Teddy RooseveltTeddy Roosevelt

Personal BackgroundPersonal Background

Born 1858 – NYC – wealthy merchant familyBorn 1858 – NYC – wealthy merchant family Harvard Grad – BrilliantHarvard Grad – Brilliant Very energeticVery energetic He was sickly as a childHe was sickly as a child

– Challenged himself Challenged himself – Strict physical exercise program as a young man. Strict physical exercise program as a young man.

Married out of college Married out of college Gets involved in NYC politicsGets involved in NYC politics His mother and wife (during childbirth) die on the His mother and wife (during childbirth) die on the

same day.same day. He decided to travel after thisHe decided to travel after this

– Moved to Dakotas for a few yearsMoved to Dakotas for a few years– Became a cowboyBecame a cowboy

respected Westernersrespected Westerners

I Wanna be a CowboyI Wanna be a Cowboy

Political CareerPolitical Career

Became a police commissioner - 1894Became a police commissioner - 1894– Eliminate police corruptionEliminate police corruption

Assistant Secretary of the Navy - 1897Assistant Secretary of the Navy - 1897– Issued order to Admiral Dewey to sink the Spanish Issued order to Admiral Dewey to sink the Spanish

fleet in Philippinesfleet in Philippines Fought in Span-Am War - heroFought in Span-Am War - hero Returned to NY - elected governor (very Returned to NY - elected governor (very

popular) popular) – Begins to challenge the status quoBegins to challenge the status quo– 1900 - President McKinley made him VP1900 - President McKinley made him VP

Keep him out of trouble in NY Keep him out of trouble in NY Sept 1901 – McKinley is assassinated.Sept 1901 – McKinley is assassinated.

– Roosevelt is now PresidentRoosevelt is now President

T.R. – Rough RiderT.R. – Rough Rider

Intellectual AbilitiesIntellectual Abilities

Really smart Really smart – Speed readerSpeed reader– He would read a book a day as PresidentHe would read a book a day as President

Wrote history books while in the White Wrote history books while in the White HouseHouse– Two biographiesTwo biographies– Four volume history of the winning of the Four volume history of the winning of the

west west – Two volume naval history of the War of 1812. Two volume naval history of the War of 1812. – These books are well respected history.These books are well respected history.

Political Philosophy and Political Philosophy and View of the PresidencyView of the Presidency

Moderate, Pragmatic Progressive ViewsModerate, Pragmatic Progressive Views– Some progressives grew impatient with himSome progressives grew impatient with him

He accepted American society, democracy He accepted American society, democracy and capitalism as it was.and capitalism as it was.

View of President as a Leader and an ActivistView of President as a Leader and an Activist– Proactively approach - provide leadership and Proactively approach - provide leadership and

vision for the countryvision for the country Sense of Political MoralitySense of Political Morality

– Capitalism lends itself to greed – that’s its flaw Capitalism lends itself to greed – that’s its flaw – Creates an imbalance - excesses of wealth and Creates an imbalance - excesses of wealth and

povertypoverty He was fair-minded He was fair-minded

Challenges and Obstacles Challenges and Obstacles TR Faced in 1901TR Faced in 1901

ChallengesChallenges– Youngest PresidentYoungest President– Did not take the traditional path to the PresidencyDid not take the traditional path to the Presidency– A moderate republican in a traditionally A moderate republican in a traditionally

conservative partyconservative party– Congress and the courts were very conservative. Congress and the courts were very conservative.

How would he get things done?How would he get things done? Cautious at firstCautious at first Doesn’t get a lot of legislation through Doesn’t get a lot of legislation through

CongressCongress

Finds existing legislation to enact policyFinds existing legislation to enact policy

Big Business and the Big Business and the Trusts Trusts Many folks thought Trusts should be destroyedMany folks thought Trusts should be destroyed

– Roosevelt thought that action would set back progressRoosevelt thought that action would set back progress– He felt trusts should be regulated – comply with public He felt trusts should be regulated – comply with public

interestinterest He picks a couple of trusts to go after and sues them He picks a couple of trusts to go after and sues them

for violating free competition.for violating free competition.– Northern Securities Company – huge RR holding Northern Securities Company – huge RR holding

companycompany– Uses Sherman Anti-TrustUses Sherman Anti-Trust– Northern Securities Co v. USNorthern Securities Co v. US – 5 to 4 ruling that dissolved – 5 to 4 ruling that dissolved

the companythe company

Trust/Monopoly Trust/Monopoly RegulationRegulation Created the Created the Department of Labor and Department of Labor and

CommerceCommerce 1903 – oversaw interstate 1903 – oversaw interstate commerce and labor relationscommerce and labor relations– Bureau of Corporations –Bureau of Corporations – Investigate violations Investigate violations

under the existing antitrust legislation. Investigated under the existing antitrust legislation. Investigated steel, oil, meatpackingsteel, oil, meatpacking

T.R Taking it to the T.R Taking it to the TrustsTrusts

Labor – October 1902 – Labor – October 1902 – Coal StrikeCoal Strike Workers wantedWorkers wanted

– a wage increasea wage increase– Better working conditionsBetter working conditions– Better hours Better hours

Coal Mine operators refused to negotiate w/ UnionCoal Mine operators refused to negotiate w/ Union Walked out in May Walked out in May Stores of coal for winter are running low, so Roosevelt Stores of coal for winter are running low, so Roosevelt

threatens to send in federal troops to work the mines. (this threatens to send in federal troops to work the mines. (this would hurt workers and mine operators)would hurt workers and mine operators)

He invites both sides to the White House and tells them to He invites both sides to the White House and tells them to reach a settlement. – October 1902reach a settlement. – October 1902

Mine workers got a 10% wage increase and reduced hoursMine workers got a 10% wage increase and reduced hours T.R is looked at positively by the people for taking actionT.R is looked at positively by the people for taking action

Miner Strikes Mine Miner Strikes Mine OwnerOwner

Election of 1904Election of 1904

Roosevelt was very popularRoosevelt was very popular He traveled, enjoyed meeting He traveled, enjoyed meeting

peoplepeople Was a war heroWas a war hero He is easily reelectedHe is easily reelected Now he begins to push for more Now he begins to push for more

aggressive legislationaggressive legislation

Domestic Policies of the Domestic Policies of the second termsecond term Wanted Child labor laws, factory Wanted Child labor laws, factory

inspection laws, slum clearanceinspection laws, slum clearance– Congress does not go along and none of Congress does not go along and none of

this passesthis passes Hepburn Act – (1906) Hepburn Act – (1906) Passed a Pure Food and Drug Act Passed a Pure Food and Drug Act

(1906) and a Meat Inspection Act in (1906) and a Meat Inspection Act in (1906)(1906)– Influenced by Influenced by The JungleThe Jungle

The “Bully Pulpit” The “Bully Pulpit” – Roosevelt chooses ConservationRoosevelt chooses Conservation

The Bully PulpitThe Bully Pulpit

ConservationConservation

The West is being developed and this concerned The West is being developed and this concerned Roosevelt.Roosevelt.– Congress wasn’t concerned Congress wasn’t concerned – Roosevelt would not get legislation throughRoosevelt would not get legislation through

Roosevelt has his lawyers find laws that finally allow him Roosevelt has his lawyers find laws that finally allow him to do something by Presidential decreeto do something by Presidential decree

Action – Federal Protection of LandAction – Federal Protection of Land– 150 million acres of national forest land150 million acres of national forest land– 80 million acres of mineral lands that were slated for 80 million acres of mineral lands that were slated for

developmentdevelopment– 1.5 million acres or water power sites1.5 million acres or water power sites

The father of National Park SystemsThe father of National Park Systems The First President to have a White House Press The First President to have a White House Press

Conference (on Conservation). This brings national Conference (on Conservation). This brings national attention to this issue.attention to this issue.

Foreign Policy and “Big Foreign Policy and “Big Stick Diplomacy”Stick Diplomacy”

US was now a major powerUS was now a major power Believed US needed to get more involved in AsiaBelieved US needed to get more involved in Asia Therefore US needs a strong navy to assert forceTherefore US needs a strong navy to assert force Dec 1907 – Sends the American Fleet (Great Dec 1907 – Sends the American Fleet (Great

White Fleet) around the world. Shows the world White Fleet) around the world. Shows the world the US is a world powerthe US is a world power

Russo-Japanese WarRusso-Japanese War Roosevelt CorollaryRoosevelt Corollary Panama Canal – we’ll discuss in imperialism Panama Canal – we’ll discuss in imperialism

sectionsection

Russo-Japanese War in Russo-Japanese War in 1904 1904 Japan defeats Russians in naval & ground battle.Japan defeats Russians in naval & ground battle. Russians are beaten but won’t capitulateRussians are beaten but won’t capitulate Japan is not big enough to force them to Japan is not big enough to force them to

capitulatecapitulate Roosevelt steps in to mediate this disputeRoosevelt steps in to mediate this dispute Invites them both to Portsmouth, NH. Invites them both to Portsmouth, NH. Works out a peace treaty. US had an interest in Works out a peace treaty. US had an interest in

the North Pacific parts of Asia. Roosevelt didn’t the North Pacific parts of Asia. Roosevelt didn’t want any one country controlling this area. He want any one country controlling this area. He created a balance of power there. created a balance of power there. – Roosevelt was the 1st President who won the Nobel Roosevelt was the 1st President who won the Nobel

Peace Prize for thisPeace Prize for this

Background - The Background - The Roosevelt CorollaryRoosevelt Corollary

1823 – James Monroe created the Monroe 1823 – James Monroe created the Monroe DoctrineDoctrine

By 1900 – we had a strong navy and could easily By 1900 – we had a strong navy and could easily influence Latin Americainfluence Latin America

Some nations in Latin America and the Some nations in Latin America and the Caribbean got into tremendous debt with Caribbean got into tremendous debt with European powersEuropean powers

When they were unable to pay these debts, the When they were unable to pay these debts, the European powers were pressed to intervene in European powers were pressed to intervene in the affairs of those indebted nations.the affairs of those indebted nations.– They would send troops to take over the revenue They would send troops to take over the revenue

service or custom houses of the debtor government service or custom houses of the debtor government and control the revenueand control the revenue

In 1904 – Roosevelt In 1904 – Roosevelt CorollaryCorollary US would send our forces into those countries and take US would send our forces into those countries and take

control of revenue system or sometimes the government.control of revenue system or sometimes the government. We’ll maintain the political structure. We’ll manage the We’ll maintain the political structure. We’ll manage the

debts until they are paid off. Then we’ll leave. debts until they are paid off. Then we’ll leave. This was a turning point in American history because this This was a turning point in American history because this

was the first time American forces intervened in a was the first time American forces intervened in a government without invitation as a matter of policy. government without invitation as a matter of policy.

This would be done several times since then as we became This would be done several times since then as we became more of a world powermore of a world power

Why?Why?– This was a security issue – US did not want a European military This was a security issue – US did not want a European military

presence in the Americas. – Panama Canalpresence in the Americas. – Panama Canal– Economic gain as well – American business interestsEconomic gain as well – American business interests

Conclusion and Conclusion and Assessment of RooseveltAssessment of Roosevelt

Popularity and CharismaPopularity and Charisma Generally considered a near-great PresidentGenerally considered a near-great President Popular President – Constantly drawing Popular President – Constantly drawing

attention to himself.attention to himself. Redefines the office, gets a lot doneRedefines the office, gets a lot done He’s a hawk, but able to negotiate himself He’s a hawk, but able to negotiate himself

out of problems.out of problems. History’s Judgment - Generally History’s Judgment - Generally

PositivePositive Missed OpportunitiesMissed Opportunities

Too Young - Only 50 When He Left OfficeToo Young - Only 50 When He Left Office Not Confronted by a Major Domestic or Not Confronted by a Major Domestic or

Foreign CrisisForeign Crisis