Concert goers share reactions including presidential descendant Tweed Roosevelt

Published 11:54 am Monday, October 7, 2024

A concert honoring President Jimmy Carter’s 100th birthday was held in the Plains high school October 1. Concert goer Lynn Hunnicutt, from Panama City Beach Florida, told why she was inspired to come. “I’ve been a friend and follower of Jimmy Carter forever, and one of my favorite people, David Osbourne, was playing tonight too.” She also spoke of her love of the people from Plains, and described the experience. “It had such a broad array of different [kinds] of music, and things that I know that Jimmy Carter loves.” Carter was able to listen remotely, and Hunnicutt stated she believed the concert made a good impression. “I know he loves all kinds of music, and I know he’s always loved that piano, with David Osbourne playing, so that was a real treat for me to, and for I’m sure Jimmy Carter.”

Mason St. Clair, from Niles Ohio, was also in attendance for the concert. “Jimmy Carter, he’s been my favorite President for as long as I can remember. I met him in 2017 down here in Plains, so I just wanted to make the trip back to pay tribute and enjoy the City.”

He shared his reaction to the concert. “It was fabulous. Wonderful performers, and great musical tributes to our President.”

St. Clair told of his favorite part of the concert. “When Sandi Patty was singing What a Wonderful World.”

Tweed Roosevelt, was also in attendance. Tweed’s great grandfather is Theodore Roosevelt, though he notes that; “I didn’t have anything to do with that.”

When asked if he heard many stories of his great-grandfather growing up, he replied; “That’s what people think. They think that presidential descendants, they spend all their time talking about their presidents.” He stated the reality was a little more mundane. “We talked like every other family, we talked about whether aunt Mabel is ever going to get married, or, you know, whatever any families talk about.”

Tweed Roosevelt did recall his great-grandmother, Theodore Roosevelt’s wife, who he described as a formidable lady. “She died when I think I was seven or eight, and I remember her as being terrifying. In those days, they said about children, they are to be seen and not heard.”

He did state he enjoyed visits. “She lived at Sagamore Hill, which is TR’s house. . . his spirit was throughout it, but it was a wonderful place for a little boy, because here are all these stuffed animals, and there [were] things given by the emperor of Japan, swords, it was just everything you could play with, so it was the perfect place for a little boy.”

Tweed Roosevelt told how he and a few others started the society for Presidential Descendants.
He mentioned seeing a few other presidential descendants at an event, which prompted him to ask if an organization existed. Lacking one, he told how they decided to take initiative. “So we decided to create one, we created the Society of Presidential Descendants, and now it’s growing and growing.” He mentioned the organization has an interest in supporting civic education.

When asked what he thought of the concert, Tweed Roosevelt replied; “Really excellent, I very much enjoyed it.”

He talked about the range of talent, stating that the different genres of music were well represented.