The force and skill with which the first elements hit the beach and proceed may determine the ultimate success of the operation. With troops engaged for the first time, the behavior pattern of all is apt to be set by those first engagements. [It is] considered that accurate information of the existing situation should be available for each succeeding element as it lands. You should have, when you get to shore, an overall picture in which you can place confidence. I believe I can contribute materially on all of the above by going in with the assault companies. Furthermore, I personally know both officers and men of these advance units and believe that it will steady them to know that I am with them.23
His request was approved, and soon after that, he began training with the troops for the invasion. It is worth noting that during this time, Ted was not in good health. Concerned that he would be removed from the invasion, he chose not to reveal that he was having mini-heart attacks in the weeks preceding D-Day.
On the early morning of June 6th, Ted’s troop transport pushed toward Utah Beach. When they hit the beach around 6:30 a.m., not only was Ted in the first wave of soldiers, but he was also among the first three off the landing craft. Because he had to use his cane, he could not carry a rifle. Instead, he carried a .45-caliber pistol. Once he was on the beach, he refused to duck, even when under direct fire.
WE WILL START THE WAR FROM HERE
Due to a strong current, Ted’s landing craft had been pushed south nearly 2,000 yards away from their intended target. When he recognized they were out of position, Ted personally scouted the area and determined where they had landed was a better location than the one that had been planned initially. While still under fire, there was a quick meeting among the leaders about what to do. Ted was reported to say, “Get word to the Navy and bring them in. We’ll start the war from here.” Following his lead, they redirected the additional waves of soldiers to land in the same place. As they communicated with the Navy, he began to lead multiple groups over the seawall and helped get his soldiers organized inland.24
Major General Barton, who had approved Ted’s request to be in the first wave, landed at Utah later that day. He met Ted near the beach, and he would later write the following about the exchange:
While I was mentally framing [orders], Ted Roosevelt came up. He had landed with the first wave, had put my troops across the beach, and had a perfect picture (just as Roosevelt had earlier promised if allowed to go ashore with the first wave) of the entire situation. I loved Ted. When I finally agreed to his landing with the first wave, I felt sure he would be killed. When I had bid him goodbye, I never expected to see him alive. You can imagine then the emotion with which I greeted him when he came out to meet me [near La Grande Dune]. He was bursting with information.25
When General Omar Bradley, who had relieved Ted of command less than a year earlier, for “loving his division too much,” was asked what he considered the most heroic action of the war, he responded, “Ted Roosevelt on Utah Beach.” General Bradley said, “He braved death with an indifference that destroyed its terror for thousands of thousands of younger men. I have never known a braver man nor a more devoted soldier.”26
The thought of the son of a U.S. president using his influence to get into battle versus avoiding it is inspiring. Roosevelt was the only general to land in the first wave on D-Day, and at the age of 56, he was also the oldest. While these facts are compelling, the most amazing bit of trivia is that Ted and his son, Quentin II, were the only father and son combination of soldiers who would land together on D-Day. As Ted was fighting on the more lightly defended Utah Beach, Quentin II, who was named after Ted’s brother who had been shot down and killed over France in WWI, was landing in the first wave on Omaha Beach. Omaha was considered to be the most heavily fortified of the sectors to be attacked on D-Day.
On the final day of his life, July 12, 1944, Ted was able to spend two hours with his son, Quentin II, talking about life.27 That evening, he died in his sleep following a heart attack. On the same day, General Eisenhower had approved General Omar Bradley’s request to promote Ted from a one-star to a two-star general. When Eisenhower called the next morning to share the approval, he learned of his passing.28
THE MEDAL OF HONOR
In recognition of his service to his country, Ted was awarded the Medal of Honor on September 28, 1944. The citation states the following:
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., United States Army, for gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 6 June 1944, while serving as a commander in the 4th Infantry Division in France.
After two verbal requests to accompany the leading assault elements in the Normandy invasion had been denied, Brigadier General Roosevelt’s written request for this mission was approved, and he landed with the first wave of the forces assaulting the enemy-held beaches. He repeatedly led groups from the beach, over the seawall and established them inland. His valor, courage, and presence in the very front of the attack and his complete unconcern at being under heavy fire inspired the troops to heights of enthusiasm and self-sacrifice. Although the enemy had the beach under constant direct fire, Brigadier General Roosevelt moved from one locality to another, rallying men around him, directed and personally led them against the enemy. Under his seasoned, precise, calm, and unfaltering leadership, assault troops reduced beach strong points and rapidly moved inland with minimum casualties. He thus contributed substantially to the successful establishment of the beachhead in France.29
GETTING INTO THE FIGHT
It is always inspiring when people use their power and influence to get into the fight versus avoiding it. Utilizing a mindset that began with his grandfather, and was nuanced through his father, Ted recognized the importance of using his personal example to inspire others. He understood that his story was part of a larger story that included those who had gone before him and those who would come after him. Consequently, he was willing to sacrifice himself in the pursuit of what he considered to be more valuable than his life.
How are you using your influence for the benefit of others?
How are you using your influence to pursue difficult or challenging things versus avoiding them?
Chapter 11
“Rawhide Down”
Remapping Your Brain
I have always been drawn to biographies and history. Reading about the lives of others has proven to be a great source of inspiration and instruction. When I first started reading about the experiences of leaders, I was drawn to U.S. presidents. Although their leadership styles, personalities, and interests varied greatly, they are forever linked by the role they have played in shaping U.S. history. In time, I began reading about the presidents in chronological order. I found it fascinating to see how each leader dealt with the challenges created by their predecessors and how they attempted to forge their own path forward.
The 20th century is often referred to as the “American Century.” As the United States began to take a larger role in global leadership, the role of the president on the global stage expanded as well. Debates about which presidents were among the most effective of all time will never be fully resolved, but there are a handful from the 20th century who promise to stand the test of time. If I were to create a list of the top five from the past century, I would include: Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, and Ronald Reagan.
When we moved to southern California so I could pursue graduate degrees at Pepperdine, our rental house was located in Westlake Village about 15 miles from Simi Valley, which is the home of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum. If you have never been to the Reagan Library, it is unique for a handful of reasons. Built upon a hill, the library overlooks the valley with a distant view of the Pacific Ocean and it is surprisingly peace
ful. It is the final resting place for the president and first lady, Nancy Reagan. With a red-tile roof and large central courtyard, it is a large complex in the Spanish mission style, which is a nod toward the history of the area. In addition to being entrusted with the artifacts pertaining to the Reagan family and Reagan administration, the library is also the home of the Boeing 707 used as Air Force One during his administration.
I spent a great deal of time at the Reagan Library, due in part to the fact that Ronald Reagan and Theodore Roosevelt were the primary subjects of my doctoral dissertation. My research focused on the use of mediation as a leadership style. I examined President Reagan’s interactions with Mikhail Gorbachev at Reykjavik in October of 1986. I also reviewed Theodore Roosevelt’s role as mediator between Russia and Japan in 1905, which led to the Portsmouth Treaty, for which he would become the first American given the Nobel Peace Prize.
Just as I find the presidential biographies to be a great learning tool, I find the presidential libraries to be the same. Even if you do not agree with the policies of the president being remembered, I always find visiting the presidential libraries to be thought-provoking. This is definitely the case with the Reagan Library. Although a significant portion of the library is specifically about Ronald Reagan’s life, there is a great deal about the global issues that contributed to the Cold War, the tensions in the Middle East, and the social challenges that helped define the 1980s.
To become a official researcher is not difficult and requires filling out an application that explains why you need access to the archives. Once approved, a researcher card is issued, and after going through an orientation, researchers are allowed access to the Research Room. The archivists who work in the room are typically very helpful in providing guidance and assisting in research.
One afternoon, I was working in the Research Room, and one of the archivists motioned me to come to the desk where he was working. At the time, he was processing some of the legal pads in which President Reagan used to write the content for his radio programs in the years before being elected president. I was thankful for the opportunity to see firsthand the writings of the future president. Each page was filled with his handwriting, and it was fascinating to see the process by which he would organize his thoughts.
Although I enjoyed the feeling of being an “official researcher,” after a few weeks of researching, I found that much of the information I needed could be found online. I still found being there was helpful to my writing process, and I enjoyed sitting outside at one of the tables used by patrons of the restaurant connected to the library. If I needed to go into the Research Room, it was available, but more often than not, I was able to do my work independently.
On a handful of occasions, when I got to the library, special events were being hosted of which I was unaware. An example of this was the day I arrived and the entire complex was abuzz with activity. At the time, the library was much smaller than it is now, and I would often walk through the museum portion for inspiration before getting down to work. When I got to the entrance of the museum on this day, the docent told me they were closing the museum for a special event. The cars that had been part of Reagan’s presidential motorcade were being driven to the library in anticipation of the pavilion that would later hold Air Force One, Marine One, and the motorcade. There were a number of VIPs who would be attending the event. I replied, “Not a problem. I can come back later.” Surprised by my lack of protest, she followed up by asking if I came to the library often, and I told her that I was a researcher who was using President Reagan as part of my dissertation. She expressed her appreciation for people who had an interest in the former President and then said, “Do you think you could make it through the museum quickly?” I assured her that I could and amazingly, she waved me through.
Because the museum portion of the library was closing, there were very few people in it. It felt very odd to be walking through nearly alone, and I considered it a privilege to be there. When I got to the replica of the Oval Office, I was alone, save another docent who stood nearby. The docent looked at me and said, “This is a special place.” I nodded my head in agreement. He said, “Enjoy the moment.” He stepped out into the hallway leaving me alone with my thoughts. All alone, I reached for my phone to take a picture. Sadly, the battery died, and I did not get a picture of the moment. Although it would have been fun to have the picture, in some ways, it made the moment all the better. Without the distraction of my phone, I stood there in silence and did as the docent suggested and enjoyed the moment.
ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT
The Library is designed to tell the story of Reagan’s life chronologically. There are a handful of moments in Reagan’s story that stand out to me as especially meaningful or poignant. One of those moments is the section of the museum dedicated to telling the story of what happened when Reagan nearly died at the hand of a would-be assassin, John Hinckley Jr., who would later be declared legally insane.
It was on a Monday afternoon on March 30, 1981, at 2:27 p.m. when President Reagan exited the Washington Hilton following a luncheon speech given to the AFL-CIO. He had been president for 69 days and was looking to build momentum for his vision for America. The president appeared confident as he departed the building and began to make his way toward the open door of his limousine, which was just 30 feet away. When the crowds began to cheer, he waved with his right arm to the bystanders who had lined up across the street. On his left was another group of bystanders and reporters standing just 15 feet away behind a roped off area. In what was later considered a “colossal mistake,” the group had not been screened.1 As he was within feet of the vehicle, he raised his left arm to wave to the smaller and closer crowd to his left. In that crowd, stood 25-year-old John Hinckley Jr., who recognized this moment as his best chance of hitting the president. Clasping his hands together and pushing forward, he raised his .22-caliber revolver toward the president and began to fire.
The first shot struck White House Press Secretary James Brady in the forehead, just above his left eye, and he instantly dropped to the ground. The gun used by Hinckley was an inexpensive, small caliber, short-barreled revolver. Due to its lack of relative power, it was an unlikely choice of weapons for a would-be assassin. With that said, he had chosen to use “Devastator” cartridges, which were designed to explode on impact to maximize damage. Of the six shots taken by Hinckley, the only one that detonated on impact was the one that hit Brady.2
Although he would survive, Brady had permanent brain damage that left him with several neurological-based challenges and would require him to use a wheelchair for the remainder of his life. Using his experience as a platform, he and his wife, Sarah, would dedicate the remainder of their lives to preventing gun violence. When he died on August 4, 2014, his death was ruled a homicide, as the cause of death was directly related to the bullet wound he received during the attempted assassination.3
The second shot hit D.C. police officer Thomas Delahanty. He was facing the president, and the bullet struck him from behind. The path of the bullet remains unclear, but it appears to have struck him in his back-left shoulder and then traveled toward his neck, possibly hitting his spinal cord and coming to rest an eighth of an inch from his spine.4 He instantly fell to the ground and yelled out, “I’m hit!”5
In total, Hinckley would fire six shots at the president. The entire episode only lasted 1.7 seconds. To put that in perspective, the last sentence takes about 1.7 seconds to read aloud.
When I first began going to the Reagan Library, the section about the attempted assassination was much smaller than it is today. Now, the experience has been enhanced significantly to help make it more personal to the growing number of visitors who were either too young to remember the shooting or were not yet born. Today, the exhibit includes being led into a small room designed to make the visitor feel as if they were there were among the group waiting outside of the Hilton when the president emerged. While
standing in the small room, the footage of the moment begins. The experience is memorable and it brings the gravity of the event into focus.
Although watching the video from that afternoon is not for everyone, I have found it to be a surprising source of inspiration. You will notice that once the firing begins, the majority of the people in the footage instinctively flinch and duck for safety. There are a few people, however, whose response is noticeably different. Instead of ducking for cover, which is the prescribed training for the police and the military, the Secret Service is trained to do the opposite.6
According to Jerry Parr, the Secret Service agent assigned to the president: “The first shot, the first thing that you see, the first yell, the first scream, the first violence, you go into action. Cover. Cover and evacuate. Cover and evacuate. You gotta get it embedded in your head as the muscle memory.”7 He had been trained for this moment, and his response and the response of his fellow agents was instantaneous.
When Hinckley fired the third bullet, he had an unobstructed path to the president. Instead of hitting his intended target, the shot went high. It struck a window in a building across the street but did not injure anyone.
As Hinckley took the fourth shot, Agent Tim McCarthy moved back toward the president to become a human shield. Although he was not wearing body armor, he spread his arms out wide in an effort to make himself as big of a target as possible. Entirely exposed, he was struck in the chest. The impact of the bullet pushed him backward, and he fell to the ground clutching his abdomen.
Sleeping Giants Page 19