joe Weigand is often introduced as a President Theodore Roosevelt reprisor. The word is likely related to “reprise,” meaning to repeat a performance or role. In Weigand’s case, the description fits: he does far more than resemble the 26th president. He walks the walk, talks the talk, and brings Roosevelt’s Medora years vividly to life.

Roosevelt’s years in western North Dakota helped shape the public figure he later became. His famous charge up San Juan Hill with his cavalry unit, the Rough Riders, became another defining chapter, along with his later service as President of the United States.

The 91st Missile Wing: The Roughriders
Fitting into the role of TR is certainly not defined by one character. I was able to spend some time with Joe Weigand on a recent visit to Minot. I have to say I really like spending time with Joe, whether he is Joe Weigand, my personal friend, or Theodore Roosevelt, with his driving bass voice and New York City accent.

Some years ago, although not totally defined as to exactly when and where, the 91st Missile Wing on Minot Air Force Base adopted Theodore Roosevelt and the Rough Riders as their mascot. The Missile Wing is referred to as the Roughriders, and they refer to themselves as America’s Big Stick, which dates back to TR and his often-quoted saying, “Speak softly and carry a big stick.”

The rallying cry? “Bully!” followed by the pounding of the many big sticks in the audience. Some are awarded to dignitaries, others are ceremoniously carried by squadrons, and still others are given because of hard work, a TR trademark.

Joe Weigand: The Man Behind TR
Weigand’s ability to move between Joe and TR is rooted in more than performance. He is a former political science graduate of the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. Twice elected to head Sewanee’s student government, he had earlier been elected Governor of the American Legion Illinois Boys State and President of the American Legion Boys Nation program.

Joe later served as a graduate assistant at the Center for Governmental Studies at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois, before launching his own business as a political campaign consultant and public policy expert. He was working in public policy and running election campaigns when he began performing as Theodore Roosevelt in 2002.

Roughrider 1
The commander of the 91st Missile Wing is referred to as Roughrider 1; that position now belongs to Col. George Chapman. “You know I was Roughrider 2,” Col. Chapman explained to Joe Weigand on a recent meet and greet. “I moved from that office, the office of the deputy commander of the 91st Missile Wing, to the 20th Air Force at F.E. Warren, and now I am back in Minot as Roughrider 1,” to which TR responded quickly but respectfully, “Bully!”
After their marquee photo in the entrance area of the 91st Missile Wing Headquarters, Col. Chapman and Joe made their way to the administrative office, where Chapman showed Joe a portrait of TR in much different attire: that of a western rancher.

This was not Joe’s first visit to the 91st Missile Wing, but he and Col. Chapman had a great visit learning about each other. Often it was a challenge to determine whether Joe Weigand was in TR character or talking as himself.

A Busy Schedule
Joe and Col. Chapman would part ways after about 45 minutes: Col. Chapman to an assembly of 91st Missile Wing personnel, and Joe to an appearance as TR at the North Dakota State Fair. With a promise to meet again soon, the two men shook hands as TR and Roughrider 1.

At the North Dakota State Fair, Joe was to be President Theodore Roosevelt on stage in the Magic Place. On his walk across the fairgrounds, he would stop and converse with folks who recognized him from his Medora fame. Joe is quick to ask where a person is from, and even quicker to relate a TR experience.

Of particular favor were the kids in the audience at his appearance. One of them was fortunate enough to be given a Teddy Bear, the popular mascot of President Roosevelt.

Once his appearance was over, TR, or Joe—you choose—and I parted ways, but we both had the same destination: Medora.

The Legacy Continues With A Gentleman Named Kurt
In his own words, TR reprisor Kurt Skinner says, “It’s easy to be Teddy Roosevelt in Medora.” Kurt Skinner has now assumed some of the roles of Theodore Roosevelt that Joe Weigand used to handle, and it was exciting to be part of his meet and greet at the Medora Musical on a Wednesday night. On his website is a complete summary of Kurt Skinner:

Colorado-based historian and Theodore Roosevelt historical performer Kurt Skinner takes audiences of all ages back to a time when Theodore Roosevelt embodied all the promise of the new American century. Thrill to TR’s stories of the Strenuous Life as Kurt captures the vigor, energy, and enthusiasm of the Spanish-American War hero who became America’s youngest president—informative, inspiring, patriotic, and entertaining. You will wish TR could run for another term!

In a simple explanation, Kurt Skinner is more of the ranch-hand TR, while Joe Weigand is comfortable being TR as the bold and aggressive personality that we associate with Teddy Roosevelt.

Both Kurt and Joe are quick to locate and bring the kids in the audience into their performances. “When you talk to their kids, you engage the parents,” Skinner says, “and that certainly comes naturally to me as an educator.”
For Skinner, this is his second full summer in Medora “because Joe is kind of dialing back a bit, and he’s on the road a lot for the TR Foundation. That gives me an opportunity to be on stage as TR six days a week. It’s a busy schedule, but it can only happen here in Medora.”

Once A Roughrider
Kurt Skinner’s path to his role as TR really began at Minot Air Force Base, “where I was stationed in 1998,” he says. “I kind of stumbled onto Theodore Roosevelt through his great-grandson, Tweed. That started me reading his biographies and then getting into theatrical writings.”

At Minot AFB, Skinner was with the 740th Missile Squadron, known as the Vulgar Vultures. “I was first attracted to the accomplishments of Roosevelt and then the images—the strenuous life, the outdoors, the hunter, and obviously, the military service connection. The more I began to read about Theodore Roosevelt, the more I started to fall in love with the character of the man.”

Skinner said he loved what Roosevelt stood for: duty, responsible citizenship, and Americanism. “Not just a flag-waving citizen, but he showed a deep appreciation for American history and culture. He was unashamed to be proud of America and our own heritage. That was attractive. He was unafraid to be an advocate for what he knew to be right and true, to look out for social causes.”

Through the influence of his father, Roosevelt tried to become a protector of the weak, and that took shape in his political life. He saw that through progressive reforms and had the capacity to look out for all citizens through his Square Deal.

The more Skinner read about Roosevelt, the more he began to appreciate Roosevelt’s quieter side. The caricature of Roosevelt is all bombast and constant energy. Someone described him as a locomotive in trousers, and certainly he was that, but he was also an accomplished ornithologist. The very skill sets required for a bird watcher—quietness, steadiness, and attention to the sounds of nature—were also part of Roosevelt’s character. He would spend up to an hour in nature, and he was also a book lover and a family man. It was the whole package for Theodore Roosevelt.

A book that became one of the best sellers of the time was a collection of letters he wrote about his children, published shortly after his death.

Final Thoughts
For both Weigand and Skinner, there are reasons they are drawn to the TR legacy and reasons they continue to love what they do.

“The individual responses of audience members,” Weigand says, “the joy that’s brought to their faces. It’s so gratifying to hear from them that they really enjoyed themselves when they were in that show. I get to tell them 45 minutes to an hour of stories about Theodore Roosevelt. I think that’s a wonderful thing to do.”

“I actually like kids, and that really helps. When you pay attention to the children, then you actually have the parents’ attention. Parents appreciate when people don’t talk past their children, and they appreciate when we take the time to address the children as persons. I always try to do that,” Skinner says. “You get to be Theodore Roosevelt for a while with those kids.”

I was able to watch a young lady watching Joe Weigand on stage at Brunch With The President. When the performance ended, I asked her about her interest in the show. She looked at me with wide, beaming eyes and excitement and said, “I just love Teddy Roosevelt. He’s my favorite president!” I felt a tear come to the corner of my eye. I don’t know how I could have said it better.