Theodore Roosevelt IV, known for his advocacy in climate protection and support for the U.S. National Park Service, is scheduled to speak at Montana State University this fall. The event, part of the MSU Library’s annual Trout and Salmonid Lecture Series, will take place on Tuesday, September 9, at 7 p.m. in the Hager Auditorium at the Museum of the Rockies.
Roosevelt will join MSU history professor Mark Fiege on stage to discuss his life experiences, perspectives on America’s waters and fishing climates, and the role of national parks in ecological and recreational settings. A reception will follow the conversation.
Attendance is free but limited; all seats are currently reserved. Those who have RSVP’d will be given priority seating if they arrive by 6:45 p.m., while others will be seated as space allows. An additional simulcast viewing area for 30 guests will be available at the museum. The event will also be recorded and posted later on the MSU Library’s YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/msulibrary). Inquiries can be directed to Ann Vinciguerra, events and communications manager at MSU Library.
Ahead of his visit, Roosevelt corresponded with MSU News about conservation, education’s impact on his life, and his family legacy.
Reflecting on his upbringing outside Philadelphia on a large dairy farm, Roosevelt stated: “The farm provided me with endless opportunities to observe wildlife and see nature firsthand. I enjoyed catching frogs, snakes, turtles, salamanders, crawfish and learning where birds made their nests and hatched their eggs. My parents generally tolerated my enthusiasm for the out-of-doors. Once early in the morning I caught a box turtle and proudly put it on the dining room table where my mother was having breakfast. She was a Victorian and said, ‘how nice, but we don’t dine with turtles.’ As a result of the deep and early exposure to nature it was an easy jump to appreciate the importance of conservation and protecting the environment.”
He also recounted how rural Pennsylvania introduced him to hunting: “The farm and that part of Pennsylvania… introduced me to the world of hunting… Early on I learned how much better a wild duck tastes than a fatty domestic one.” After military service in the Navy followed by work as a Foreign Service officer in Africa—now Burkina Faso—he hunted big game there before eventually hunting elk in Montana.
On what conservation means to him today he said: “Conservation for me has a moral obligation as well as a wholly practical one. Today we are stewards for our children’s children… Not preserving these public lands for future generations would be a criminal dereliction on our part.”
He emphasized practical reasons as well: “If we do not manage our national forests sensibly… we will lose essential water used for irrigation…” He warned against reduced trout fishing due to poor conservation efforts.
Roosevelt spoke about pride in his great-grandfather’s ability to mobilize public opinion for environmental causes: “The Old Lion had an extraordinary ability to communicate with the American public… His willingness to take on… lumber and mining companies…” He highlighted significant actions like using antitrust laws against monopolies during Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency.
Regarding his career choice in investment banking amid growing energy demands driven by data centers and AI technology needs (https://www.iea.org/reports/data-centres-and-ai), he explained: “Helping to finance new forms of energy fission, fusion, geothermal, wind and solar is both challenging and intellectually rewarding.”
Roosevelt recalled first visiting Montana after high school while working with the Bureau of Land Management in Wyoming before returning years later as a ranch owner near Big Snowy Mountains.
Addressing current issues facing national parks during his upcoming talk he said: “I think that global warming… is an existential challenge for the USA… It is inexcusable that the U.S. is failing its moral obligation to lead on this challenge.”
On education’s influence he shared: “Education has provided me with totally unexpected benefits… Education does not stop when you get out of college or grad school.” He noted continued reading supports both business pursuits and advisory roles with NGOs.
He recommended three books related to conservation:
– Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring”
– Bernard DeVoto’s “The Western Paradox”
– Douglas Brinkley’s “The Wilderness Warrior”
To students interested in environmental stewardship he advised: “My generation has failed our democracy by allowing the rural-urban divide… I urge MSU graduates to engage in these issues. Be involved, speak out…”
