Teddy Bear vs. Billy Possum: The fight for the early 1900 toy market — Mistakes Were Made

In 1902, U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt went on a bear hunting trip in Mississippi with Governor Andrew H. Longino. During the trip, everybody but Roosevelt had killed an animal. A group of men on the tour, cornered, clubbed and tied an American black bear to a willow tree. The man called for Roosevelt to shoot and kill the bear, Roosevelt refused, saying it would be unsportsmanlike, but that they should kill the bear to put it out of its misery. The incident turned into a political cartoon. Initially, the cartoon had an adult black bear, but later issues made the bear smaller and cuter.

Morris Michtom saw the political cartoon and was inspired to create the “Teddy Bear.” Teddy was Roosevelt’s nickname. Michtom created the bear, and sent one to Roosevelt to gain permission for using his name, which Roosevelt granted. The bear became an immediate success. The bears even inspired a song called “The Teddy Bears Picnic.”

Roosevelt’s term as President was ending and toy makers feared the Teddy Bear wouldn’t sell as well, with Roosevelt no longer being President. The toy makers sought a new stuffed animal based on the new incoming President, William Taft.

In 1909, at a banquet in his honor, President-elect Taft ate an 18 pound roasted Possum. The…