The Teddy Bear is named after the 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt – affectionately known Roosevelt’s close friend and political ally William Taft succeeded him in the world’s highest office – indeed, Taft’s presidential win had much to do with Roosevelt’s unwavering support of him. The friendship fell apart 3 years later – one of It was a pointy-faced, beady-eyed rodent. And it was an epic fail. Doris Kearns Goodwin, in her magisterial The Bully Pulpit