What kind of man was theodore roosevelt

Civil Service Commission. As commissioner, he worked hard to enforce the civil service laws, although he regularly clashed with party regulars and politicians who wanted him to ignore the law in favor of patronage.

Roosevelt served dutifully as a commissioner until he accepted the presidency of the New York City Police Board in He demonstrated honesty in office, much to the displeasure of party bosses.

He also cleaned up the corrupt Police Board and strictly enforced laws banning the sale of liquor on the Sabbath. Roosevelt had long believed in the importance of the Navy and the role it played in national defense. As acting secretary of the Navy, he responded to the explosion of the U. See McKinley biography, Foreign Affairs section, for details. Roosevelt instructed Commodore George Dewey to make ready for war with Spain by taking the necessary steps for bottling up the Spanish squadron in Asian waters.

He also asked Dewey to prepare for the probable invasion of the Philippines. When the Spanish-American War began, Roosevelt resigned as assistant secretary of the Navy and volunteered for service as commander the 1st U.

Volunteer Cavalry, a unit known as the Rough Riders—an elite company comprised of Ivy League gentlemen, western cowboys, sheriffs, prospectors, police officers, and Native Americans. The contingent suffered heavy casualties. The Rough Riders returned to the United States as war heroes. Their varied backgrounds, colorful leader, and bravery on the battlefield brought them considerable attention. Roosevelt personally reveled in his time in the military.

He later wrote about his military exploits: "I would rather have led that charge and earned my colonelcy than served three terms in the United States Senate. It makes me feel as though I could now leave something to my children which will serve as an apology for my having existed.

Roosevelt returned home a war hero and caught the eye of Republican leaders in New York who were looking for a gubernatorial candidate. Roosevelt carried the election by just a few thousand votes; his victory stemmed largely from the work of the state's Republican Party boss, Thomas C.

Platt, who threw the full support of his political machine behind the hero of San Juan Hill. Although Platt and Roosevelt had agreed to consult each other on matters of policy and patronage, the new governor was his own man. TR steadfastly refused to appoint party regulars as State Insurance Commissioner or Public Works Commissioner—the two most important patronage jobs in the state. When Governor Roosevelt supported a bill for the taxation of the value and assets of public services gas, water, electric, and streetcars , his actions led to an explosive break with Platt.

Almost overnight the insurance companies, the construction contractors, and the privately owned public service corporations realized that all the money they were contributing to Platt's political machine brought them little if any influence with Governor Roosevelt.

Boss Platt knew that something had to be done with the governor before he completely destroyed the Republican state machine. Consulting with Mark Hanna, the top Republican political boss in the nation, Platt conspired to "kick [Roosevelt] upstairs" to the vice presidency in Vice President Garret Hobart had just died in office. This would keep Roosevelt from running for a second term in New York the governorship was a two-year term in those days.

Roosevelt reluctantly agreed, persuaded that the vice presidency might lead to a shot at the White House in He became involved in Latin America with little hesitation: he oversaw the Panama Canal negotiations to advocate for U. He also worked with Congress to strengthen the U. Navy, which he believed would deter potential enemies from targeting the country, and he applied his energies to negotiating peace agreements, working to balance power throughout the world.

Even after he left office, Roosevelt continued to work for his ideals. The Progressive Party's New Nationalism in launched a drive for protective federal regulation that looked forward to the progressive movements of the s and the s. Indeed, Roosevelt's progressive platform encompassed nearly every progressive ideal later enshrined in the New Deal of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Fair Deal of Harry S. Truman, the New Frontier of John F.

Kennedy, and the Great Society of Lyndon B. In terms of presidential style, Roosevelt introduced "charisma" into the political equation. He had a strong rapport with the public and he understood how to use the media to shape public opinion. He was the first President whose election was based more on the individual than the political party.

When people voted Republican in , they were generally casting their vote for Roosevelt the man instead of for him as the standard-bearer of the Republican Party. The most popular President up to his time, Roosevelt used his enthusiasm to win votes, to shape issues, and to mold opinions.

In the process, he changed the executive office forever. Grant Rutherford B. Hayes James A. Thomas Jefferson , author of the Declaration of Independence and the third U. Abraham Lincoln, a self-taught lawyer, legislator and vocal opponent of slavery, was elected 16th president of the United States in November , shortly before the outbreak of the Civil War. Lincoln proved to be a shrewd military strategist and a savvy leader: His Emancipation William McKinley served in the U.

Congress and as governor of Ohio before running for the presidency in As a longtime champion of protective tariffs, the Republican McKinley ran on a platform of promoting American prosperity and won a landslide victory over Democrat It was the trial of the century.

Barnes was the plaintiff, Roosevelt the defendant. The charge was libel, Theodore Roosevelt was never a fan of idle vacations. Live TV. This Day In History. History Vault. Recommended for you. How the Troubles Began in Northern Ireland. Theodore Roosevelt. Theodore Roosevelt's Presidency. Theodore Roosevelt vs. Roosevelt Franklin D. Edith Roosevelt Edith Roosevelt was an American first lady and the second wife of Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States.

Truman Harry S. Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln, a self-taught lawyer, legislator and vocal opponent of slavery, was elected 16th president of the United States in November , shortly before the outbreak of the Civil War.

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