Joe Wiegand
Encyclopedia
Joe Wiegand is a repriser
who has portrayed 26th US President
, Theodore Roosevelt
in all 50 US States, and a consultant to candidates seeking public office. During the last months of the George W. Bush
presidency, Wiegand was invited to come to the White House
on October 27, 2008 as part of the official White House celebration of the 150th anniversary of Roosevelt's birth and portray TR in the East Room. Wiegand, a historian, writer and lecturer on the life and times of Theodore Roosevelt is also a member and contributor to Theodore Roosevelt Association
, founded in 1919.
area, the youngest of three brothers, to Jim and Joan Wiegand.http://www.joewiegand.com/jenjoebio.html Wiegand bio site In 1980, the Wiegand family moved to Hollywood, California, where a younger brother and sister were born to the family. Always active in politics and national causes, in 1981, Joe's parents launched “Walkin’ Proud, Talkin’ Loud for America” a twenty-two state, one hundred and sixty-city cross-country tour of America. The family tour started in Los Angeles
, California on July 4 and arrived at the White House
on September 17, Citizenship Day. The tour had sought to emphasize the duties of citizenship and the importance of patriotism
. Joe served as the family's advance man and press secretary
for this project.
In 1982, Wiegand was elected the president of American Legion Boys Nation
, and Joe went to the Washington, DC to meet Vice President George H. W. Bush
, Congressman
Phil Crane
and the Leadership Institute
’s Morton Blackwell
. Wiegand attended The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee
, on a Harry S Truman Scholarship. During Wiegand's junior year, he met Jenny Cook. In 1985, Wiegand was named by Time Magazine
as one of America’s Top 100 College students. Wiegand finished his college work, winning a Thomas J. Watson
, Jr. Fellowship. In 1987, Joe and Jenny married at Old St. Paul’s Church in Baltimore
. For his Watson Fellowship, Joe travelled to Costa Rica
and South Africa
to interview members of their respective national legislatures. After completing her teaching assignment, Jenny joined Joe as he completed legislative interviews in Italy
, the Philippines
and South Korea
. After nearly a year overseas, they moved to DeKalb
, Illinois, where Joe enrolled in the political science graduate school at Northern Illinois University
's Center for Governmental Studies
. After his first year of graduate school, Joe was awarded a Michael Curry
Public Affairs
Internship with the Illinois Department of Public Aid and its Project Chance welfare-to-work program.
Youth Campaign School, Wiegand joined the head of the British Youth for Thatcher campaign, and trained as a youth campaign organizers. He was then employed by Congressman Phil Crane
’s suburban Chicago re-election campaigns, completing a TONYA public affairs internship with Congressman Crane in Washington, D.C., serving as a legislative assistant
on foreign affairs issues. In 1989, Joe joined the Republican
Illinois Senate
Campaign and the DeKalb County
-based candidacy of Nancy Beasley, a Republican candidate from Sycamore, Illinois. At the end of the campaign and two years of graduate school, Joe left college to pursue opportunities in the private sector. In 1990, Wiegand started Precision Polling, a professional public opinion polling firm, with business partner, Phil Kaim. After polling for state senate candidate Chris Lauzen
(R. – Aurora), Joe was offered the opportunity (his first) to manage a political campaign. Wiegand and Lauzen, a CPA
with an MBA from Harvard
, joined forces to beat Democrat
, Pate Philip’s hand-chosen candidate, Bob Schillerstrom
, and two other candidates in a four-way primary election
in 1992. After Lauzen’s election, Wiegand returned to private sector sales, launching successful new products in new markets for a DeKalb manufacturer.
. He carried 33% of the vote losing to former State Representative, Ron Wait (R.- Belvidere), whom he subsequently endorsed. By 1996, Wiegand was elected to the DeKalb County
Board of Supervisors. The same year, he was hired by Washington, D.C.-based Citizens for a Sound Economy
to manage their new Illinois chapter promoting lower taxes and smaller government. On May 31, 1998, the Wiegands' daughter Samantha was born. In 1999, Wiegand sponsored a successful County tax cap referendum and led successful efforts to defeat sales tax increases. That same year, Wiegand announced he would not seek re-election to the county board, opting instead to assist CSE and others in state Supreme Court elections. In 2000, Wiegand joined Jack Roeser
’s Family Taxpayers Network, a statewide grassroots organization, as executive director. At FTN, Wiegand led statewide efforts to recruit and train candidates and volunteers. In 2002, Wiegand was re-elected to the DeKalb County Board, where he continued his efforts to lower taxes. In 2003, Wiegand announced his candidacy for the 70th District State House, encompassing eastern Ogle, northern LaSalle and central and southern DeKalb Counties. In a surprise to the electorate, the incumbent died. After suspending his campaign, Wiegand re-engaged the primary against the appointed replacement to whom he lost the primary 55% to 45% but endorsed the winner, Bob Pritchard (R. – Hinckley). In April, [2005], Wiegand left FTN to accept the position of campaign manager for the gubernatorial candidacy of Republican businessman Jim Oberweis. In 2007, Wiegand began re-enacting 26th US President, Theodore Roosevelt.
. In 2007, for example, Wiegand attended the symposium on Roosevelt given at Harvard University
that included a trip to the Portsmouth Naval Base and the "Treaty Room" where the peace between Russia
and Japan
was negotiated in 1904.
before an audience including President and Mrs. George W. Bush. and a large audience. Wiegand was described in Northern Illinois University's description of the performance as having "an amazing physical resemblance to a young and vigorous Theodore Roosevelt." After the performance, President Bush noted, "Oftentimes people ask me, 'Do you ever see any of the ghosts of your predecessors here in the White House?' I said, 'No, I quit drinking.' But I just saw one". In a note to Wiegand, President Bush wrote, "Thank you. Your spirited performance for Theodore Roosevelt's 150th birthday celebration at the White House was a great way to commemorate the many accomplishments of our 26th President. I appreciate your help in making the event memorable for all our guests."
Impersonator
An impersonator is someone who imitates or copies the behavior or actions of another. There are many reasons for someone to be an impersonator, some common ones being as follows:...
who has portrayed 26th US President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
, Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
in all 50 US States, and a consultant to candidates seeking public office. During the last months of the George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
presidency, Wiegand was invited to come to the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
on October 27, 2008 as part of the official White House celebration of the 150th anniversary of Roosevelt's birth and portray TR in the East Room. Wiegand, a historian, writer and lecturer on the life and times of Theodore Roosevelt is also a member and contributor to Theodore Roosevelt Association
Theodore Roosevelt Association
The Theodore Roosevelt Association is a historical and cultural organization dedicated to honoring the life and work of Theodore Roosevelt , the 26th president of the United States....
, founded in 1919.
Childhood, family and education
Joe Wiegand was born in 1965 in the ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
area, the youngest of three brothers, to Jim and Joan Wiegand.http://www.joewiegand.com/jenjoebio.html Wiegand bio site In 1980, the Wiegand family moved to Hollywood, California, where a younger brother and sister were born to the family. Always active in politics and national causes, in 1981, Joe's parents launched “Walkin’ Proud, Talkin’ Loud for America” a twenty-two state, one hundred and sixty-city cross-country tour of America. The family tour started in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California on July 4 and arrived at the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
on September 17, Citizenship Day. The tour had sought to emphasize the duties of citizenship and the importance of patriotism
Patriotism
Patriotism is a devotion to one's country, excluding differences caused by the dependencies of the term's meaning upon context, geography and philosophy...
. Joe served as the family's advance man and press secretary
Press secretary
A press secretary or press officer is a senior advisor who provides advice on how to deal with the news media and, using news management techniques, helps their employer to maintain a positive public image and avoid negative media coverage....
for this project.
In 1982, Wiegand was elected the president of American Legion Boys Nation
Boys Nation
Boys Nation is an annual civic training event run by the American Legion.Each year, two delegates in the summer after their junior year of high school are selected from each of the forty-nine American Legion Boys State programs in the U.S....
, and Joe went to the Washington, DC to meet Vice President George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
, Congressman
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
Phil Crane
Phil Crane
Philip Miller "Phil" Crane is a former American politician. He was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1969 to 2005, representing the 8th District of Illinois in the northwestern suburbs of Chicago...
and the Leadership Institute
Leadership Institute
The Leadership Institute is a 501 non-profit organization located in Arlington, Virginia that teaches "political technology.".The Institute was founded in 1979 by conservative activist Morton C. Blackwell...
’s Morton Blackwell
Morton Blackwell
Morton C. Blackwell is an American Republican Party activist. He is president and founder of the Leadership Institute , a 5013 non-profit educational foundation that teaches political technology....
. Wiegand attended The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee
Sewanee, Tennessee
Sewanee is an unincorporated locality in Franklin County, Tennessee, United States, treated by the U.S. Census as a census-designated place . The population was 2,361 at the 2000 census...
, on a Harry S Truman Scholarship. During Wiegand's junior year, he met Jenny Cook. In 1985, Wiegand was named by Time Magazine
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
as one of America’s Top 100 College students. Wiegand finished his college work, winning a Thomas J. Watson
Thomas J. Watson
Thomas John Watson, Sr. was president of International Business Machines , who oversaw that company's growth into an international force from 1914 to 1956...
, Jr. Fellowship. In 1987, Joe and Jenny married at Old St. Paul’s Church in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
. For his Watson Fellowship, Joe travelled to Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
and South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
to interview members of their respective national legislatures. After completing her teaching assignment, Jenny joined Joe as he completed legislative interviews in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
and South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. After nearly a year overseas, they moved to DeKalb
DeKalb, Illinois
DeKalb is a city in DeKalb County, Illinois, United States. The population was 43,862 at the 2010 census, up from 39,018 at the 2000 census. The city is named after decorated German war hero Johann De Kalb, who died during the American Revolutionary War....
, Illinois, where Joe enrolled in the political science graduate school at Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University is a state university and research institution located in DeKalb, Illinois, with satellite centers in Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Rockford, and Oregon. It was originally founded as Northern Illinois State Normal School on May 22, 1895 by Illinois Governor John P...
's Center for Governmental Studies
Center for Governmental Studies
The Center for Governmental Studies is a non-profit, nonpartisan organization founded in 1983. It creates innovative political and media solutions to help individuals participate in their communities and governments, and empowers citizens to become more engaged in their communities, state and...
. After his first year of graduate school, Joe was awarded a Michael Curry
Michael Curry
Michael Edward Curry is the associate head coach of the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers. He previously served as head coach of the Detroit Pistons...
Public Affairs
Public affairs
Public affairs may refer to:* Public administration* Public affairs * Public affairs * PublicAffairs, a USA publishing company* Public Affairs , a Czech political party...
Internship with the Illinois Department of Public Aid and its Project Chance welfare-to-work program.
Early career
Returning to Washington for a Leadership InstituteLeadership Institute
The Leadership Institute is a 501 non-profit organization located in Arlington, Virginia that teaches "political technology.".The Institute was founded in 1979 by conservative activist Morton C. Blackwell...
Youth Campaign School, Wiegand joined the head of the British Youth for Thatcher campaign, and trained as a youth campaign organizers. He was then employed by Congressman Phil Crane
Phil Crane
Philip Miller "Phil" Crane is a former American politician. He was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1969 to 2005, representing the 8th District of Illinois in the northwestern suburbs of Chicago...
’s suburban Chicago re-election campaigns, completing a TONYA public affairs internship with Congressman Crane in Washington, D.C., serving as a legislative assistant
Legislative assistant
A legislative assistant is a legislative staffer who works for a legislator by monitoring pending legislation, conducting research, drafting legislation, giving advice and counsel, and making recommendations....
on foreign affairs issues. In 1989, Joe joined the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Illinois Senate
Illinois Senate
The Illinois Senate is the upper chamber of the Illinois General Assembly, the legislative branch of the government of the state of Illinois in the United States. The body was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818. The Illinois Senate is made up of 59 senators elected from...
Campaign and the DeKalb County
DeKalb County, Illinois
DeKalb County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 105,160, which is an increase of 18.2% from 88,969 in 2000. Its county seat is Sycamore. DeKalb County is part of the Chicago metropolitan statistical area.-History:DeKalb County...
-based candidacy of Nancy Beasley, a Republican candidate from Sycamore, Illinois. At the end of the campaign and two years of graduate school, Joe left college to pursue opportunities in the private sector. In 1990, Wiegand started Precision Polling, a professional public opinion polling firm, with business partner, Phil Kaim. After polling for state senate candidate Chris Lauzen
Chris Lauzen
Christopher J. Lauzen is a Republican member of the Illinois State Senate. Lauzen was first elected in 1992, has been re-elected to the State Senate in 1996, 2000, 2002, 2006, and 2010, and ran for Illinois Comptroller in 1998 and Congress in 2008...
(R. – Aurora), Joe was offered the opportunity (his first) to manage a political campaign. Wiegand and Lauzen, a CPA
Certified Public Accountant
Certified Public Accountant is the statutory title of qualified accountants in the United States who have passed the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination and have met additional state education and experience requirements for certification as a CPA...
with an MBA from Harvard
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, joined forces to beat Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, Pate Philip’s hand-chosen candidate, Bob Schillerstrom
Bob Schillerstrom
Robert Schillerstrom is an American politician and the current DuPage County, Illinois Board Chairman. He currently resides in Naperville, Illinois, and has been a resident of DuPage County for over 40 years.-The early years:...
, and two other candidates in a four-way primary election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
in 1992. After Lauzen’s election, Wiegand returned to private sector sales, launching successful new products in new markets for a DeKalb manufacturer.
Mid career
In 1994, Wiegand ran in the primary for the Republican nomination in the 68th State House District covering northern DeKalb, eastern Winnebago and all of Boone Counties. The candidate won endorsement of the Chicago TribuneChicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
. He carried 33% of the vote losing to former State Representative, Ron Wait (R.- Belvidere), whom he subsequently endorsed. By 1996, Wiegand was elected to the DeKalb County
DeKalb County, Illinois
DeKalb County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 105,160, which is an increase of 18.2% from 88,969 in 2000. Its county seat is Sycamore. DeKalb County is part of the Chicago metropolitan statistical area.-History:DeKalb County...
Board of Supervisors. The same year, he was hired by Washington, D.C.-based Citizens for a Sound Economy
Citizens for a Sound Economy
Citizens for a Sound Economy was a conservative political group operating in the United States, whose self-described mission was "to fight for less government, lower taxes, and less regulation." In 2004, Citizens for a Sound Economy split into two new organizations, with Citizens for a Sound...
to manage their new Illinois chapter promoting lower taxes and smaller government. On May 31, 1998, the Wiegands' daughter Samantha was born. In 1999, Wiegand sponsored a successful County tax cap referendum and led successful efforts to defeat sales tax increases. That same year, Wiegand announced he would not seek re-election to the county board, opting instead to assist CSE and others in state Supreme Court elections. In 2000, Wiegand joined Jack Roeser
Jack Roeser
Jack Roeser is an engineer, inventor, entrepreneur, businessman and more recently a civic leader and candidate for elected office....
’s Family Taxpayers Network, a statewide grassroots organization, as executive director. At FTN, Wiegand led statewide efforts to recruit and train candidates and volunteers. In 2002, Wiegand was re-elected to the DeKalb County Board, where he continued his efforts to lower taxes. In 2003, Wiegand announced his candidacy for the 70th District State House, encompassing eastern Ogle, northern LaSalle and central and southern DeKalb Counties. In a surprise to the electorate, the incumbent died. After suspending his campaign, Wiegand re-engaged the primary against the appointed replacement to whom he lost the primary 55% to 45% but endorsed the winner, Bob Pritchard (R. – Hinckley). In April, [2005], Wiegand left FTN to accept the position of campaign manager for the gubernatorial candidacy of Republican businessman Jim Oberweis. In 2007, Wiegand began re-enacting 26th US President, Theodore Roosevelt.
Theodore Roosevelt Association participation and support
Wiegand is a regular attendant of almost all symposia, special events and annual meetings organized by the Theodore Roosevelt AssociationTheodore Roosevelt Association
The Theodore Roosevelt Association is a historical and cultural organization dedicated to honoring the life and work of Theodore Roosevelt , the 26th president of the United States....
. In 2007, for example, Wiegand attended the symposium on Roosevelt given at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
that included a trip to the Portsmouth Naval Base and the "Treaty Room" where the peace between Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
was negotiated in 1904.
The Great 2008 T.R. Tour
In 2008, Wiegand's started what he termed "The Great 2008 T.R. Tour" that was designed to visit the lower forty-eight states and which was to conclude with a celebration of T.R.'s 150th birthday on October 27 in Washington, DC. Wiegand extending the celebratory tour until March 4, 2009, one hundred years to the day of Theodore Roosevelt's last day as President of the United States. On October 26, Wiegand's one-man-show as Theodore Roosevelt was featured in a free, public performance at the Theodore Roosevelt birthplace, located at 28 East 20th Street, New York City, New York. That night, Wiegand flew to Washington, DC to reprise TR in the White House on the following day, TR's 150th Birthday.Reprising Theodore Roosevelt at the White House
In late 2008, Wiegand performed on the 150th anniversary of Theodore Roosevelt's birth at the White HouseWhite House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
before an audience including President and Mrs. George W. Bush. and a large audience. Wiegand was described in Northern Illinois University's description of the performance as having "an amazing physical resemblance to a young and vigorous Theodore Roosevelt." After the performance, President Bush noted, "Oftentimes people ask me, 'Do you ever see any of the ghosts of your predecessors here in the White House?' I said, 'No, I quit drinking.' But I just saw one". In a note to Wiegand, President Bush wrote, "Thank you. Your spirited performance for Theodore Roosevelt's 150th birthday celebration at the White House was a great way to commemorate the many accomplishments of our 26th President. I appreciate your help in making the event memorable for all our guests."
Touring the United States portraying Theodore Roosevelt
In 2010 and 2011, Wiegand continued to portray Roosevelt Coast-to-Coast.See also
- Theodore RooseveltTheodore RooseveltTheodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
- Theodore Roosevelt AssociationTheodore Roosevelt AssociationThe Theodore Roosevelt Association is a historical and cultural organization dedicated to honoring the life and work of Theodore Roosevelt , the 26th president of the United States....
- ImpersonatorImpersonatorAn impersonator is someone who imitates or copies the behavior or actions of another. There are many reasons for someone to be an impersonator, some common ones being as follows:...
- Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace
External links
- http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2008/10/20081027-3.wm.v.html To watch Joe Wiegand's portrayal of Theodore Roosevelt at the White House in 2008 at TR's 150th birthday celebration.
- http://www.teddyrooseveltshow.com Wiegand's website for more background information on his portrayal and activities.