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'''Theodore Roosevelt''' was the 26th [[President of the United States of America]], 1901-1909, leader of the Republican party, and (in 1912-16) the Progressive Party.  Roosevelt is best known for his remarkable personality and commitment to democratic process. He was strongly committed to law and order, active leadership, civic duty, and individual self-responsibility, and was more concerned with the process of change than its direction.   

'''Theodore Roosevelt''' was the 26th [[President of the United States of America]], 1901-1909, leader of the [[Republican party]], and (in 1912-16) the Progressive Party.  Roosevelt is best known for his remarkable personality and commitment to democratic process. He was strongly committed to law and order, active leadership, civic duty, and individual self-responsibility, and was more concerned with the process of change than its direction.   

A strong and vigorous man both personally and in politics, it was through Roosevelt that the world identified America with cowboy values of courage, initiative, and hardiness while it watched TR expand American influence in world affairs.   

A strong and vigorous man both personally and in politics, it was through Roosevelt that the world identified America with cowboy values of courage, initiative, and hardiness while it watched TR expand American influence in world affairs.   

==Family==

==Family==

The Roosevelts could trace their family to Claes Martenssen van Rosenvelt, an immigrant from Zeeland, Holland ([[Netherlands]]) who came to America in 1649, settleing in New Amsterdam ([[New York City]]).  Theodore was born was born on October 27, 1858, the second child of a very successful New York businessman, Theodore Roosevelt, Sr., and his wife Martha Bulloch, a Southern belle from Georgia. His early childhood was marked by frequent illness and asthma, of which his father spent many an evening bundling up "Teedie" - as young Theodore was often called - and taking him out for carriage rides in the fresh air.  By age 10 his father would have enough of the possibility of his son growing into an unhealthy weakling, and forced on him a regimen of weights and daily physical excercise.

The Roosevelts could trace their family to Claes Martenssen van Rosenvelt, an immigrant from Zeeland, Holland ([[Netherlands]]) who came to America in 1649, settleing in New Amsterdam ([[New York City]]).  Theodore was born on October 27, 1858, the second child of a very successful New York businessman, Theodore Roosevelt, Sr., and his wife Martha Bulloch, a Southern belle from Georgia. His early childhood was marked by frequent illness and asthma, of which his father spent many an evening bundling up "Teedie" - as young Theodore was often called - and taking him out for carriage rides in the fresh air.  By age 10 his father would have enough of the possibility of his son growing into an unhealthy weakling, and forced on him a regimen of weights and daily physical excercise.

===Education===

===Education===

TR was home schooled by tutors and his parents. He was solid in geography (thanks to his careful observations on all his travels) and very well read in history, strong in biology, French and German, but deficient in mathematics, Latin and Greek. He became one of the outstanding naturalists of the era, specializing in very careful study of birds.<ref> Brands (2001) p. 49–50</ref> He attended Harvard College, graduating in 1880 "magna cum laude".  He lived very well--his annual $4000 allowance was higher than the president of the college--the days of equalitarian houses were decades in the future. His father's sudden death in 1878 was a stunning blow; Roosevelt redoubled his efforts.<ref> His inheritance was worth $8000 a year, about triple what the average doctor or lawyer earned.</ref> In academics he did well in science, philosophy and rhetoric courses, as well as German;  but fared poorly in Latin and Greek.  Harvard did not have majors, but he took all the advanced biology he could. Classmates considered him an odd bird--he kept snakes in his room and knew all about them. He also dressed in the latest fashions  and kept his own horse and buggy. A crack shot, he brought his friends along on hunting parties to the north woods. The perfect gentleman, he was invited into the best clubs.

TR was home schooled by tutors and his parents. He was solid in geography (thanks to his careful observations on all his travels) and very well read in history, strong in biology, French and German, but deficient in mathematics, Latin and Greek. He became one of the outstanding naturalists of the era, specializing in very careful study of birds.<ref> Brands (2001) p. 49–50</ref> He attended [[Harvard]] College, graduating in 1880 "magna cum laude".  He lived very well--his annual $4000 allowance was higher than the president of the college--the days of equalitarian houses were decades in the future. His father's sudden death in 1878 was a stunning blow; Roosevelt redoubled his efforts.<ref> His inheritance was worth $8000 a year, about triple what the average doctor or lawyer earned.</ref> In academics he did well in science, philosophy and rhetoric courses, as well as German;  but fared poorly in Latin and Greek.  Harvard did not have majors, but he took all the advanced biology he could. Classmates considered him an odd bird--he kept snakes in his room and knew all about them. He also dressed in the latest fashions  and kept his own horse and buggy. A crack shot, he brought his friends along on hunting parties to the north woods. The perfect gentleman, he was invited into the best clubs.

Roosevelt had amazing powers of concentration. He had a photographic memory and developed a life-long habit of devouring books, memorizing every detail. He was an unusually eloquent conversationalist who, throughout his life, sought out the company of the smartest men and women. He could multitask in extraordinary fashion, dictating letters to one secretary and memoranda to another, while browsing through a new book. During his adulthood, a visitor would get a not-so-subtle hint that Roosevelt was losing interest in the conversation when he would pick up a book and begin looking at it now and then as the conversation continued.

Roosevelt had amazing powers of concentration. He had a photographic memory and developed a life-long habit of devouring books, memorizing every detail. He was an unusually eloquent conversationalist who, throughout his life, sought out the company of the smartest men and women. He could multitask in extraordinary fashion, dictating letters to one secretary and memoranda to another, while browsing through a new book. During his adulthood, a visitor would get a not-so-subtle hint that Roosevelt was losing interest in the conversation when he would pick up a book and begin looking at it now and then as the conversation continued.

Given a chance to run for the state legislature in a "silk stocking" (rich) district in Manhattan, he astonished his upscale friends by  dropping out of Columbia Law School, and was elected. His goal, he explained, was to join the "ruling class" not merely watch it passively.

Given a chance to run for the state legislature in a "silk stocking" (rich) district in Manhattan, he astonished his upscale friends by  dropping out of Columbia Law School, and was elected. His goal, he explained, was to join the "ruling class" not merely watch it passively.

Young Roosevelt was a Republican reformer in the legislature, writing more bills than anyone. Already a major player in state politics, he attended the Republican National Convention in 1884 and fought alongside the [[Mugwump]] reformers; they lost to the Stalwart faction that nominated [[James G. Blaine]]. Refusing to join other Mugwumps in supporting Democrat [[Grover Cleveland]], the Democratic nominee, he stayed loyal to the GOP.<ref>Edward Kohn, "Crossing the Rubicon: Theodore Roosevelt, Henry Cabot Lodge, and the 1884 Republican National Convention." ''Journal of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era'' 2006 5(1): 18-45. Issn: 1537-7814 </ref>   

Young Roosevelt was a Republican reformer in the legislature, writing more bills than anyone. Already a major player in state politics, he attended the Republican National Convention in 1884 and fought alongside the [[Mugwump]] reformers; they lost to the Stalwart faction that nominated [[James G. Blaine]]. Refusing to join other Mugwumps in supporting Democrat [[Grover Cleveland]], the Democratic nominee, he stayed loyal to the GOP.<ref>Edward Kohn, "Crossing the Rubicon: Theodore Roosevelt, Henry Cabot Lodge, and the 1884 Republican National Convention." ''Journal of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era'' 2006 5(1): 18-45. Issn: 1537-7814 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              1537-7814      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              1537-7814      end_of_the_skype_highlighting </ref>   

    

    

TR held many offices. He was on the federal Civil Service Commission, then headed the New York City Police Department. After campaigning vigorously for [[William McKinley]] in the momentous 1896 presidential election, he became Assistant Secretary of the Navy, the #2 position. TR loved ships and had written solid naval history; his goal was to modernize the Navy, bringing it up to world class standards.

TR held many offices. He was on the federal Civil Service Commission, then headed the New York City Police Department. After campaigning vigorously for [[William McKinley]] in the momentous 1896 presidential election, he became Assistant Secretary of the Navy, the #2 position. TR loved ships and had written solid naval history; his goal was to modernize the Navy, bringing it up to world class standards.

==Governor of New York==

==Governor of New York==

A few weeks after his return Roosevelt was elected governor of New York as a Republican in 1898. As governor of New York, Theodore Roosevelt promoted greater accountability and efficiency in government by ending patronage handouts, supporting an effective civil service system, and forcing the Republican machine to hold fair elections.

A few weeks after his return Roosevelt was elected governor of New York as a Republican in 1898. As governor of New York, Theodore Roosevelt promoted greater accountability and efficiency in government by ending patronage handouts, supporting an effective civil service system, and forcing the Republican machine to hold fair elections.

==Vice President, 1900==

==Vice President, 1900==

Senator Tom Platt and other party bosses distrusted him, and they forced his nomination as vice president on [[William McKinley]] in 1900. Roosevelt demonstrated his amazing energy by his campaign work. Nationally TR covered 21,209 miles by train. In Nebraska alone, some 300,000 men, women and children turned out for his 673 speeches at 40 cities and towns as he covered 1,500 miles in the state. His arguments for McKinley prosperity and America's role in the Philippines were accepted wholeheartedly or dismissed scornfully by his audiences. The GOP ticket carried Nebraska, the home state of Democratic nominee [[William Jennings Bryan]],  by 7,000 votes.

Senator Tom Platt and other party bosses distrusted him, and they forced his nomination as vice president on [[William McKinley]] in 1900. Roosevelt demonstrated his amazing energy by his campaign work. Nationally TR covered 21,209 miles by train. In Nebraska alone, some 300,000 men, women and children turned out for his 673 speeches at 40 cities and towns as he covered 1,500 miles in the state. His arguments for McKinley prosperity and America's role in the Philippines were accepted wholeheartedly or dismissed scornfully by his audiences. The GOP ticket carried Nebraska, the home state of Democratic nominee [[William Jennings Bryan]],  by 7,000 votes.

===Domestic policy===

===Domestic policy===

Roosevelt was the chief leader of the [[Progressive Era|Progressive movement in politics]]--which in 21st century terms includes both liberal and consrervative values.  He tried to move the dominant Republican Party into the Progressive camp.  He distrusted wealthy businessmen and dissolved 40 monopolistic corporations as a "trust buster."  He did not disagree with trusts and capitalism in principle but was only against their corrupt, illegal practices. His "[[Square Deal]]" promised a fair shake for both the average citizen, including regulation of railroad rates and pure foods and drugs, and the businessmen. As an outdoorsman, he promoted the conservation movement, emphasizing efficient use of natural resources.   

Roosevelt was the chief leader of the [[Progressive Era|Progressive movement in politics]]--which in 21st century terms includes both liberal and conservative values.  He tried to move the dominant Republican Party into the Progressive camp.  He distrusted wealthy businessmen and dissolved 40 monopolistic corporations as a "trust buster."  He did not disagree with trusts and capitalism in principle but was only against their corrupt, illegal practices. His "[[Square Deal]]" promised a fair shake for both the average citizen, including regulation of railroad rates and pure foods and drugs, and the businessmen. As an outdoorsman, he promoted the conservation movement, emphasizing efficient use of natural resources.   

In his last two years in office (1907-1908), Roosevelt moved left, attacking big business and suggesting the courts were biased against labor unions.  

In his last two years in office (1907-1908), Roosevelt moved left, attacking big business and suggesting the courts were biased against labor unions.