Archibald Willingham Butt (born September 26, 1865 - died April 15, 1912) was an influential aide to Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft and was instrumental in the rescue of many people during the sinking of the RMS Titanic, during which he died.

Early Life

Major Archibald Willingham Butt (1865-1912) was born in Augusta, GA to Joshua Willingham Butt and Pamela Robertson Butt . He never married. The Butt family was prominent in Augusta and Butt led a typical youth in that city. He attended the University of the South in Tennessee, graduating in 1888 in pursuit of a career in journalism. Butt's first position was with the Louisville Courier Journal and thereafter he became a reporter in Washington, D.C. covering the Capitol for several Southern newspapers. While in Washington, he became secretary of the American Embassy in Mexico with General "Matt" Ransom .

Military Service

In 1898, the Spanish-American War broke out and Butt left Mexico to be a lieutenant in the United States Army. He served in the Philippines during the insurrection there from 1900-1906 then in Cuba until the now-Major became military aide to President Theodore Roosevelt. When William Howard Taft became President in 1908, Butt stayed on in the same capacity.

By 1912, Taft had become very unpopular and Roosevelt was known to be considering a run against him. Very close to both men and fiercely loyal, Butt was caught in the middle. As his health was deteriorating during this period, he asked Taft for a leave of absence to recuperate before the arduous Presidential campaign began.

The Titanic

The Titanic was a first of its class passenger liner, claimed to be unsinkable. On its maiden voyage, Archibald Butt took the liner home to America with his close friend Francis Millet. On the night of April 14th, around 11:40PM, The Titanic struck an iceberg. Soon afterwards, Captain Smith informed Butt that the "ship was doomed" and that "lifeboats were being readied."

Major Butt became instrumental in saving the lives of his fellow passengers. He immediately began acting as another officer of the ship, herding women and children into the lifeboats and staving off desperate men trying to crowd the small boats to escape. According to contemporary accounts, Butt remained entirely calm throughout the evacuation, keeping the other worried passengers from panic and hysteria. Butt was pronounced lost at sea and assumed dead on April 16th, 1912.

Memorial Service

On May 2, 1912 a memorial service was held in the Butt family home for the Major. In attendance were 1500 mourners and President Taft.

Some of Taft's words at the service: "If Archie could have selected a time to die he would have chosen the one God gave him. His life was spent in self-sacrifice, serving others. His forgetfulness of self had become a part of his nature. Everybody who knew him called him Archie. I couldn't prepare anything in advance to say here. I tried, but couldn't. He was too near me. He was loyal to my predecessor, Mr. Roosevelt, who selected him to be military aide, and to me he had become as a son or a brother."

Memorials

Three little-known memorials to Butt exist, two in Washington, D.C., the other in Augusta, GA.

The Millet-Butt Memorial Fountain

The Millet-Butt Memorial Fountain is a small memorial located near the White House and dedicated shortly after Butt's death.

Arlington National Cemetery Marker

The Marker is located in Section 3 of Arlington National Cemetery. It reads: "Military aide to the President (1908-12), son of Joshua Willingham and Pamela Robertson Butt. Born September 26, 1865 in Augusta, Georgia. Lost at sea on April 16, 1912, when the steamship Titanic with 1500 souls on board sank in the Atlantic ocean. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

The Butt Memorial Bridge

The Butt Memorial Bridge was erected in 1914 in Augusta, GA and dedicated by William Howard Taft. It is made of stone, featuring four pillars topped with bronze-banded globes placed over electric lights. Four lions with plaques adorn each side and end of the bridge, while lights are strung from one end of the bridge to the other. A memorial plaque is located on the center of the bridge, dedicated to Butt's memory. The bridge spans the Augusta Canal at 15th Street in the downtown area.

In 1994, the fate of the Butt Bridge (as it's affectionately known in Augusta) was in doubt. City planners wished to get $15 million from the Federal Highway Administration to reroute 15th street, creating a new thoroughfare. Plans called for the demolishing of the Butt Bridge. Locals created a popular movement to save the 80 year old bridge, producing two large-scale concerts nearby, punningly called the Butt Jam. One took place in 1994 and another in 1995. Several well-known bands of the time played the venue and the unofficial slogan, "Save Our Butt," appeared all over town.

The money generated helped stave off the destruction of the bridge for a few years until an Act of Congress saved it. This act was passed through the efforts of the Butt Memorial Bridge Legal Defense Fund , Representative Charlie Norwood and actors Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio. The Butt Memorial Bridge remains the only memorial to the Titanic located in Georgia.

Sources

Titanic-Titanic Encyclopedia Titanica Arlington Cemetary.net Augusta Chronicle