The last chapter in the long story of Theodore Roosevelt's Medal of Honor was concluded on Monday, Sept. 16, when Tweed Roosevelt, great grandson of TR, presented the Medal of Honor to President George W. Bush in the Roosevelt Room of the White House to become a permanent part of the White House historical collection.

The Medal of Honor was awarded posthumously to Theodore Roosevelt by President William J. Clinton in the Roosevelt Room of the West Wing at the White House on Jan. 16. Since that time TR's Medal of Honor has toured the nation and been on public display at Sagamore Hill in Oyster Bay, NY, TR Birthplace in New York City, the D-Day Museum in New Orleans, at the TR Inaugural National Historic Site in Buffalo, NY, and in Tampa, Florida, Boston, Portland, Oregon, Bismarck, North Dakota and elsewhere. "Everywhere it was greeted most warmly. TR's legacy still lives," said Tweed Roosevelt.

The medal was presented to President Bush by Tweed Roosevelt on behalf of the Roosevelt family. Forty members of the Roosevelt family and officers of the Theodore Roosevelt Association attended the Sept. 16 ceremony.

In his remarks, Tweed Roosevelt called attention to Theodore Roosevelt's Nobel Peace Prize Medal, which has sat in a special case on the mantel of the Roosevelt Room since 1982, when it was donated to the White House by the Theodore Roosevelt Association; and noted that TR's Medal of Honor and Nobel Peace Prize Medal complement one another.

"This room is often used by every president to host private meetings with various foreign dignitaries, not all of whom are cooperative. When faced with an obstinate foreign leader, perhaps it might be useful for the president to point to the mantel place and say that these medals represent the highest aspirations of the United States - peace with honor; two medals, two sides of the same concept," Tweed Roosevelt said.

TR was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery in the battle for San Juan Heights in Cuba, July 1, 1898, during the Spanish-American War. He was recommended for the medal by the entire chain of command in 1895, but was denied the award by the War Department. Many historians believe that TR was denied the medal in 1898 for political reasons, since the Colonel of the Rough Riders had made enemies for criticizing the War Department.

One hundred years later a bill to award the Medal of Honor to TR was introduced in Congress and passed both houses by unanimous vote. The Theodore Roosevelt Association played an active and important role in the fight for the medal at each stage of the process in the years 1997-2001. Tweed Roosevelt led the efforts by the TRA and the Roosevelt family to win the medal, and received the medal on behalf of the family from President Clinton in 2001.

Members of three generations of the Roosevelt family were present in the Roosevelt Room on Sept. 16, 2002. Also present were Norman Parsons, president of the TRA; TRA Executive Director John A. Gable; TRA Vice President Steve Abbot, who serves in the new Homeland Security Department; Brian Madden, TRA treasurer; Barbara B. Brandt, TRA secretary; and other TRA officers and members, including Karl Rove, an active TRA member and senior advisor to the president.

In his remarks in accepting the medal, President Bush paid tribute to TR's bravery in the battle, and also praised the Theodore Roosevelt Association for its continuing efforts to preserve the memory and ideals of the 26th president.

The Roosevelt Room is located in the West Wing, which was added to the White House in 1902 as part of Theodore Roosevelt's remodeling of the executive mansion. The Roosevelt Room is named for both TR and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Later in the year, on Nov. 12-13, a symposium, "The West Wing: Workshop of Democracy," will be held by the White House Historical Association to mark the centennial of the West Wing.

In his remarks Tweed Roosevelt said, "In this room in 2001, Theodore Roosevelt, posthumously of course, was awarded the Medal of Honor, for his part in the taking of San Juan Hill. Many people are aware of the fact that Theodore Roosevelt's son, General Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. was also awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on D-Day. He was the only general officer to go ashore that day, and was in the first boat to hit Omaha Beach. General Omar Bradley was once asked to describe the bravest action involving a US soldier and he told the story of Uncle Ted on the beach that day. What many people, even my family members, are not aware of is that another Roosevelt also was awarded the Medal of Honor. George Washington Roosevelt, a young private in the Pennsylvania Volunteers, fought in the Civil War. Twice, first at Bull Run and later at Gettysburg, he single-handedly captured the Confederate Colors. For this he was awarded the medal, fortunately for him, not posthumously," said Tweed Roosevelt.

He added, "As a representative of the family, I want to publicly thank all who have been involved in making the awarding of this medal a reality. Particularly we thank Representatives Lazio and McHale who together started the ball rolling in the House, and Sen. Conrad who kept it moving in the senate. And, finally, the Theodore Roosevelt Association, and especially John Gable, for all they did. TR was awarded this medal in this room, the Roosevelt room, which he built, and we of the family think it is a most appropriate time and place to give this medal to the White House and to the country."