Today for our Lex Bex theme, we’re digging into the origin of the Teddy Bear—and it’s wilder than you think:

🌲 The Presidential Mercy: In November 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt refused to shoot a cornered bear on a Mississippi hunting trip. A political cartoon went viral the next day.

🍬 The Candy Shop Bet: Brooklyn shop owners Morris & Rose Michtom made a plush version for their shop window, named it "Teddy’s Bear," and asked Roosevelt for permission. He agreed (even though he hated the nickname!).

🇩🇪 Simultaneous Spark: Meanwhile in Germany, seamstress Margarete Steiff invented jointed mohair bears with her trademark "Button in Ear" at the exact same time—without knowing about Michtom's bear.

🚫 The "Billy Possum" Flop: When Taft replaced Roosevelt in 1909, toy companies tried replacing the bear with a stuffed opossum. Kids hated it, and it vanished in months.

🚀 Bears in Orbit: In 1995, a teddy bear named "Magill" rode aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery into actual orbit.

📲 Swipe through the carousel above for 15 fascinating facts about your favorite childhood companion!

👇 Question of the day: Did you have a favorite childhood teddy bear? What was their name?