# Interesting choice of background **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** arts-crafts\ **Created:** [February 19, 2022, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-choice-of-background/959769 "2022-02-19T03:05:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-choice-of-background/959769/1 "2022-02-19T03:05:32Z")
Is that a painting of Robert E Lee on the wall? 🤨 [![](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/live-experience/cps/624/cpsprodpb/vivo/live/images/2022/2/18/b80ccf65-0f2d-4de9-b5ba-73b99730b645.jpg) ](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/live-experience/cps/624/cpsprodpb/vivo/live/images/2022/2/18/b80ccf65-0f2d-4de9-b5ba-73b99730b645.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-choice-of-background/959769/2 "2022-02-19T03:14:27Z")
That’s a painting of Theodore Roosevelt, created by Tade Styka in 1909. It is part of the White House Collection and usually hangs in the Roosevelt Room (which is where this picture was taken). > **[Theodore Roosevelt Portrait](https://app.cuseum.com/art/tade-styka-theodore-roosevelt)** > > Tadé Styka’s circa 1909 portrait of Theodore Roosevelt depicts the former president on horseback wearing the uniform ... by Tade Styka located in White House Historical Association So no, it’s not Robert E Lee. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-choice-of-background/959769/3 "2022-02-19T03:15:01Z")
Teddy Roosevelt. [![](https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/5017/Main%20Index/Portraits/1033.t56cc716a.m1600.tif.pv.xvIK7qVaUwvCdJcZp.jpg) ](https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/5017/Main%20Index/Portraits/1033.t56cc716a.m1600.tif.pv.xvIK7qVaUwvCdJcZp.jpg) Damn. I can’t even outrun an engineer. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-choice-of-background/959769/4 "2022-02-19T03:23:12Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > Roosevelt Room I mean…try to find a picture or painting of Teddy Roosevelt without one hand on his hip. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-choice-of-background/959769/5 "2022-02-19T03:31:15Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > I mean…try to find a picture or painting of Teddy Roosevelt without one hand on his hip. - OK. [![](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/roosevelt.jpeg) ](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/roosevelt.jpeg) [https://263i3m2dw9nnf6zqv39ktpr1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Teddy-Roosevelt-1200x645-1200x0-c-default.jpeg](https://263i3m2dw9nnf6zqv39ktpr1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Teddy-Roosevelt-1200x645-1200x0-c-default.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-choice-of-background/959769/6 "2022-02-19T03:33:42Z")
Easiest to tell it wasn’t Lee by the horse. Lee was usually portrayed with horse “Traveller” who was light grey with a dark mane. > **[Traveller. There was nobility there; a character beyond just fine proportions](https://www.bluffton.com/general-robert-e-lee-celebrated-war-horse-traveller-lowcountry-connection/)** > > Traveller. There was nobility there; a character beyond just fine proportions and a lustrous coat, beyond regal carriage and a fancy step, beyond even the ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-choice-of-background/959769/7 "2022-02-19T03:40:19Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > OK. OK. You got me. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-choice-of-background/959769/8 "2022-02-19T03:42:54Z")
Same painting Frank Underwood had in his office ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-choice-of-background/959769/9 "2022-02-19T03:44:58Z")
Spooky! I was watching Veep [Selena has just given her first spech as President] and read this and looked up and she is in what must be the Roosevelt Room with that painting or a reasonable facsimile in the background. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-choice-of-background/959769/10 "2022-02-19T03:54:10Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Easiest to tell it wasn’t Lee by the horse. Lee was usually portrayed with horse “Traveller” who was light grey with a dark mane. For me, it was that the scene was set on the prairies. Lee never made it that far west. ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-choice-of-background/959769/11 "2022-02-19T04:27:00Z")
Man we almost had him. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-choice-of-background/959769/12 "2022-02-19T04:54:43Z")
I look just like that, except I don’t ride horses. Motorcycles are my thing. And my hair is longer, but with no mustache. And I’m taller and would be going the other way. But that’s Totally Me! ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-choice-of-background/959769/13 "2022-02-19T13:15:00Z")
Should we call you Tedopescado instead now? ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-choice-of-background/959769/14 "2022-02-19T13:22:24Z")
Sheer terror on that horse’s face. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-choice-of-background/959769/15 "2022-02-19T13:35:48Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Teddy Roosevelt. > [https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/5017/Main%20Index/Portraits/1033.t56cc716a.m1600.tif.pv.xvIK7qVaUwvCdJcZp.jpg](https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/5017/Main%20Index/Portraits/1033.t56cc716a.m1600.tif.pv.xvIK7qVaUwvCdJcZp.jpg) > > Damn. I can’t even outrun an engineer. > 😉 Okay, I can see now he’s wearing khaki brown instead of Confederate grey. Did Roosevelt also have a favorite horse? ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-choice-of-background/959769/16 "2022-02-19T18:55:08Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Damn. I can’t even outrun an engineer. I wouldn’t feel bad— those are some wicked fast looking treads engineer\_comp\_geek is sporting 😏 ---
**Author:** ![Bayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bayaker/32/3454_2.png) [@Bayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-choice-of-background/959769/17 "2022-02-19T19:27:56Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > For me, it was that the scene was set on the prairies. Lee never made it that far west. Lee was on the Great Plains while stationed at Camp Cooper, Texas for a couple of years in the 1850s. He had also served in the Mexican War under Winfield Scott on the march from Veracruz to Mexico City - about as far west, but different topography. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2022, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-choice-of-background/959769/18 "2022-02-21T17:08:37Z")
[An interesting site](https://www.whitehousehistory.org/galleries/the-white-house-collection) I found if you want to learn more (as I did). ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2022, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-choice-of-background/959769/19 "2022-02-21T18:01:51Z")
The horse in the painting is Little Texas. > **[Little Texas (1894-1903) - Find a Grave Memorial](https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18241/little_texas)** > > War Horse Spanish American War. Theodore Roosevelt was associated with horses from the time of his birth, during his military career, his many visits to wilderness areas and even at his death when New York City mounted police escorted his casket... Roosevelt’s favorite horse was Bleinstein. ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2022, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-choice-of-background/959769/20 "2022-02-21T19:02:55Z")
Third picture down without hand on hip. Best to have both hands on the reins when you’re jumping split rails. > **[TR Center - Rediscovering TR the Horseman](https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/Blog/Item/Rediscovering%20TR%20the%20Horseman)** > > Think of the stereotypical horse-crazy girl—that was, and still is, me. I first met Roosevelt through a shared love of horses. During my internship, I rediscovered TR the horseman. However, this time it was Roosevelt, the conscientious horseman who... Actually, you can’t even see his right hand in that picture. Maybe he’s doing it one-handed. Teddy was quite a man.