The following is a passage from Chapter IX of Theodore Roosevelt: An Autobiography (first published in 1913). It's worth noting that Roosevelt explicitly links the phrase to Squire Bill Widener. I had been brought up with the idea that one should never put oneself forward, and I felt very much humiliated when Mr Widener invited me to deliver an address on "The Strenuous Life". But when he called for suggestions as to who might fill the position, I saw my opportunity and made up my mind to take it. I knew that I was right and that others would agree with me, so I wrote down "Theodore Roosevelt" and sent in my name. I heard nothing more about it until the end of the year, when Mr Widener called me into his office and said that President Taft had approved my appointment and that I was to go ahead at once. He added that since I was to be given such a important task, it was necessary that I understand that speaking before large assemblies was not my forte, and that I ought to hire a private secretary to help me out with the work. Now, this was all very flattering, but like most other things that are said or done by Mr Widener, it had no practical effect except to bring upon me the abuse of the students.