Bill Text: NY K00422 | 2021-2022 | General Assembly | Introduced

New York Assembly Resolution 422 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)

Status: (Passed) 2021-06-08 - adopted [K00422 Detail]

Download: New_York-2021-K00422-Introduced.html


Assembly Resolution No. 422

BY: M. of A. Peoples-Stokes

        COMMEMORATING the 50th Anniversary of the Theodore
        Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site

  WHEREAS,  It  is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize the
historic, economic,  and  cultural  value  of  this  organization  which
substantially   contributes  to  the  vitality  and  well-being  of  its
communities and the entire Empire State; and

  WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and  in  full  accord  with  its
long-standing  traditions,  this  Legislative  Body  is  justly proud to
commemorate the 50th Anniversary of  the  Theodore  Roosevelt  Inaugural
National Historic Site; this milestone year-long anniversary celebration
will  begin  on  September  14,  2021,  50  years  from the day when the
historic house museum first opened its doors to the public; and

  WHEREAS, Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of  the  United  States,
was  one  of  the  country's most consequential leaders and the youngest
person to ever hold the office; and

  WHEREAS, Theodore Roosevelt devoted his life of  public  service  to
his  native  New  York  State, serving three terms in the New York State
Assembly (1881-1883), Police Commissioner of New York City  (1895-1897),
and Governor (1898-1900); and

  WHEREAS,  In addition to his renowned Presidency, Theodore Roosevelt
served his country as Civil Service Commissioner (1889-1895),  Assistant
Secretary  of  the  Navy (1897-1898), leader of the First U.S. Volunteer
Cavalry (Rough Riders-1898), and Vice-President (1901); and

  WHEREAS, This astonishingly complex,  multi-faceted  individual  was
not only a committed, tireless public servant who transformed the nation
into  a  world  power  and  the presidency into a force with which to be
reckoned, but also a devoted family  man,  a  conservationist,  a  civil
rights  activist,  an  advocate for social justice, a naturalist, and an
historian; and

  WHEREAS, The principal purpose of the Theodore  Roosevelt  Inaugural
National  Historic  Site  is  to  preserve  and  protect the location of
Theodore Roosevelt's 1901 presidential inauguration for this and  future
generations,   and  to  interpret  the  significance  and  relevance  of
Roosevelt's presidency and his enduring  legacy  for  more  than  30,000
people annually through on-site visitation and virtual outreach; and

  WHEREAS,  The  Theodore  Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site,
located at 641 Delaware Avenue in the City of Buffalo and the County  of
Erie,  is  both  a  local  and national landmark, listed on the National
Register of Historic Places; it is one of only four  places  in  America
where  the presidential oath of office has been administered outside the
nation's  capital,  and  Western  New  York's  only  unit  of  the  U.S.
Department of the Interior's 423-unit National Park Service; and

  WHEREAS,  The  Theodore  Roosevelt  Inaugural National Historic Site
stands as a reminder to all of a hallmark  of  our  American  democratic

process:    the  peaceful  transfer  of political power during a time of
national crisis; and

  WHEREAS,  Following  a  period  of  uncertainty  in  the early 1960s
regarding  the  former  Wilcox  Mansion's  future   and   a   subsequent
community-wide  drive  to  save  and  restore the building, the Theodore
Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site is widely viewed  as  one  of
the   earliest  local  examples  in  the  modern  historic  preservation
movement; and

  WHEREAS,  The  Theodore  Roosevelt  Inaugural  Site  Foundation,   a
corporation  organized  and  existing under and by virtue of the laws of
the State of New York and chartered by the State's Education Department,
has successfully  managed  the  Theodore  Roosevelt  Inaugural  National
Historic  Site  since  its  designation  as  a National Historic Site by
Congress in 1966, and is responsible for all aspects of site  management
today,  including  finance,  personnel,  maintenance, interpretation and
planning; and

  WHEREAS,  The  successful  operation  of  the   Theodore   Roosevelt
Inaugural  National  Historic  Site  is  possible  because of the strong
relationship and strategic public/private partnership forged between the
Foundation and the NPS, bringing together NPS  expertise,  guidance  and
support  as  well  as the local knowledge, dedication and resources from
the Foundation to provide the  public  with  a  professionally  managed,
unique, and engaging National Historic Site; and

  WHEREAS,  Since  the  opening  of  the  Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural
National Historic Site's Visitor Center in 2009, it has re-imagined  the
visitor  experience, incorporating multi-media and interactive exhibits,
bringing the site's tour to life,  more  than  doubling  its  number  of
visitors,  and is now a heritage tourism destination which helps to fuel
the region's economic development; and

  WHEREAS, Those visitors, from across  the  region  and  country  and
throughout  the  world, are now immersed in the Pan-American Exposition,
the assassination of President William McKinley, and  the  circumstances
surrounding  Roosevelt's  inauguration, as well as an exploration of the
complex issues with which the new president grappled and  which  are  no
less  relevant  to  citizens  of  today  than  they  were 120 years ago,
including: immigration and urban poverty, race  and  social  inequities,
environmental conservation, free enterprise and organized labor, and the
U.S. role in global affairs; and

  WHEREAS, The steady growth the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National
Historic  Site  has experienced since its transformation is a tribute to
the vigilant stewardship of the  Foundation's  board  of  trustees;  the
unwavering  commitment  of  the  site's  corps  of  volunteers;  and the
extraordinary generosity of the public and private sectors  in  Buffalo,
Erie County, and Western New York; Albany; and Washington, D.C.; and

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the  custom  of  this  Legislative  Body that when
institutions of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought  to  our
attention,  they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens
of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
commemorate  the  50th  Anniversary  of the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural
National Historic Site; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site.