The Revolutionary: Theodore Roosevelt

By Russ Gifford

Rough Rider Teddy Roosevelt's elevation to the Presidency was unforeseen, but the results of his presidency would leave a mark unlike all other presidents. Dismissed for years, considered a 'cowboy' and a 'loudmouth' during his presidency by the serious politicians, even the biographers ignored him for most of the 20th century!

Join me as I introduce you to the differences that President Theodore Roosevelt introduced to the American Public - and we will see how Roosevelt's view of the office of the President has become the norm over the decades that followed.

Roosevelt was different from all those who came before him. Consider that following the first three presidents, who had to take actions because nothing existed in the country, only Andrew Jackson and Abraham Lincoln were known as active Presidents. And Lincoln's actions were forced, while Jackson's actions in hindsight were often outside the power of the President.

When Roosevelt took office, things began to change - not only because Roosevelt was dedicated to action. More importantly, Roosevelt was a thinker - a deep thinker, with a knowledge of history to back up his considerations. And like Lincoln, Roosevelt was aware that the United States was facing a fundamental challenge to the ideals that were the core of the U.S. Constitution. That freedom for individuals had been eroded by the emergence of massive businesses that were considered beyond the control of the U.S. Government.

He also saw the reality that the U.S. had to be involved in the rest of the world as our future depended on commerce.

Roosevelt was a force of nature whose style had never been seen on the presidential stage. He had an opinion on everything and was unafraid to express it. He spoke off the cuff, made policy on the fly, and vexed his party and his opponents equally. The only people more put off were the wealthy, as they had no lever on him, and would never come to control him.

From the time he took office, the whirlwind that was TR embraced the changes - and the challenges - of his time.

But as random as his actions might seem, his vision was epic in scale. His achievements are still with us on so many fronts today, in terms of national parks, national standing, international trade, and the idea that the President should lead not only his party, but also Congress. Those ideas were largely unheard of before TR. Afterward, they would come to be seen as the standard.

Join Russ Gifford for this in depth look at a personality larger than the office, as we evaluate the results of TR's time in the White House!