West Morris Central High School
Department of History and Social Sciences
Theodore Roosevelt Hamburger/Hotdog (Habit #10)
Theodore Roosevelt, who came into office in 1901 and served until 1909, is considered the first modern
President because he significantly expanded the influence and power of the executive office. From the
Civil War to the turn of the twentieth century, the seat of power in the national government resided in
the U.S. Congress. Beginning in the 1880s, the executive branch gradually increased its power. Roosevelt
seized on this trend, believing that the President had the right to use all powers except those that were
specifically denied him to accomplish his goals. As a result, the President, rather than Congress or the
political parties, became the center of the American political arena.
Frail and sickly as a boy, "Teedie" Roosevelt developed a rugged physique as a teenager and became a
lifelong advocate of exercise and the "strenuous life." After graduating from Harvard, Roosevelt married
Alice Hathaway Lee and studied law at Columbia University. He dropped out after a year to pursue
politics, winning a seat in the New York Assembly in 1882. A double tragedy struck Roosevelt in 1884,
when his mother and his wife died in the same house on the same day. Roosevelt spent two years out
West in an attempt to recover, rustling cows as a rancher and busting outlaws as a frontier sheriff. In
1886, he returned to New York and married his childhood sweetheart, Edith Kermit Carow. They raised
six children, including Roosevelt's daughter from his first marriage. After losing a campaign for mayor,
he served as Civil Service commissioner, president of the New York City Police Board, and assistant
secretary of the Navy. All the while, he demonstrated honesty in office, upsetting the party bosses who
expected him to ignore the law in favor of partisan politics.
When the Spanish-American War broke out in 1898, Roosevelt volunteered as commander of the 1st
U.S. Volunteer Cavalry, known as the Rough Riders, leading a daring charge on San Juan Hill. Returning
as a war hero, he became governor of New York and began to exhibit an independence that upset the
state's political machine. To stop Roosevelt's reforms, party bosses "kicked him upstairs" to the vice
presidency under William McKinley, believing that in this position he would be unable to continue his
progressive policies. Roosevelt campaigned vigorously for McKinley in 1900—one commentator
remarked, "Tis Teddy alone that's running, an' he ain't a runnin', he's a gallopin'." Roosevelt's efforts
helped ensure victory for McKinley. But his time as vice president was brief; McKinley was assassinated
in 1901, making Roosevelt the President of the United States.
4th Quadrant Query: Based upon what you know of his early life and experiences, make a prediction as
to what sort of agenda Roosevelt will pursue as President
As President, Roosevelt worked to ensure that the government improved the lives of American citizens.
His "Square Deal" domestic program reflected the progressive call to reform the American workplace,
initiating welfare legislation and government regulation of industry. He was also the nation's first
environmentalist President, setting aside nearly 200 million acres for national forests, reserves, and
wildlife refuges.
In foreign policy, Roosevelt wanted to make the United States a global power by increasing its influence
worldwide. He led the effort to secure rights to build the Panama Canal, one of the greatest engineering
feats at that time. He also issued his "corollary" to the Monroe Doctrine, which established the United
States as the "policeman" of the Western Hemisphere. In addition, he used his position as President to
help negotiate peace agreements between belligerent nations, believing that the world should settle
international disputes through diplomacy rather than war.
Roosevelt is considered the first modern U.S. President because he greatly strengthened the power of
the executive branch. He was also an extremely popular President—so popular after leaving office in
1909 that he was able to mount a serious run for the presidency again in 1912. Believing that his
successor, William Howard Taft, had failed to continue his program of reform, TR threw his hat into the
ring as a candidate for the Progressive Party. Although Roosevelt was defeated by Democrat Woodrow
Wilson, his efforts resulted in the creation of one of the most significant third parties in U.S. history.
As President, Roosevelt challenged the ideas of limited government and individualism. In their stead, he
advocated government regulation to achieve social and economic justice. He used executive orders to
accomplish his goals, especially in conservation, and waged an aggressive foreign policy. He was also an
extremely popular President and the first to use the media to appeal directly to the people, bypassing
the political parties and career politicians.