The Honorable Howard J. Phillips

“It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.”“Citizenship in a Republic,” Speech at the Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910

Following the 10th Anniversary of the Christian Boy’s and Mens’ Titanic Society and our annual memorial dinner in honor of men who died because they put “women and children first,” I took my sons Honor, Justice and Joshua to enjoy a meal at the Old Ebbit Grill, a favorite breakfast spot of two former third party candidiates for President of the United States — Teddy Roosevelt and Howard Phillips.

Though unsuccessful in their third party candidacies (Bull Moose and Constitution Party), both men modelled the maxim quoted above, and in so doing, have inspired others to courageous leadership.

Teddy could not join us, being previously engaged with a permanent appointment in eternity, but my father Howard Phillips and mother Peggy (2005 Eagle Forum Homemaker of the Year) were there to sponsor the event and treat me to a traditional bowl of New England Clam Chowder and Eggs Benedict. Dad reminded us that nearly a century ago as crowds gathered outside the Old Ebbit Grill to watch Teddy enjoy a meal, Roosevelt would declare: “Let the people watch the President eat his breakfast.”

Breakfast discussion included our standard fare of history, law, theology, family geneology and Washington D.C. trivia, all dished out with copius amounts of laughter.

The Old Ebbitt Grill was founded in 1856 as an inn and restaurant. Its guest list reads like a Who’s Who of American History. President McKinley is said to have lived there during his tenure in Congress. Presidents Grant, Andrew Johnson, Cleveland, Theodore Roosevelt and Harding were regular patrons of the establishment. For many years. the tables in the Ebbitt were graced by a blue card that read: “Many other famous statesmen, naval and military heroes, too numerous to mention here, have been guests of the house.” Of particular interest to me is the decor of the Old Ebbit which includes wooden bears from the home Alexander Hamilton and numerous exotic taxidermy displays including my favorite, this walrus, a gift from T.R. himself.

God willing, the next time Dad and I will be together will be at the Generations Conference sponsored by the Highlands Study Center. Also speaking will be the father and son team of Dr. R.C. Sproul, Sr. and Jr. Our joint mission is to address the Fifth Commandment and its application to family and society. Those who will not be able to attend the Generations conference are strongly encouraged to come to our History of the World Mega-Conference on July 11-15th. Dad’s topics at the History of the World conference include an overview of the 20th Century, and a two-part message on the character, constitutional committment, and leadership style of each of the presidents of the United States.

Left to Right: Samuel, Honor, Howard, Johua, Justice, Peggy and Doug