|
Why is the teddy bear called Teddy? Why not Harry or Joe or Jane?
The story goes back to 1902, when Theodore Roosevelt was president of the United States. The president was called Theodore by his friends and family, but the press and the people all fondly called him Teddy. He didn't like the name, but he accepted it. It made him seem more informal to the people he served.
Theodore Roosevelt was a great hunter, and his vacations from the White House often included hunting trips to the western U.S. There are variations of what exactly happened on this one particular hunting trip. Either the President came across a bear cub or the President's companions trapped a bear cub for an easy kill for the president. In any case, the President refused to kill the cub.
On this trip were newspapermen, and they decided that this story of Roosevelt refusing to kill the bear cub made a great story. There were also editorial cartoons drawn, showing how Teddy saved the bear. The story became fabled.
A toy company named Steiff is usually credited with creating the first teddy bear. Mr. Steiff was looking for a toy that would help generate profits for his doll-making company.
He created a small stuffed bear, with jointed arms and legs. The term Teddy Bear can be attributed to political cartoonist Clifford Berryman who featured the Roosevelt/cub event and referred to the bear as "Teddy's Bear." Later Steiff bears were used to decorate the White House for Roosevelt's daughters wedding reception.
The Teddy bear was a hit. It became the most popular toy of Theodore Roosevelt's presidency. Over the years, the cuddly toy has taken many shapes and varieties, but it remains a teddy bear, named after a president who would not kill a bear cub on a hunting trip.
| 
