Theodore Roosevelt Vigorous Lifestyle, Amazing President
The Beginning
Boyhood
Born on October 27, 1858 in New York City, New York, T. Roosevelt grew up as a sickly boy who was often bed-ridden and doubted by some to life past this phase of illness. Little Theordore disliked the Nick-name "Teddy" and so he was called "Teedie" by his family. Theodore was homeschooled due to his asthma and illnesses, but was encouraged by his father to pursue physical activities and so he did. Teedie started to lift weights, box, and do gymnastics, all of which contributed to a rough physique and a tougher body in general. (History.com).
Young Man
Roosevelt attended college at Harvard University (his family was well-to-do) and graduated magma cum laude in 1880 after he resolved to work even harder after his father's death 2 years into college. Theodore studied multiple subjects including zoology, natural history, and composition. He then married Alice Hathaway and entered into Colombia law school but dropped out one year later to pursue public service. He was elected to the state assembly of New York at the age of 23 and served two terms. His wife and mother died on the same day in 1884, and so the future president went to live on his ranch in the badlands of Dakota for two years, hunting big game, driving cattle, and being a frontier ranger. It was here that he saw firsthand what humans could do to destroy the environment. With the advent of the transcontinental railroad, millions upon millions of buffalo and bison were slaughtered for sport or profit and the natural landscape was highly blemished. (TRA). The now Teddy Roosevelt then returned to New York and married Edith Kermit Carow, his childhood sweetheart, and the two raised 6 children together. (History.com)
Starting on the Path of Politics
Theodore Roosevelt rose quickly in the realm of public service, becoming captain of the National Guard and then the minority leader of the New York Assembly. Teddy ran for the Mayor of NYC in 1886, but failed at gaming office. He was, however, rewarded a Civil Service Commission job by Pres. Harrison and subsequently reinstated the same job under G. Cleveland. He then served as NYC Police commissioner for a time before being appointed as the Assistant US Nacey Secretary unde McKinley. He soon left this post after learning much about, and taking an interest in, The Spanish American War and soon formed the Rough Riders. (Biography.com).
Teddy Roosevelt the War Hero
Formation of the Rough Riders
May 6, 1898. Theodore Roosevelt resigns as assistant secretary of the U.S. Navy and decides to head the first volunteer cavalry regiment created to go fight against Spain in Cuba. The group became known as "The Rough Riders" for its multitude of backgrounds and ethnicity's such as Cowboys, natives, hunters, and buffalo soldiers spanning all existing 45 states, 4 U.S. Territories, and 14 countries.
Roosevelt was commissioned as the Lt. Col. With his friend Dr. Col. Wood in command of the cavalry unit. The typical Rider uniform was a slouch hat, blue flannel shirt, brown trousers, boots, and a polka dot bandana, but Roosevelt had a uniform tailored by Brooks Brothers in Boston. (TRA).
Preparation for Fighting
The 1,060 soldiers and 1,258 horses and mules trained at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas and departed on May 29th for Tampa Florida from which they would embark to Cuba. The Rough Riders spent a couple of weeks at a newly constructed hotel in Tampa, where Roosevelt and his wife had time to say their goodbyes. After some delay, the Riders embarked for Cuba on June 8, 1998 and arrived in Cuba two weeks later on the southeastern side of the island. On the eve of battle, Roosevelt was promoted to Colonel and Wood to Brigadier General.
Battle for Santiago at San Juan Hill
June 30, 1898 was the day of battle and one of the most significant days of Roosevelt's life. At the beginning of battle, the Rough Riders were ordered to advance on San Juan river, but artillery fire kept the advance at bay, with Roosevelt sustaining a shrapnel injury to his wrist and some of his men being killed. The temperatures of the day were unbearable, over 100 degrees, with humidity very high as well. The Riders were then ordered to support an assault on the opposite side of San Juan Hill and Roosevelt soon found that he was pushing the troops in front of him and leading the advance, which many thought would fail because of insufficient troop strength and highly entrenched Spanish.
Roosevelt's Crowded Hour
Teddy then rode his horse Texas toward the top of Kettle Hill, dismounted and crawled through wire fencing with other Rough Riders and ninth infantry, keeping up a steady fire although under heavy fire themselves, eventually breaking the Spanish lines. Teddy then ordered a charge with himself at the front and only 2 men following. Theodore found cover and reprimanded his men for not following, but the charge came and San Juan and Kettle Hills were captured and maintained after the cavalry division lost 89 out of 490 men. The troops dug in and waited for a counrpter-attack while foraging for food, but the attack never came and the position was held until the Spanish surrendered on July 17, 1898.
Conclusion of the Rough Riders
After the Armistice, the Rough Riders returned to the U.S. in New York at Montauk Point, where they were quarantined until commissioned out of service on September 15, 1898. More than one third of the Rough Riders were killed, wounded, or struck by disease in the roughly 4 months they were together, which is the highest casualty rate of any American unit in the Spanish American War. Those that did die, however, definitely did not die in vain because of the courage of Teddy and the Rough Riders, and the legacy of determination, courage, and hardiness that the cavalry division left behind will be remembered for all time.
Glide show presented with info from (TRA).
TR as the U.S. President
First Go Around at This
After his triumphs in battle, Theodore returned to politics by running for Govenor of New York in 1898 and won. He was supported by the corrupt Tom Platt, who wanted to draw attention away from himself and utilized the war hero Teddy to do so. (USA.gov). Teddy served honorably and went on to become the U.S. President after McKinley was assassinated. Theodore was the youngest president to assume the Oval Office, at the age of 42 years young, in fact. Roosevelt believed that the government was the ultimatum in Economic forces, which was shown in his justice toward management and labor, of which he did not take sides but fairly distributed power. Roosevelt also was called "trust-buster" for breaking up the trusts in the northwest railroads and following up through the Sherman Act. (USA.gov). This went along with his "square deal" domestic program that brought government regulation in indistry, and reformed the workplace with the intention of helping all socioeconomic classes of Americans. Roosevelt also launched the U.S. Into international politics to which his policy was a proverb often quoted by him: "Speak softly, and carry a big stick." Roosevelt's charismatic personality and passionate speeches certainly contributed to his policy pushing.
Second Verse Same as the First
Roosevelt's big stick was creating the Great White a Fleet and bulking up the U.S. Navy. Sending the fleet on a tour of the world. Theodore expedited the completion of the Panama Canal by administering legislation that allowed the U.S. Navy to blockade the country from Colombian forces trying to invade. Teddy won a Nobel Peace Prize in 1906 for mediating negotiations for an end to the Russo-Japanese war, which he believed, if Japan the victor, that an imbalance of power would eventually lead to conflict. He also supported many civil-rights groups, especially those for women's suffrage, which was at times contradictory to his administration's beliefs. Roosevelt was the first president to invite a black man, Booker T Washington, as a guest into the White House, although the the criticism that came out of the event lead to the invitations stopping. Teddy was not, however, always favorable toward civil rights as seen by his pardoning of 167 black soldiers from service after a murder accusation involving a white male. Teddy was the United States' first environmentalist president as seen by his National Monument Act that protected places such as the Grand Canyon, multiple national forests and numerous wildlife and game reserves. Teddy initiated 21 irrigation systems within the U.S. As well, improving the nation's infrastructure. A bit of renovation in the White House was done during Roosevelt's administration, where the presidential mansion's common name was etched on his stationary. The White House was essentially a playground for Roosevelt and his six children, where every room had activity in it, and a pony could be seen riding in the house on occasion. (Biography.com)
Theodore Roosevelt After Presidency
Travels to distant lands
After reluctantly keeping his promise of running for no more than two terms, Teddy e,barked on a 10 month expedition to Europe and Africa, where he did some big game hunting and recieved international acclamation as a person and a president. When he returned, however, he saw that Taft failed to follow through on the agreed upon progressive reforms, and so he got a little tempered with his now former friend. He tried to regain the republican ticket and nomination, but the attempt failed and so Teddy organized his own political party, the Proggressive Party, later called the Bull-Moose party after one of his statements of strenth being "I feel as strong as a bull moose!" The party was mainly made up of his supporters and reformers, and when the election of 1912 came along, Teddy won more electoral votes than Taft but didn't win the election; the presidency now belonged to the third and final Proggressive president, Woodrow Wilson. His third party effort is the most successful in American history, even though Roosevelt got shot in the chest on stage during one of his speeches, but finished the speech before getting off to receive treatment. Wilson's presidency echoed Roosevelts in reforms however. Roosevelt supported entry into WWI and when the war broke out, all four of his sons volunteered to go into the military; sadly, his youngest son Quentin was shot down and killed during a fly over in Germany. Roosevelt stayed active politically and socially until his death on Jamuary 6, 1919 in the family home located in Oyster Bay, New York. He died in his sleep at the age of 60, and what a full and exciting life he led. (History.com)
The Legacy of the True "Most Interesting Man in the World"
Considered the first Modern American President, Theodore Roosevelt helped push the status of the presidency to what it is today through a vigorous personality and aggressive executive action. In Roosevelts eyes, the government was there to help reform American life for the better, and that the president had a special relationship with the American people to use any and all powers available t him to do so. Under his presidency, the Proggressive movement blossomed with legislation, industry regulation, and the conservation movement. Big business was regulated to not harm the general public because of Teddy's belief that the government had the ,oral responsibility to do so. Ending a completely Laiszez-fairs practice toward big business, while still respecting its power economically in the US, is what T Roosevelt accomplished. Teddy also beefed up our foreign policy with his motto and philosophy that the United States needed to be active internationally for the best interests of the country. He oversaw the Panama Canal negotiations and mediated peace between Venezuela Santo Domingo. His "big stick" was a big navy that was created under his administration to push away any power that would want to harm the US, and he also used his energy to facilitate multiple peace treaties around the world. The Proggressive party's nationalism and ideals found their way into the numerous deals and policies of presidents such as FDR, Truman, JFK, and Johnson. Teddy Roosevelt knew how to use the media to influence public opinion, and his campaign was the first to be based more on an individual than a political party. ("Theodore Roosevelt")
Overall, Roosevelt led a very exciting, influential, and important life. He paved the way for change in America, socially, economically, and politically. His enthusiasm and energy could be compared to a cheerleader, but Teddy also had gusto and a moral compass to guide his thinking and actions. His life shows that one can always make changes in one's life, hat hard-work pays off, and that energy is critical in delivery. Such a charismatic and just all-round astounding president will be remembered for generations to come because of these reasons, and what well grounded reasons they are.
Words of Wisdom from Teddy Roosevelt
BIBLIOGRAPHY
History.com Staff. "Theodore Roosevelt." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 01 Jan. 2009. Web. 08 Apr. 2016.
USA.gov. "Theodore Roosevelt." The White House. The White House, 30 Dec. 2014. Web. 08 Apr. 2016.
TRA. "Theodore Roosevelt Brief Biography." Theodore Roosevelt Association. Theodore Roosevelt Association, 2015. Web. 8 Apr. 2016.
Biography.com Editors. "Theodore Roosevelt Biography." The Biography.com Website. A & E Television Networks, 2015. Web. 8 Apr. 2016.
"Theodore Roosevelt." Miller Center.org. University of Virginia, 2015. Web. 11 Apr. 2016.