Teddy Roosevelts Life Expectancy

[SilverSwimmer]

Teddy Roosevelt died in 1919, after being severly weakened by malaria, which he had contracted on one of his famous trips in the jungles of South America. He was 61 when he died.

How long would he have lived if he had not contracted malaria? What effects could this have had on the politics of the United States? Could this have helped FDR's fledgling political career?

[Geekhis Khan]

Probably not TOO much longer. His diet was less than nutritionist-approved, he was getting quite fat, and he ran on frighteningly high levels of caffine with little sleep and constant action. My gut says he drops dead from heart failure sometime in the mid 20s after stubbornly ignoring the chest pains for a week.

[Grey Wolf]

He also was depressed over the death of his son

Diet, weight etc don't necessarily lead to death. It is a balance of all factors - for instance would rough exercise increase fitness and lead to a longer life, or would it trigger a heart attack and kill him somewhere

But dying in his early 70s would probably be a good innings for him at the time, all things considered

Best Regards
Grey Wolf

[SavoyTruffle]

At the most he'd plausibly last for a decade more tops.

[1940LaSalle]

I'm inclined to agree that absent malaria, he would probably have made it into his early 70s--just. It's fairly well known that he drank coffee almost by the quart while in the White House, and chances are habits like that aren't easily broken. That, along with decreasing activity as age takes its inevitable toll could set him up for cardiac problems in the late 1920. In fact, IIRC, did he not have a supply of nitro pills on his person when he was shot in Milwaukee in '12? If so, the cardiac scenario seems more likely: say, death as a function of a massive heart attack sometime in 1929?

[Slacker]

You're likely missing something critical here-if he doesn't die in 1919, he likely runs for President in 1920, and given Wilson is functionally a vegetable, he may well win.

[Mr Qwerty]

You're likely missing something critical here-if he doesn't die in 1919, he likely runs for President in 1920, and given Wilson is functionally a vegetable, he may well win.

If he runs, probably, but Wilson won't be his Democrat opponent.

[lounge60]

Teddy Roosevelt died in 1919, after being severly weakened by malaria, which he had contracted on one of his famous trips in the jungles of South America. He was 61 when he died.

How long would he have lived if he had not contracted malaria? What effects could this have had on the politics of the United States? Could this have helped FDR's fledgling political career?

Realistically?
At the best i said 1930-35.

[Whanztastic]

There is also another POD - around 55 or sometime he did see a nutritionist/health expert who said that he could keep his diet as long as he kept up his exercise and made him go on 20 mile hikes, which basically had the effect of exhausting a 50-something year old man. If he had saw a different health expert, one with a little more backbone, who would have said that he can't keep his eating habit, his life could have been extended.

Some may say this would have been out of Teddy's character, but if he saw it as a challenge, something to overcome, a fight if you will, then yes I see him changing his eating habit. It probably only buys him a year or two, but also probably makes his later years healthier.

He also contracted blood poisoning while in South America when a boat gashed his leg when he was in a river. So no expedition down South America way helps that too.

All in all, I say with these two changes 1935 at the latest, especially if he wins the Presidency again in 1920, seeing how that has a way of aging a man.

Also, somehow he has to cut down on his speaking engagements while POTUS in 1920. In Colonel Roosevelt it was framed that those seemed to age him more than anything.

[SilverSwimmer]

Would him becoming President in 1920 change around the prospects of FDR in politics? Maybe Teddy Jr. becomes more involved instead?

[thekingsguard]

I'm sure having his son survive WWI would add at least a decade, plus give us another Roosevelt!

[Blackwater_NiK]

If we butterfly away the malaria, he'll probably live to around 1930 or so. This would completely change his life, and it is possible that, due to the butterfly effect, Quentin will survive.

Would him becoming President in 1920 change around the prospects of FDR in politics? Maybe Teddy Jr. becomes more involved instead?

Yes, it will considerably alter FDR's rise - or lack thereof - in politics. There's no way that he'll ever run for Vice President against one of his idols. It's quite possible (or even likely) that he'll never become President, or at least not in 1932. He may end up an influential Senator or something of that accord. Who knows, really?

As for TR Jr., it's possible. He did run in 1924 for Governor after all. He may end up getting the post eventually, or something of that stripe. Again, hard to know.

[Paul V McNutt]

I see him as the front runner for 1920. The stress of the presidency would subtract years from him.

[Timmy811]

Probably not TOO much longer. His diet was less than nutritionist-approved, he was getting quite fat, and he ran on frighteningly high levels of caffine with little sleep and constant action. My gut says he drops dead from heart failure sometime in the mid 20s after stubbornly ignoring the chest pains for a week.

He would have gotten more exercise if he didn't have malaria.

[Whanztastic]

Quick question -

Since everyone seems to be of agreement that if Teddy lived, he would have ran in 1920 and probably would have won, who would have been his running mate?

My gut instinct says Leonard Wood, the two of them being chums. But it is possible for other people too such as Harding, Lenroot, Coolidge or Orren. Hiram Johnson is a long shot; I don't think he and Teddy get along.

Any thoughts?

[Mr Qwerty]

Yes, it will considerably alter FDR's rise - or lack thereof - in politics. There's no way that he'll ever run for Vice President against one of his idols. It's quite possible (or even likely) that he'll never become President, or at least not in 1932. He may end up an influential Senator or something of that accord. Who knows, really?


Actually a Republican FDR is quite likely. Pre-polio he seems to have been a purely opportunist politician, and could just as easily chosen Republican as Democrat. I don't think Roosevelt & Roosevelt is likely (unless FDR runs with Quentin:)) as Teddy is still going to be too old.

[John Fredrick Parker]

Quick question -

Since everyone seems to be of agreement that if Teddy lived, he would have ran in 1920 and probably would have won, who would have been his running mate?

My gut instinct says Leonard Wood, the two of them being chums. But it is possible for other people too such as Harding, Lenroot, Coolidge or Orren. Hiram Johnson is a long shot; I don't think he and Teddy get along.

Any thoughts?

I'd say his running mate is likely to be a conservative, so as to balance the ticket...

[Blackwater_NiK]

Actually a Republican FDR is quite likely. Pre-polio he seems to have been a purely opportunist politician, and could just as easily chosen Republican as Democrat. I don't think Roosevelt & Roosevelt is likely (unless FDR runs with Quentin:)) as Teddy is still going to be too old.

I don't see it. One of the main reasons FDR became a Democrat was to create a new identity for himself, since the heir to the Roosevelt dynasty was likely to be one of TR's sons, and FDR's ambition would be diminished. Plus, we are talking of someone who was already a committed Democrat and served in Wilson's administration and in the state senate.

[Timmy811]

If we butterfly away the malaria, he'll probably live to around 1930 or so. This would completely change his life, and it is possible that, due to the butterfly effect, Quentin will survive.



Yes, it will considerably alter FDR's rise - or lack thereof - in politics. There's no way that he'll ever run for Vice President against one of his idols. It's quite possible (or even likely) that he'll never become President, or at least not in 1932. He may end up an influential Senator or something of that accord. Who knows, really?

FDR isn't the type to back down, no matter who's running for the other party, and he'd know that TR wouldn't respect him if he did.

[TheGingerninja41]

So we could have him get a better nutritionist, not go to South America, have his son survive WWI and have him not be shot while giving his speech. I think that adds at least 20-25 years. We could see 6 terms of teddy