Summary of The River of Doubt

In 1913, after a humiliating loss for presidency, Theodore Roosevelt set out to South America to visit his son Kermit. This expedition would be known as the Roosevelt-Rondon scientific Expedition. Rondon was an explorer who promised a safe trip down the uncharted and unexplored River of Doubt. Little did they know they would face disease, poisonous animals, murders, and Indian attacks. From the beginning, the journey was going horribly. Many of the men were dying of starvation and malaria including Roosevelt. He always carried a lethal dose of morphine, and he planned to use it so he wouldn’t be such a detriment to the men on the voyage. If it wasn’t for Kermit, Theodore would have taken his life. The river had many rapids, and poisonous insects that bit many of the men. All the men aboard were severely ill and famished. One man already died, and Rondon lost a paddle in the rapids. The hopes of surviving were very low. Then, the men and their canoes reached a series of 6 waterfalls. Rondon, being very talented with ropes, lowered down the canoes from the falls. It was successful and all but three of the men made it out alive. The Roosevelt’s went home and Kermit married Bella Willard and had four kids until he took his life in 1943. Theodore also died that year. Now, The River of Doubt is now named Rio Roosevelt in their honor.