Theodore Roosevelt
By: Adam Ord
Theodore Roosevelt
Life Before a President
'Believe you can and your half way there.' Said Theodore Roosevelt is the perfect example of a determined, rough, and very intelligent President. Theodore was an explorer, writer, Nobel Prize winner, and lieutenant colonel for the first volunteer cavalry, a Rough Rider, and then a full Colonel. He was an assembly man, Police Chief, Assistant Secretary for the Navy, Governor of New York, Vice President, and President.
From day one Theodore Roosevelt “Teddy” was destined for greatness. Born in New York on October 27, 1855, though he had an illness and asthma; and was homeschool most of his early life because of the sicknesses. He only saw that as an opportunity to develop his passion for nature and animal life. Later on in his 13-15 supported by his father, started a physical routine with boxing and weightlifting. During Theodore’s second year at Harvard Collage his father died, but that pushed him farther. He then enrolled in a Columbia Law School after his graduation. Following his graduation he married Alice Hathaway Lee of Massachusetts. Law School didn’t seem to please him and he sought out to join the New York State Assembly as a representative for New York City. (Becoming the youngest to serve that position) Shortly after, he was flying through a spectrum of different public service positions. Tragically his mother died on February 14, 1884 followed by his wife’s death on the same day giving birth to his daughter Alice Jr. unable to stand the grief Theodore Roosevelt dropped his daughter to an Elder Sister and escaped the city to the bad lands of the Dakota Territory for 2 years. When he returned to the city Roosevelt was defeated for the New York City Mayorship and around the same time married his second wife Edith Kermit Carow. Then he soon continued his career trajectory, to a Civil Service Commissioner, then a New York City Police Commissioner, and Assistant U.S. Navy Secretary under President William McKinley. He then retired his position and organized a volunteer Calvary known as the Rough Riders, which he led to the Battle San Juan Heights in the Spanish- American War in 1898. Returning to New York as a war hero and nominated for the Medal of Honor, was elected Governor of New York in 1898.
Presidency
Roosevelt’s ideas for change though gained him disfavor in his party. So the Republican bosses plotted for him to assume the thankless position of Vice President of the United States of America. However, following his re-election in1901, President McKinley was assassinated. So Theodore became the youngest man to assume U.S. presidency, at age 42. During his Presidency he did a lot of amazing things but what he is known for is creating the policy “Speak softly and carry a big stick,” so he enlarged the Navy and made a “Great White Fleet," and said that we the ‘Police,’ of the western world, what Roosevelt did to the Navy really made him memorial.
Legacy
Theodore Roosevelt was a great individual. He supported improving our Civil Rights, He believed everybody should be treated fairly a women or man white or black; and to show just that he was the first president to entertain a African- American, Booker T. Washington, as his guest in the White House. Sadly the political backlash was so strong from the event that Theodore was never able to invite Washington back with a stable manner from the public. Theodore Roosevelt was a loving dad and was one of the first presidents to actually bring his family into the White House he said the White House was the playground for his 6 children. Each room he recalled was lighten with its own activity from a library to crawl space "Giving the pony a ride in the elevator was but one of many stunts" is what said according to the memoirs published by Ike Hoover, the White House’s chief usher. Theodore Roosevelt was a man who was a great leader, stood up for civil rights, and fought for his country. He was defiantly an important Famous American.
FACTS
-He was the first environmentalist President. He signed the National Monuments Act in 1906 which protected National Forests, federal game reserves, countless wildlife sanctuaries, and sites like the Grand Canyon.
-He strongly protested that a women had a right to vote in 1912.
-He also had a big role in negotiating the end Russo-Japanese War.