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Article: Presidents Set a Fast Pace; From Teddy Roosevelt to Bill Clinton, A Message About Physical Fitness
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- February 9, 1999
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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Teddy Roosevelt started it--charging up San Juan Hill, charging
around the White House, charging out into the wilderness of Yosemite
Park and down the rapids on Brazil's River of Doubt. The
rough-riding trust-buster was the first in this century to make
physical fitness a signature of his presidency.
He even went swimming in Rock Creek Park in February. As he
described it: "We did the usual climbing stunts at the various rocks,
and then swam in the creek; and it was a good swim, in our winter
clothes and with hobnail boots and the icy current running really
fast."
No other president was such a glutton for physical punishment.
Yet many of them have set the pace on physical fitness for the ...