Progressive Presidents Presentation
by: Claire Porterfield
Theodore Roosevelt
Biography
Theodore Roosevelt before Presidency
President Roosevelt
Political Cartoon as Roosevelt
Presidential Report Card
When Roosevelt was running for President, his platform that he advocated for became known as the Square Deal. Once he was elected, he showed excellent leadership skills by sticking to his word and executing the majority, if not all of his points. He was able to push to get his way by stating an issue that needs reform, coming up with a plan for to properly reform it, make the country aware of his plans, and execute the reform. This open communication and effective problem-solving made him a great leader.
Organization - A
When there were issues with completing his reforms, Roosevelt always found another option and way to achieve it. When Colombia would not lease the land necessary to build the Panama Canal, Roosevelt insured that a revolution would occur near the isthmus, so that the new government that emerged there would be much more cooperative. Once getting the lease, Roosevelt was able to then build the Panama Canal. His ability to quickly alter his original plan to accomplish his end goal, especially in foreign affairs, shows that he had high levels of organization.
Professionalism - A
President Roosevelt can be considered professional because he tried to remain as fair as he could with businesses. He defended workers rights to strike and join together, as well as breaking up large monopolies. However, he never wanted to take away all the power from the companies and maintained an equal relationship between trusts and the workers, which shows he used professionalism to ensue his job was done smoothly.
Contributions - A
Along with the other successes previously discussed, Roosevelt succeeded in responding to scandals and muckraking exposes about the food industry by pushing the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act as well as the Meat Inspection Act. Roosevelt was also able to compromise with preservationists and big businesses by administering a conservation program that designated 200 million acres of land to national forests, mineral reserves, water-power sites, etc.
William Taft
Biography
Presidential Report Card
Though Taft made great accomplishments as President, he was never comfortable in his role and wanted to be a judge instead. Taft even admitted running for President made him uncomfortable and feel awkward. He tried his best to follow Roosevelt, but his beliefs about how to be President were different than Roosevelt's. Taft thought that the President should not have as much power as Roosevelt gave himself.
Organization - A
William Taft can be considered an organized President because of his ability to pass vital amendments and keep foreign affairs at peace. By implementing Dollar Diplomacy and balancing the rights between trusts/big corporations and the working class, Taft was able to remain organized during his Presidency. Each task and challenge that Taft was presented with, he completed orderly and like a judge would due to his law and courtroom background.
Professionalism - A
There is no doubt that Taft was able to remain professional as President, considering he was appointed to the Supreme Court afterwards. His dealing with foreign affairs was one that was sympathetic towards their situations, which most likely stemmed from his time in the Philippines under President McKinley. Part of his foreign affairs was the dollar diplomacy which was a system of giving loans to countries in Latin America and East Asia in hopes to further economic ties.
Contributions - A
As discussed under professionalism, the peace with other countries was kept during Taft's presidency with the the use of dollar diplomacy. Domestically, Taft took business power into his own hands by breaking up trusts in order to try to keep big companies from overtaking all of the others and having no limits. This gave the working class slightly more rights than they previously held. Taft also reformed many laws and pieces of legislation while he was in office. For example, he reduced the tariff rates as one of his first orders of business. He also expanded the ICC's jurisdiction to cover telegraphs, telephones, and radios. Workers and postmasters were placed under civil service protection and the sixteenth and seventeenth amendments were passed under Taft.
Woodrow Wilson
Biography
Wilson before Presidency
President Woodrow Wilson
Wilson Political Cartoon
Presidential Report Card
The United States joined WWI under President Wilson, so the leadership of him had to be exceptional in order to not fail. Since America did not do poorly in WWI, the leadership must have been good. Based on the way he avoided conflict with Latin countries and Mexico, shows that he can control and stuck to his decisions. Reducing tariffs and passing anti-trust laws depicts that he was convincing in Congress and was able to push his ideas to the nation.
Organization - A
While having to juggle issues in the banking/economic world along with the trusts, women's rights, and world war conflicts, Wilson managed to make advancements in all. Banks were reformed, tariffs reduced, suffrage to women granted, and the war was avoided as long as possible. Though his presidency wasn't perfect, the way he was able to make major advancements in multiple departments shows that his level of organization was high.
Professionalism - A
He was able to remain unbiased when addressing issues such as workers rights, trust power, and women's rights. He was able to see these tough topics from a fair perspective and made sure that personal opinions were not in the way of doing what was right for the country. He was able to progress the nation socially and in economic means while staying professional. He also sought after peace with Latin countries, including Mexico who recently had a revolution. He withdrew all troops from there in order to stay out of the World War for as long as possible and keep peace.
Contributions - A
It would be difficult to not give Wilson an A on contributions considering women were granted suffrage during his Presidency. This was a major step in America towards gender equality and one of the most vital parts to democracy in the United States today. Though this was extremely important part of his years, he also managed to reduce tariffs with the Revenue Act of 1913 and Underwood Tariff Act. Wilson also accomplished passing antitrust acts through Clayton Anti-Trust Act which promoted the working classes rights and reformed banks by the Federal Reserve System.