Acclaimed impersonator of President Theodore Roosevelt, Joe Wiegand, performed for a crowd of about 200 Monday night in the McKimmon Center, offering words of wisdom and advice from the perspective of the 26th president of the United States.

Wiegand, who was invited to speak to the NC State community in celebration of the College of Natural Resource’s 85th anniversary, is known nationwide for his reprisal of President Roosevelt. Wiegand has performed in the White House and in front of assembles across the nation, mastering the performance of Roosevelt’s life before, during and after his presidency. 

Throughout his presentation, Wiegand offered the audience words of encouragement in the spirit of Roosevelt himself. 

“[Roosevelt] was a man of good deeds. But it should be recognized that no good deed goes without punishment,” Wiegand said. “When you are criticized, remember it’s not the critic who counts, nor the man who points out how the strong man stumbles; the credit belongs to the man or the woman who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat. There is no effort without error or shortcomings.” 

Rebecca Lee of Raleigh said she took a lot away from Monday evening’s event, especially Wiegand’s comments about the importance of conserving natural resources and protecting the environment.

“He spoke so truly of how we should approach the conservation problems of today. Not only did he encourage us to think optimistically of the future, but he did so in such a unique way,” Lee said.

Wiegand relayed wisdoms to the audience that were initially encouraged by Roosevelt himself. 

“Life will knock you down. But your duty to yourself, and to your families, is to get back up again, dust yourself off, get back into the fight for life,” Wiegand said.

Roosevelt became the 26th U.S. president after President William McKinley was assassinated in 1901. Roosevelt is remembered for his foreign policy, corporate reforms and dedication to ecological preservation. 

In 1908, President Roosevelt declared the Grand Canyon a national monument. 

“[Roosevelt] told the people of the Arizona territory to do nothing to the Grand Canyon. [Roosevelt] understood that the ages had been working upon it and that humans could do nothing to improve it,” Wiegand said. “Could you imagine what a great crime it would be today if the Grand Canyon was a copper-mine; if at night the rim of that great canyon was surrounded by the lights of hotels and casinos?”

 Wiegand left the audience with a challenge.

“I encourage each and every one of you to do your fair share; take this wonderful legacy of conservation, for which so many fought so hard, and pass it on to future generations in better shape than you found it,” Wiegand said. “The work being done here at North Carolina State University, especially by the College of Natural Resources, shows that you all put service above self, and that is what good deeds are all about.”

Audience members gave Wiegand a standing ovation at the end of his performance.

“His act was so convincing, all the way down to his laugh, the language he used, and how he spoke,” Lee said. “I even found myself getting emotional when he described some of the harder times Teddy Roosevelt went through. I really felt like I was listening to President Roosevelt speak.”