Theodore Roosevelt

Roosevelt, Theodore (1858–1919), 26th president of the United States. Widely known as “Teddy” or “T.R.,” he was one of the most popular, colorful, and controversial presidents, and the youngest (at 42) ever inaugurated. He also was a prolific writer.

Early life

Roosevelt was born into a well-to-do family. A sickly child, he built up his strength through strenuous exercise. In 1880, he graduated from Harvard University and married Alice Hathaway Lee. Roosevelt became involved in Republican politics and served in the N.Y. State Assembly (1882–84). In 1884, his wife died soon after the birth of their child; his mother died the same day. Roosevelt gave up his political career and moved to Dakota Territory to become a rancher and to write. In 1886, Roosevelt returned to New York, married Edith Kermit Carow (the couple had five children), and built his famous home at Sagamore Hill.

Politics

Roosevelt reentered politics, losing a race for mayor of New York City (1886), and serving on the U.S. Civil Service Commission (1895–97), as president of the Board of Police Commissioners (1897–98), and as assistant secretary of the Navy (1897–98).

During the Spanish-American War, Roosevelt led the 1st Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, known as the Rough Riders. In Cuba in 1898, he led a victorious U.S. attack up Kettle Hill in the battle of San Juan Hill. Returning home a national hero, he was elected governor of New York (1898–1900), then was persuaded to run as vice president in President William McKinley's 1900 reelection campaign. The McKinley-Roosevelt ticket won. On Sept. 6, 1901, McKinley was shot by an assassin; eight days later he died, and Roosevelt became president.

President

Roosevelt, long known as a reformer, used his executive power to control the growing industrial and financial monopolies and regulate the railroads. His “trust buster” administration broke up the powerful Northern Securities Co. and other big-business trusts (monopolies). Roosevelt also intervened in a dangerously stalemated coal strike. Returned to the presidency by a wide margin in the 1904 election, he won passage of the 1906 Hepburn Act to prevent abuses in railroad-shipping rates, and of the 1906 Pure Food and Drug Act, which began U.S. regulation and inspection of foods, drugs, and medicines. He also added about 150 million acres to the national forests, established the U.S. Forest Service (1905), and created other conservation programs.

Roosevelt pursued an aggressive foreign policy. He issued the “Roosevelt Corollary” (1904) to the Monroe Doctrine, warning European nations against intervening in Latin American affairs while reserving that right for the U.S. He pushed the U.S. to build the Panama Canal and sent the U.S. fleet around the world (1907–1909) to show off its strength. In 1905, he helped mediate peace between Russia and Japan, which won him the Nobel Peace Prize.

Retirement

Roosevelt chose not to run for reelection. After his handpicked successor, William Howard Taft, took office in 1909, Roosevelt went big-game hunting in Africa. In 1912, he returned to politics, forming the “Bull Moose” (Progressive) party and losing a bid for the presidency. Retiring to private life, he remained interested in world affairs, opposing U.S. isolationism in World War I.