Cixi Presents Photographs and a Portrait to Roosevelt

Empress Dowager Cixi sent two large photographs to the United States, one of which was specially presented to President Roosevelt.

In 1904, the United States held the World’s Fair in St. Louis, where a portrait of Empress Dowager Cixi was exhibited. After the exposition, the Qing court deliberately presented the portrait as a gift to President Roosevelt. Roosevelt held a formal ceremony at the White House to accept the portrait and later transferred it to the U.S. National Museum for collection and exhibition.

Cixi Warmly Welcomes Roosevelt’s Daughter

The goodwill of Empress Dowager Cixi deeply moved the American president. Roosevelt therefore sent his beloved daughter Alice to China in 1905 for travel and an official visit, during which she paid a visit to Empress Dowager Cixi. Cixi personally received Alice in audience.

Cixi Sends a Wedding Gift to Roosevelt’s Daughter

In 1906, when Alice held her wedding at the White House, Empress Dowager Cixi sent a special gift. She deliberately sent a large trunk filled with precious silk garments and brocades, delivered directly to the White House. Roosevelt did not forget this gesture of generosity from Empress Dowager Cixi.

Lively White House, Fond of the Spotlight

At the White House, Roosevelt enjoyed leading friends and officials on outdoor hikes, boxing on the premises, roughhousing with his children, and reading aloud at full volume. In 1908, a boxing practice session caused him to lose sight permanently in his left eye. Bursting with energy, he had an intense passion for many pursuits. One foreign ambassador remarked, “Remember, the president is like a six-year-old child.”

Roosevelt’s daughter Alice had a vivid personality and loved the spotlight. Friends urged the president to rein in his daughter, but he replied, “I can be a good president of the United States, and I can manage Alice well, but I simply cannot do both at the same time.” Like father, like daughter: Alice described her father’s love of attention by saying, “He wanted to be the groom at every wedding and the corpse at every funeral.”

African Hunting Expedition

Shortly after completing his presidential term, Roosevelt went on an expedition to Africa in March 1909. Many scientists accompanied him. During more than 500 hunts, they collected 11,397 species of animals, ranging from insects to hippopotamuses and elephants, including the rare white rhinoceros. Large numbers of animals were prepared as specimens and shipped to Washington, D.C. Packing and transporting the specimens took an entire year. Roosevelt was extremely enthusiastic about this scientific expedition and kept detailed journals about it.