Banc Commeratif Erige a la Memoir de Jean Jule Jusserand Ambassadeur de France
strengthen French-American Friendship.
His American friends erected this bench in his memory near his death in Paris in 1932.
The bench marks the place where the Ambassador and President Theodore Roosevelt, who had a great friendship with him, rested during their walk in Rock Creek Park. Created by Joseph Friedhandler, this bench was dedicated on November 7, 1936 by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt with his dedication:
Temoignage Personnel D'Estime et D'Affection
Personal Tribute of Esteem and Affection
"A diplomat, a scholar and a friend of America."
—Jusserand Memorial Committee, 1937
Diplomacy—Jusserand served as French Ambassador to the United States under five presidential administrations and throughout the First World War.
Scholarship—Jusserand's writings earned him recognition at home and abroad. He won the first Pulitzer Prize in History for
With America is of Past and Present Days, a book recounting the key contributions of many Frenchmen to the history of the United States, including Pierre Charles l'Enfant, designer of the city of Washington.
Friendship—A leader in Franco American relations, Jusserand received the "Grand Croix," of the French Legion of Honor, the highest French distinction. His efforts to promote friendship betweenthe two countries led him to create the American Society of the Legion of Honor that recognizes Americans who make significant contributions to France.
Soon after his arrival in Washington, Jusserand earned the confidence of President Theodore Roosevelt and became a member of his unofficial "tennis cabinet." Roosevelt and Jusserand shared a love for the outdoors and spent many long hours hiking in Rock Creek Park, in his memoir,
What Me Befell, Jusserand describes their outings:
"President Roosevelt gave me that unique proof of trust and friendship: he asked me fo a walk ... What the President called a walk was a run: no stop, no breathing time, no slacking of speed, but a continuous race careless of mud thorns and the rest... The Rock Creek walk usually ended atthe cliff overhanging the river, near the Zoo."
"Almost we can say—that he was a great American as well as a great Frenchman. We shall link Mr. Jusserand's name forever with the names of Lafayette and Rochambeau and Da Grasse and the other valiant Frenchmen whose services in this country entitle them for all time to the greatful remembrance of all Americans."
—Franklin Delano Roosevelt at the Jusserand Memorial dedication, 1936.
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