Early Life and Overcoming Adversity
Theodore Roosevelt was born into a wealthy New York family in 1858. As a sickly child plagued by severe asthma, young Theodore was told by his father, "You have the mind but not the body, and without the help of the body the mind cannot go as far as it should. You must make your body." Roosevelt took this advice to heart, embarking on a lifelong program of vigorous physical activity that transformed him from a frail youth into a robust outdoorsman.
Roosevelt graduated from Harvard College in 1880 and briefly attended Columbia Law School before entering politics. Personal tragedy struck in 1884 when his mother and his first wife, Alice Lee Roosevelt, died on the same day. Devastated, Roosevelt retreated to the Dakota Territory, where he worked as a rancher and deputy sheriff. This period in the West shaped his conservation philosophy and reinforced his belief in the "strenuous life."
Political Rise and the Rough Riders
Returning to New York, Roosevelt served on the U.S. Civil Service Commission, as New York City Police Commissioner, and as Assistant Secretary of the Navy. When the Spanish-American War began in 1898, Roosevelt resigned his position to organize the First U.S. Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, known as the "Rough Riders." His leadership during the charge up San Juan Hill in Cuba made him a national hero and household name.
Roosevelt's fame propelled him to the governorship of New York in 1898. His progressive reforms and independence from party bosses concerned Republican leaders, who maneuvered to "kick him upstairs" to the vice presidency in 1900. When McKinley was assassinated in September 1901, the 42-year-old Roosevelt became the youngest president in American history.
The Square Deal and Progressive Reform
Roosevelt's domestic program, which he called the "Square Deal," aimed to balance the interests of business, labor, and consumers. He believed the federal government should act as an honest broker ensuring fairness for all Americans. This philosophy marked a significant expansion of federal power and laid the groundwork for the Progressive Era.
Roosevelt's approach to business regulation represented a middle path between laissez-faire capitalism and socialism. He distinguished between "good trusts" that served the public interest and "bad trusts" that exploited it. He vigorously enforced the Sherman Antitrust Act, filing 44 antitrust suits and earning the nickname "Trust Buster." His administration's successful prosecution of the Northern Securities Company in 1904 demonstrated that the government could effectively regulate big business.
Labor Relations and the Coal Strike
In 1902, approximately 140,000 coal miners struck for higher wages and recognition of their union. As winter approached and coal supplies dwindled, Roosevelt took unprecedented action. Rather than automatically siding with management as previous presidents had done, he threatened to seize the mines and use federal troops to operate them unless the owners negotiated. This forced the mine owners to accept arbitration, and the miners won a 10% wage increase. Roosevelt's intervention marked a turning point in government-labor relations and demonstrated his willingness to use federal power to protect public interest.
Conservation Legacy
No president before or since has matched Roosevelt's commitment to conservation. Drawing on his love of nature and concern about resource depletion, he used executive power to protect approximately 230 million acres of public land. He established 5 national parks, 18 national monuments (including the Grand Canyon), 51 federal bird sanctuaries, and 150 national forests. He created the U.S. Forest Service under Gifford Pinchot and championed scientific management of natural resources.
Roosevelt's conservation philosophy balanced preservation with sustainable use. He believed natural resources should be protected for future generations while being wisely utilized for economic benefit. This pragmatic approach sometimes put him at odds with pure preservationists like John Muir, but it created a lasting framework for American conservation policy.
The Panama Canal
Roosevelt considered the Panama Canal his greatest achievement. When Colombia refused to ratify a treaty allowing canal construction, Roosevelt supported a Panamanian independence movement. When Panama declared independence in November 1903, American warships prevented Colombian forces from suppressing the rebellion. The new Panamanian government immediately granted the United States rights to build and control the canal.
Construction of the canal represented one of history's greatest engineering achievements. Roosevelt personally visited the construction site in 1906, becoming the first sitting president to travel outside the United States. The canal opened in 1914, fulfilling Roosevelt's vision of American power connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. However, his methods in acquiring the canal zone—which he later summarized as "I took the Canal Zone"—remained controversial and damaged U.S.-Latin American relations.
Foreign Policy and the Big Stick
Roosevelt's foreign policy philosophy, summarized by the West African proverb "speak softly and carry a big stick," emphasized American strength and willingness to use it. He expanded the Monroe Doctrine through the Roosevelt Corollary, asserting that the United States had the right to intervene in Latin American nations to maintain stability and prevent European intervention. This policy justified American interventions in the Caribbean and Central America for decades.
Despite his reputation for militarism, Roosevelt successfully mediated several international disputes. He negotiated the Treaty of Portsmouth ending the Russo-Japanese War in 1905, earning the Nobel Peace Prize—the first American to receive that honor. He also helped resolve the First Moroccan Crisis, demonstrating American influence in European affairs.
The 1904 Election and Second Term
Roosevelt won election in his own right in 1904, defeating Democrat Alton B. Parker in a landslide. On election night, he declared he would not seek another term, a pledge he later regretted. His second term saw continued progressive reforms, including the Hepburn Act strengthening railroad regulation and the Pure Food and Drug Act and Meat Inspection Act responding to revelations about food industry conditions.
Post-Presidency and 1912 Campaign
Roosevelt chose William Howard Taft as his successor and helped secure his election in 1908. Initially supportive, Roosevelt became increasingly frustrated with Taft's conservative policies during an African safari and European tour. When he returned in 1910, he embraced more radical progressive positions, advocating for recall of judicial decisions, women's suffrage, and stronger business regulation.
In 1912, Roosevelt challenged Taft for the Republican nomination. When party leaders supported Taft, Roosevelt formed the Progressive Party (nicknamed the "Bull Moose Party"). During the campaign, Roosevelt was shot in the chest by a would-be assassin but insisted on delivering his scheduled speech before seeking medical attention. The split in Republican votes allowed Democrat Woodrow Wilson to win the presidency.
Roosevelt's final years were marked by tragedy and continued advocacy. His son Quentin was killed in World War I in 1918, devastating the former president. Roosevelt himself died in his sleep on January 6, 1919, at age 60. Vice President Thomas Marshall said, "Death had to take him sleeping, for if Roosevelt had been awake, there would have been a fight."
