Yankees icon George Herman “Babe” Ruth passed away on August 16, 1948, marking 75 years since his untimely death at the age of 53. Ruth’s remarkable career included impressive records of 714 home runs and 60 home runs in a single season, as well as leading his teams to seven World Series championships. However, the lesser-known aspect of Ruth’s life includes his interactions with several American presidents spanning from Woodrow Wilson to Harry Truman.
In 1915, President Wilson became the first president to attend a World Series, where Ruth’s Red Sox competed against the Phillies. Ruth fondly remembered Wilson as a dear friend. When Warren G. Harding sought Ruth’s endorsement in the 1920 presidential election, Ruth declined, as he identified as a Democrat. Eventually, Harding won the election and attended the inaugural game at Yankee Stadium in 1923, where Ruth hit a home run. Ruth maintained his exceptional record of 714 home runs and 60 home runs in a single season throughout his career.
When Harding passed away that summer, Ruth sent a heartfelt condolence note to the president’s widow. One of Ruth’s most legendary stories involves a bold comment he made to a president on a sweltering day, saying, “Hot as hell, ain’t it, Prez?” However, it remains unclear whether Ruth directed this comment at Harding or his successor, Calvin Coolidge. Nevertheless, Ruth’s audacious remark raises intriguing questions about how athletes should conduct themselves around elected officials.
In 1928, Republican presidential candidate Herbert Hoover sought a photo with Ruth, who initially declined due to his support for Democrat Al Smith. Four years earlier, Ruth had endorsed Smith at the request of Franklin Delano Roosevelt during Smith’s unsuccessful campaign for the nomination. Ruth later reconsidered his rejection of Hoover and posed for pictures with both Smith and Hoover, emphasizing the importance of athletes engaging with individuals from different political affiliations. Ruth further stunned Hoover with a cutting comment about earning more money than the president, highlighting Hoover’s perceived inefficiency during the Great Depression.
A few weeks prior to the 1932 election, Franklin Delano Roosevelt threw the first pitch in the famous Yankees-Cubs World Series game, during which Ruth hit his legendary “called shot” home run off Charlie Root. Although Cubs fans booed Ruth, Roosevelt cheered him on with enthusiastic remarks. Ruth subsequently visited the White House during Roosevelt’s presidency, where FDR warmly embraced him and reminisced about an incident in 1920 when Ruth’s presence distracted an audience Roosevelt was addressing.
Harry Truman, who served as the last president during Ruth’s lifetime, received a note from Ruth in July 1948 inviting him to the premiere of “The Babe Ruth Story.” Truman declined the invitation, and Ruth passed away the following month. Nevertheless, Ruth’s interactions with presidents did not end there. During the same year, Ruth met George H. W. Bush, then the captain of the Yale baseball team, and took a picture together. In 2018, Donald Trump posthumously awarded Ruth the Presidential Medal of Freedom, remarking on the long-overdue recognition of Ruth’s contributions.
Ruth’s legacy extends beyond his on-field achievements, as he displayed a spirited willingness to interact with presidents despite his political beliefs. In a time characterized by intense partisanship, his example of engaging with leaders from both sides of the aisle serves as a welcome reminder of the importance of unity. Tevi Troy, a distinguished fellow and director of the Presidential Leadership Initiative at the Bipartisan Policy Center, has authored several books on the presidency, including his latest work, “Fight House: Rivalries in the White House from Truman to Trump.”
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