Teddy Roosevelt and Teddy Bears

No one can resist a cuddly Teddy bear.

Baby Mahto with his favorite teddy!

 In November of 1902 President Theodore Roosevelt was on a hunting trip in Mississippi.  One of his hunting companions had trapped a black bear cub and offered it to the President as an easy kill.  

Theodore Roosevelt refused the offer by saying, "What's the point of shooting an already trapped bear?"

A reporter for the Washington Post that had accompanied the hunting party, telegraphed the story back to his editor.  The Washington Post ran a cartoon of the story by showing a scene with the bear cub and the caption:  "Drawing the line in Mississippi."

 A hopeful toymaker from Brooklyn, New York, who had been trying to sell some toy bears made by his wife, saw the cartoon and had an inspiration.  He sent a letter to the White House asking Roosevelt's permission to use his name for his toy bears.  Roosevelt gave his permission, and Morris Michton started selling "Teddy's Bears" in his New York toy store.

They were a huge hit, and soon the name was shortened to the now very familiar "Teddy Bears."

photo of a "Teddy Bear" in the Steiff Museum Giengen Germany courtesy of Matthias Kabel.

Theodore Roosevelt didn't invent the "Teddy Bear," and who knows if he ever even owned one, but without his charisma and charm, we may still have toy bears, but not "Teddy Bears."

Happy First Birthday Mahto!

  Who can resist a Teddy Bear?