photo #8906921

Sunday, January 5, 1919. Roosevelt was enjoying a quiet evening at Sagamore Hill with his wife, Edith, when Dr. Faller arrived around 8:00 PM to check on the former President since his return home from the hospital Christmas Day. Faller explained about the visit, “I wanted to know his condition, but I could not get him to tell me anything about his case. He talked about almost everything except himself and his condition of health. His months of illness had not made much in his appearance. He was ruddy, and, to outward appearances, nearly as sturdy as ever. I left him on my first visit in the evening apparently improving rapidly and feeling first-rate.” Faller left and three hours later Roosevelt was bothered by labored breathing. Edith called Faller back to the residence. He found Roosevelt looking the same, but his patient described not being able to catch his breath and that his heart felt like it was going to stop. At any rate, Roosevelt retired for the evening. At 2:00 AM, Edith checked on him and saw he was sleeping comfortably. Two hours later, his personal servant, James Amos, checked on him. As Amos was leaving the room, Roosevelt told him, “Please, put out the light, James.” A few minutes later, Amos checked on him again. Roosevelt was having difficulty breathing. Amos tore out of the room and summoned the house nurse. She rushed to Roosevelt’s bedside, but her aide and skill were of no use. He was dead. Time of death was placed between 4-4:15 AM, Monday, January 6. CoD: pulmonary embolism.