Franklin and Theodore Roosevelt were staunch supporters of the Boy Scouts of America. You likely already knew that, but how many of these little tidbits did you already know?
- Teddy was the first (and only) Chief Scout Citizen named by the Boy Scouts of America.
- The Nassau County (Home to Teddy Roosevelt) Council was founded in 1917. They had to wait 80 years (1997) before renaming to honor their favorite son because another Theodore Roosevelt Council already existed in Arizona.
Franklin Roosevelt is the first, and only, President of the USA to be elected into the Order of the Arrow.- Teddy Roosevelt was the first Council Commissioner of the Nassau County Council.
- Franklin Roosevelt served as president of the Greater New York Councils.
- Franklin spearheaded the development of the Ten Mile River Scout Reservation
- Teddy served as committeeman for local Troop 39.
- The Cradle of Liberty Council has a Roosevelt District honoring Teddy Roosevelt.
- Franklin Roosevelt was awarded the Silver Buffalo Award while serving as Governor of New York in 1930.
- FDR attended the first National Scout Jamboree in 1937, held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
- The Garden State Council has a Camp Roosevelt.
The tradition of inviting U S presidents to serve as Honorary President of the BSA started with Taft, after Teddy left office so he never had the opportunity to serve in that role, but the BSA made up for that by electing him the first, and only, honorary Vice President of the BSA.- You may find Teddy Roosevelt’s letter to BSA founder James E. West of interest. Check it out here.
- FDR served as a member of the Special Committee on Nautical Scouting.
- At FDR’s suggestion. the trade federation for the railroad industry agreed to transport Scouts the the first national jamboree for a fare of 1 cent.
