Edward F. O’Keefe spoke about Teddy Roosevelt at a special public event held Monday, July 8 at the Lake Region Heritage Center in Devils Lake. The book signing event featured O’Keefe’s book, The Loves of Theodore Roosevelt, The Women who created a President, © 2024 published by Simon & Schuster.
O’Keefe was born and raised in Grand Forks, ND, and spent two decades in broadcasting. He was the winner of numerous awards, including the Edward R. Murrow Award, a Primetime Emmy for his work with the late television personality, Anthony Bourdain, and a Peabody Award for ABC News coverage of 9/11. A graduate of Georgetown University and former fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School O’Keefe now lives in New York with his wife, daughter and son.
He is the CEO of The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, presently under construction in the North Dakota Badlands, which is targeted to be completed by July 4, 2026. It is located in North Dakota because Teddy Roosevelt often said if he’d never come to North Dakota, he’d never have been president. His love for North Dakota and the way of life he encountered here served him throughout his life, he even said he believed being a rancher in the Badlands of North Dakota saved his life.
O’Keefe gave a brief presentation prior to the book signing event, talking about the 26th U.S. President and the women who influenced him throughout his life. The writer of the book’s cover notes states, “A dazzling and lyrical book at the making of one of America’s most remarkable presidents, The Loves of Theodore Roosevelt celebrates five extraordinary yet unsung women who opened the door to the American Century and pushed Theodore Roosevelt through it.”
