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Vice President Theodore ("Teddy") Roosevelt was only 42 years old when President William McKinley was assassinated in 1901.  Teddy Roosevelt thereby became the youngest President in American history, a record that continues to this day (the minimum age required by the Constitution is 35 years old for the president).  Athletically fit and vigorous, he brought an exciting level of aggression in leading America.  He was a "progressive" but also an imperialist, pushing for a a strong foreign policy.  As President Andrew Jackson had done over 70 years earlier, Teddy Roosevelt expanded the power of the presidency with a view that he should take whatever action he thought promoted the public good, as long as it was not expressly prohibited by law or the Constitution.  "I did not usurp power," Teddy Roosevelt declared, "but I did greatly broaden the use of executive power."<ref>http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/tr26.html</ref>

Vice President Theodore ("Teddy") Roosevelt was only 42 years old when President William McKinley was assassinated in 1901.  Teddy Roosevelt thereby became the youngest President in American history, a record that continues to this day (the minimum age required by the Constitution is 35 years old for the president).  Athletically fit and vigorous, he brought an exciting level of aggression in leading America.  He was a "progressive" but also an imperialist, pushing for a a strong foreign policy.  As President Andrew Jackson had done over 70 years earlier, Teddy Roosevelt expanded the power of the presidency with a view that he should take whatever action he thought promoted the public good, as long as it was not expressly prohibited by law or the Constitution.  "I did not usurp power," Teddy Roosevelt declared, "but I did greatly broaden the use of executive power."<ref>http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/tr26.html</ref>

Roosevelt became famous as a "trust buster" for requiring the dissolution of a huge railroad conglomerate in the Northwest.  The Roosevelt Administration took the case of ''Northern Securities Co. v. U.S.'' to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled in 1904 that the Sherman (Antitrust) Act required breaking up the railroad trust.  This decision had the effect of "resurrecting" or reviving the Sherman (Antitrust) Act, and Roosevelt used it to break up other monopolies.  His popularity soared as a result; newspapers and the common man loathed the big corporations, and considered Teddy Roosevelt to be a hero in defeating large companies.

Roosevelt became famous as a "trust buster" for requiring the dissolution of a huge railroad conglomerate in the Northwest.  The Roosevelt Administration took the case of ''Northern Securities Co. v. U.S.'' to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled in 1904 that the Sherman (Antitrust) Act required breaking up the railroad trust.  This decision had the effect of "resurrecting" or reviving the Sherman Act, and Roosevelt used it to break up other monopolies.  His popularity soared as a result; newspapers and the common man loathed the big corporations, and considered Teddy Roosevelt to be a hero in defeating large companies.

The breaking up of monopolies was part of Roosevelt's approach that he called the "Square Deal." This name resulted from his negotiation of settlements between striking workers and big corporations, which reportedly gave a "square deal" to both sides in the agreement.  He campaigned in 1904 by taking credit for treating the owners and workers equally in resolving a nasty coal miner's strike in 1902, giving them both a "square deal."

The breaking up of monopolies was part of Roosevelt's approach that he called the "Square Deal." This name resulted from his negotiation of settlements between striking workers and big corporations, which reportedly gave a "square deal" to both sides in the agreement.  He campaigned in 1904 by taking credit for treating the owners and workers equally in resolving a nasty coal miner's strike in 1902, giving them both a "square deal."

Roosevelt was neither a liberal nor a conservative, and after serving as president he even left the Republican Party to start a new political party based on his own personality.  He had his own "maverick" style similar to that of the 2008 presidential candidate John McCain.   

Roosevelt was neither a liberal nor a conservative, and after serving as president he even left the Republican Party to start a new political party based on his own personality.  He had his own "maverick" style similar to that of the 2008 presidential candidate John McCain.   

Roosevelt approved many new regulations and assistance programs.  He signed the Newlands Reclamation Act of 1902, which gave federal assistance to irrigate Western land for farmers and ranchers.  He signed into law the Hepburn Act of 1906, which strengthened federal regulation of railroads by increasing the power of the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC).  Later, in 1910, the Mann-Elkins Act empowered the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) to suspend any increases in rates by railroads in shipping goods.  The Act also extended the ICC's authority to include communications.  The political support for this increased regulation was so broad that it passed by the huge margin of 50-12 in the U.S. Senate.  (Note that there were not yet 100 Senators in the U.S. Senate then, because many states had not yet joined the United States).

Roosevelt approved many new regulations and assistance programs.  He signed the Newlands Reclamation Act of 1902, which gave federal assistance to irrigate Western land for farmers and ranchers.  He signed into law the Hepburn Act of 1906, which strengthened federal regulation of railroads by increasing the power of the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC).  Later, in 1910, the Mann-Elkins Act empowered the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) to suspend any increases in rates by railroads in shipping goods.  The Act also extended the ICC's authority to include the regulation of communications companies, such as telephone companies.  The political support for this increased regulation was so broad that it passed by the huge margin of 50-12 in the U.S. Senate.  (Notice that there were not yet 100 Senators in the U.S. Senate then, because many states had not yet joined the United States).

In 1906 an influential book entitled "[[The Jungle]]" was published.  Author Upton Sinclair exposed the filthy conditions of Chicago slaughterhouses.  This resulted in swift passage in 1906 of both the Meat Inspection Act, which established federal regulation and inspection of slaughterhouses, and the Pure Food and Drug Act, which established federal regulation and inspection of food and medications (drugs).

In 1906 an influential book entitled "[[The Jungle]]" was published.  Author Upton Sinclair exposed the filthy conditions of Chicago slaughterhouses.  This resulted in swift passage in 1906 of both the Meat Inspection Act, which established federal regulation and inspection of slaughterhouses, and the Pure Food and Drug Act, which established federal regulation and inspection of food and medications (drugs).

=== Immigration ===

=== Immigration ===

Note that even the Progressives, including Roosevelt, opposed immigration.  Roosevelt was particularly concerned about preserving the English language in America:

Notice that even the Progressives, including Roosevelt, opposed immigration.  Roosevelt was particularly concerned about preserving the English language in America:

:There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag. ... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language ... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.

:There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag. ... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language ... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.

The progressives pushed for broader suffrage (voting rights) in the early 1900s.  Susan B. Anthony, a leading "suffragette" who devoted her life to advocating a universal right for women to vote, died in 1906 but left a growing movement for this goal.  Modern feminists rarely cite her as a hero because she also opposed abortion and supported Prohibition (the universal banning of alcohol).

The progressives pushed for broader suffrage (voting rights) in the early 1900s.  Susan B. Anthony, a leading "suffragette" who devoted her life to advocating a universal right for women to vote, died in 1906 but left a growing movement for this goal.  Modern feminists rarely cite her as a hero because she also opposed abortion and supported Prohibition (the universal banning of alcohol).

== 1909 to 1914 ==

== 1909 to 1914 ==

President Woodrow Wilson served out his two terms from 1913 through 1921, but was very sickly towards the end.  Perhaps due to overwork in his unsuccessful attempt to persuade the American public to support the League of Nations, which included a strenuous speaking tour, Wilson collapsed after one of his speeches on this topic in Pueblo, Colorado in the fall of 1919.  A week later, on Oct. 2, 1919, Wilson suffered a severe stroke that left him paralyzed and blind in one eye.  He never fully recovered, and his incapacity was hidden from the public and not even his Vice President, his cabinet officials or congressmen were allowed to see him.  The Constitution provided no means for substituting for an incapacitated president (later the 25th Amendment was passed to authorize a passing of power to the Vice President even if the President is still alive).  Wilson's second wife (his first wife had died) essentially acted on behalf of the president for the more than a year, for the remainder of his term of office.

President Woodrow Wilson served out his two terms from 1913 through 1921, but was very sickly towards the end.  Perhaps due to overwork in his unsuccessful attempt to persuade the American public to support the League of Nations, which included a strenuous speaking tour, Wilson collapsed after one of his speeches on this topic in Pueblo, Colorado in the fall of 1919.  A week later, on Oct. 2, 1919, Wilson suffered a severe stroke that left him paralyzed and blind in one eye.  He never fully recovered, and his incapacity was hidden from the public and not even his Vice President, his cabinet officials or congressmen were allowed to see him.  The Constitution provided no means for substituting for an incapacitated president (later the 25th Amendment was passed to authorize a passing of power to the Vice President even if the President is still alive).  Wilson's second wife (his first wife had died) essentially acted on behalf of the president for the more than a year, for the remainder of his term of office.

The election of 1920 brought new faces to the White House, and a "dark horse" candidate won for the Republicans this time:  Warren G. Harding.

The election of 1920 brought new faces to the White House, and a "dark horse" candidate won for the Republicans this time:  Warren G. Harding.  There will be more about his presidency in the next lecture.

== References ==

== References ==