The Progressive Presidents
Theodore Roosevelt
Biography
Theodore was born on October 27th, 1858. He was the second child of four. In September of 1876, he began his education at Harvard University. On June 30th, 1880, he graduates from Harvard University. On October 27th, 1880, Theodore marries Alice Hathaway Lee. He decides to join the Republican Party. In November of 1881, he is elected to the New York State Assembly. February 12th, 1884, his first daughter, Alice, is born. Two days later, Theodore's wife and mother die. In 1887 he moves to Sagamore Hill with Edith Carow and his first son is born. He was elected President of the Board of Police Commissioners in 1895. In 1897 he is appointed Assistant Secretary of the Navy. Teddy was serving as vice president with McKinley and became president when McKinley was shot and killed. He worked to dissolve monopolies and started the Panama Canal He was then re-elected as president. Roosevelt received a Nobel Peace Prize for negotiating the Russo-Japanese peace treaty. Roosevelt passes away in his sleep at age 60 in 1919.
Presidential Report Card Theodore Roosevelt
Leadership B+
Theodore Roosevelt displayed his leadership most in the Spanish-American war. He helped form a voluntary regiment to fight in the war. They were called the Rough Riders. Teddy led the group. He fought at the the head of the regiment putting himself in danger, but he was putting his team before himself. This led to his soldiers being loyal to him for the rest of his life.
Organization A
Teddy was very organized and productive while in office. He was always working something to better the nation. He passed many laws and acts to save wilderness. Roosevelt signed the Meat Inspection and the Pure Food and Drug acts to maintain sanitary factories and prevent companies from lying about the contents in the food/drugs. He also started the construction of the Panama Canal and passed bills preserving wilderness. Roosevelt worked to end trusts between companies so that they could not dominate the industry, otherwise known as trust-busting. He also balanced national work with international work. His " Big Stick" policy turned into the Roosevelt Corollary which was added to the Monroe Doctrine.
Professionalism A
Theodore loved being a public figure. He was extremely outgoing and outspoken. Teddy had a great public image. Everyone liked his character and his charismatic personality. He became so popular with the people because of his progressive ways. He was always trying to do something that would benefit the people.
Contributions A+
Theodore Roosevelt made an enormous impact on the United States. He was constantly working to contribute to the welfare of the nation. He was known for trust-busting, setting up national parks, and working to conserve resources. The thing that Teddy in most remembered for is The Square Deal. The Square Deal was his progressive reform program that focused on regulating big business and protecting workers and consumers. It set up national parks, eliminated bad trusts, and set up the Pure Foods and Drugs Act.
The History of Theodore [Teddy] Roosevelt - A Short Story
William Howard Taft
Biography
Taft was born into a political family. He was on the track towards his dream of becoming a Supreme Court Justice when he was interrupted with a term as the 27th president. His wife dreamed of living in the White House with him and Theodore Roosevelt wanted him to be the person to continue his progressive progress. He did indeed make a lot of progress while in office. Taft went on to fulfill his dream of being a Supreme Court Justice after his term as president.
Presidential Report Card William Howard Taft
Leadership B-
Taft entered the office with a lot of trust from the nation because of the fact that Roosevelt supported and pushed for his election so much. While Taft accomplished much in office, he didn't live up to the same standard that Teddy had set for leading the public.
Organization B-
Taft was able to be organized and get things done, but he took his time in doing things. He used trust-busting and organized social and government reforms. Taft was never very inspired or motivated to do things so it took him some time to carry out actions.
Professionalism C+
William never actually wanted to become president. He was pressured into it mainly from his wife and Theodore Roosevelt. Many people like his happy, jovial spirit in the beginning. He later became depressed with the job. He was bored and just wanted to become a Supreme Court Justice.
Contributions A-
All of the work that Taft did for the Nation is often undermined by everything that Roosevelt did before him. However, he still left a great impact on the nation. He busted over 90 trusts(monopolies) to help give the smaller businesses a chance. Taft used Dollar Diplomacy to promote the United States commercial interest and economic power internationally by guaranteeing loans to important ally countries. Taft was well known for his reforms. The Children's Bureau was formed under Taft which reported all matters pertaining to the welfare of children. Taft also made the eight-hour workday a rule for government workers.
Disney The American Presidents: William Taft
Woodrow Wilson
Biography
Wilson was born into a devout Presbyterian family. He was a dedicated scholar and was on the path to a University career. He then served as governor of New Jersey before being elected as the 28th president of the United States. He was with the nation through World War. He died three years after leaving office with sweeping reforms for middle class, voting rights for women, and precepts for world peace.
Wilson as President
Wilson Before Presidency
Wilson Creates League of Nations
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Report Card
Leadership A
The nation believed in Wilson. He had an idealist mindset, which showed in his reforms and actions in World War I. He academically made decisions. He also so led the nation through a rough time during WWI.
Organization A+
Wilson was able to accomplish a lot while in office considering he was also dealing with World War I and his health problems. Wilson's New Freedom was a big part of his first term. It included the Underwood-Simmons Act which reduced tariff rates, helping small farmers. He also signed the Federal Reserve Act making the nation's currency more flexible. The Clayton Anti-trust Act of 1914 named specific business tactics illegal. Wilson did not specify between "good" or "bad" trusts. He eliminated any large "dangerous" trusts. Wilson also sent troops into Mexico to capture Pancho Villa but had to withdraw them when the Zimmerman Telegram was intercepted.
Professionalism A
Wilson acted very professional while in office. He was a calming presence in public compared to the outgoing and loud Theodore and Taft. His career as a professor contributed to his professionalism. He acted like the authority figure.
Contributions B+
Wilson made many contributions with his time in office. He known well for his pushes for women's voting rights and his actions in World War I. Wilson gave a speech to Congress in support of the 19th amendment. While his speech failed to get enough votes to pass the amendment, it raised support for the subject. Included in Wilson's Fourteen Points was the League of Nations. While it also failed to pass by the senate and the US did not join it, it set the stage for international cooperation and peace.
Woodrow Wilson | 60-Second Presidents | PBS