The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-03-08
!. /. I COX
RING CAME
SERNNJSL Y
BY Gene Tunney
worlds Heavyweight Champion

The worlds greatest endorsement
OF boxing was given the sport by
Theodore Roosevelt.
There are but few people who do
not grant that he was, in q gem
eral way, the ideal American. They
follow his advice and admireN his
principles and wish they would go
8 step. further and accept his
theories on boxing. think we
would be happier nation for 1t.
Boxing he said to the great
Mike Donovan who used to pepper
him all around the White House
gym, rs the thing needed after
all other exercises. ] can keep
my health and get all the fresh air
and exercise need from hunting,
Nennis, riding or any other out
door sport of which am fond. But
boxing, like calomeI pills, is a
specific. 1t does one certain thing
for me. 1t gives me the ability,
latter a long hard grind. to put
something over. The world is full
lof sstayers, but there are only q
Jew good finishers."
Roosevelt took his boxing
seriously. No man Of his
vitality and rugged constitution
could help hunting, riding and
exploring. but he took his box
Ing as he would take advice
nom q lawyer or . physician.
f L isn't creating . new pro-
lesion, / might say he. hired >
boxing counselor when he
signed up Mike Donovan.
One of my friends from Washing
ton whom met in Florida was
telling me not long ago the story
EOf the ex-President's boxing.
Teddy had no more than stepped
Into the White House, he said,
Ethan he suffered the same flood
tDf office seekers and log-rollers
that all Presidents have to put up
with. It was pretty hard to get a
minute with him. So there was
lgreat CONSERVATION one morning
when through the crowd cooling
ltheir heels while awaiting coveted
appointments. strobe Mike DOnO-
ivan, boxing instructor Of the New
York Athletic Club. Mike said af-
lterward that he was as surprised
lat being sent for as the office
seekers were to see him walk in
ahead of everybody else. And the
presidents Secretary said that
r LuGEG WAS a nasty uSDdEIuEC OAA LtAC
part of several callers who appar-
entity were accustomed to being
bounced out OF high places.
AT any rate, the interview lasted
=. long time and when Mike came
out he was followed by the Presi-
dent. shaking his hand all the way
TO the door, From then on Mike
was the only man in the United
States who could hit the Chief Elk
ecutfve on the nose and get away
with, It. Imagine that Tor priv
legei'
Mike, Of course. knew what
was expected of him and never
went easy with Teddy for a
moment, my friend continued.
In fact. Roosevelt took him to
task I'm one Of his earlier les
sons for pulling his punches.
IT was then, too, that Teddy
told Mike how he regarded box
ing.
+sSee here. Donovan" he said. ac-
t.ording to the teller of the tale.
l''are you trying to let me down easy!
/ am boxing to make myself alert
and what's the use of being alert Il
there is nothing to be on the LOOK
out for?'' .
I'm not letting you down easy
said Mike, you're a better boxer
than you think you are and IL I'm
not hitting you it's because you are
nsing that guard as toli you to
use it.
Roosevelt was never great boxer,
but he got out of it just what
there is in boxing, an on-the-toes~
Keeling that no other form of sport
quite gives. However, he was
never satisfied to be on the de-
fensive. He was a BIZ. handicapped
Rpv poor eyesight in watching for
openings, but Donovan often testi-
fled that he had n wallop in both
hands which frequently got to him.