Some wonder about the propriety of President Trump hosting a UFC event at the White House to celebrate his 80th birthday and the nation’s 250th. Democrats probably would replace the national anthem with Guaptanamera
Guaptanamera, guajira Guaptanamera
[Verse 1]
Yo soy un político rico,
Que vive con gran estrés,
Yo soy un político rico,
Que vive con gran estrés,
Cuidando los millones,
Que ganamos mes a mes.
[Chorus]
Guajira, Guaptanamera,
Guajira, Guaptanamera.
[Verse 2]
Con los ricos de la tierra,
Yo quiero mi suerte echar,
Los impuestos nos agobian,
¡Ya no podemos más ganar!
[Chorus]
Guajira, Guaptanamera,
Guajira, Guaptanamera. (lyrics by AI)
https://suno.com/s/LerjCxNxEQqn754z
I am a wealthy politician, / Who lives with immense stress, / Guarding the millions, / That we earn month after month.
With the rich people of the earth, / I want to cast my lot, / The taxes overwhelm us, / We can’t bear to earn any more!
It may be that President Clinton’s conversion of the White House into a Motel 6 for campaign donors was not matched by President Obama who scaled back the practice to just 60 lobbyists and donors that made visits, even so President Trump’s UFC event seems rather common place in comparison to the Clinton era. Democrat Presidents did like to throw parties for dignitaries and less dignified guests alike.
I asked Gemini about President Theodore Roosevelt’s use of the White House for sport and parties, and about who blinded Roosevelt in one eye boxing him in the White House.
Gemini– President Theodore Roosevelt was partially blinded in his left eye by his military aide and frequent sparring partner, Colonel Daniel T. Moore. [1]
The details surrounding the incident include:
- The Injury: During a White House boxing match in late 1904, Moore landed a hard cross-counter punch that broke a blood vessel and caused a detached retina. [1, 2, 3]
- The Secret: Roosevelt kept the injury completely hidden from the public—and even from Moore himself—for over a decade to protect Moore from guilt and preserve the administration’s privacy. Moore only found out he had blinded the former president when Roosevelt casually revealed it in an interview years later. [1, 2, 3]
- The Aftermath: Though he stopped heavy sparring once his left eye went dark, Roosevelt famously joked in his autobiography that he switched to jiujitsu because if an injury happened there, it would at least leave his one remaining good eye alone. [1, 2]
The John L. Sullivan Connection: Roosevelt was a massive fan of John L. Sullivan and did occasionally spar with him for fun during his time as Governor of New York. Because Sullivan was a notoriously brutal puncher (known as the “Boston Strong Boy”), popular lore frequently misattributes the blinding punch to him. However, Sullivan never boxed Roosevelt in the White House.
Theodore Roosevelt frequently hosted athletic events and large social gatherings, introducing what he called “The Strenuous Life” directly to the White House grounds. However, his sporting events were notably intimate and highly exclusive rather than large public spectacles. [1, 2, 3]
🎾 The White House “Tennis Cabinet”
Roosevelt became the first president to make athletics a daily part of White House routine by installing the very first White House tennis court on the lawn. [1]
- The Routine: Every day at 3:00 PM, rain or shine, Roosevelt would play intense, multi-set matches. [1]
- The Secret Circle: His regular playing partners consisted of top advisors, diplomats, and military officials. This highly influential inner circle was jokingly dubbed the “Tennis Cabinet” by journalists. [1, 2, 3]
- Privacy Controls: To keep the media from seeing him sweat or capturing photos of him in informal tennis clothing, Roosevelt had a large canvas tarpaulin erected around the court. [, 2]
🥊 Intimate Combat Sports
While Roosevelt famously boxed, wrestled, and practiced judo inside the White House, these were not large public spectator events. They were highly personal, intimate sparring sessions usually held in the White House basement or private rooms with a single aide, military officer, or professional trainer. ]
🏛️ Large Parties and Social Events
While his sports were kept private, the Roosevelt family hosted massive, energetic social events to match the president’s large personality: [1]
- Grand Receptions: The family routinely utilized the mansion’s grand rooms to entertain hundreds of guests, including foreign royalty, Supreme Court justices, and members of Congress. [1]
- The Historic Dinner: In October 1901, Roosevelt hosted one of the most culturally significant White House dinners in history when he invited African American educator and spokesman Booker T. Washington to dine with his family. [1]
- A Rowdy Household: With six energetic children running around, the White House resembled a constant, informal party. The Roosevelt kids famously roller-skated across the historic East Room floors and brought a menagerie of pets—including a pony—inside the mansion.
No comments:
Post a Comment