Theodore Roosevelt's Contributions to American Political Thought

He is well known for his temperament, interests, and achievements. Although there were no wars at the time, his slogan was reinforced by sending the expanded US Navy and the Great White Fleet on a world tour. “TR negotiated an end to the Russo-Japanese War, for which he won the Nobel Peace Prize. Theodore Roosevelts presidency ended the Gilded Age.” (Solheim, Bruce, 21-22) “Not only had Roosevelt alienated big business, he was also attacking both the judiciary and the deep faith Republicans had in their judges (most of whom had been appointed by McKinley, Roosevelt or Taft.) In the 1910 Congressional elections, Democrats swept to power, and Taft’s reelection in 1912 was increasingly in doubt.” (Blum, John Morton, 252).

Since the founding of the United States of America, many presidents have worked tirelessly in their posts to change our country for the better. Some have seen abounding success, while others have met a slow decline from glory.  Of all of these generally noble and brave men, one especially has stood out; Franklin Delano Roosevelt, a remarkable idealist of a man and an amazing vehicle for change in America. While in office, this dignified man demonstrated many positive qualities, such as unrelenting optimism, heartfelt concern for both the populace and the land of America, and fierce determination to accomplish his goals.

Conservation was indeed a priority for Theodore Roosevelt. In order to make connections between conservation and the progress, patriotism and morality of the American people, Roosevelt links conservation to modern day civilization, urges the nation to consider future generations,

Because of President McKinley’s death, Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt was put into office. Then, on March 4, 1905, Roosevelt delivered his Inaugural Address to disclose his ideas and goals to the American people as their leader. The audience of this speech were Roosevelt’s fellow citizens. He told the people to treat other countries with compassion and friendship because they became such a great nation. With his use of repetition, allusions, and his tone, Roosevelt was able to emphasize his point in making the country a powerful nation to bring tranquility throughout the world.

Roosevelt was a true conservationist at heart. The Theodore Roosevelt Association stated, “As a boy, Theodore Roosevelt wanted to be a naturalist, a scientist who revels in and examines nature,” and he was “…an avid adventurer and lover of nature, dedicated himself to protecting both wildlife and natural resources” ("The CONSERVATIONIST"). As the President, he never forgot his dreams as a child, and he set out to preserve an immense amount of US regions so all Americans could enjoy. He especially had the future generations in mind ("The CONSERVATIONIST"). He realized something must be done for he believed at the rate of deforestation, and harvesting of other recourses, it wouldn't take long for it all to vanish. To fight the recourse of losing all the rich natural resources and splendorous landscape across the US, he created national parks and landmarks to preserve and protect these beautiful natural miracles. “Roosevelt provided federal protection for almost 230 million acres of land,” for national use, so these majestic places were protected from harm due to commercialism ("The CONSERVATIONIST"). He established 150 national forests, 5 national parks, the 1st of 51 federal bird reservations, 24 reclamation, and 4 national game preserves, including 18 national monuments in his time. By establishing these parks and landmarks, it allowed Americans and tourists, alike, the

In fact, he was the leader of the progressive movement. He continuously wanted there to be a happy balance between capital and labor so he founded his policy called the Square Deal. He was a liberal and became an advocate for prosecuting monopolies that violated antitrust law, otherwise known as “trust busting”. He kept these monopolies from controlling entire industries across the country. He worked hard to guide the United States into world politics. Roosevelt also aimed for Promotion of Anti-Trust suits. He was also a conversationalist. Some of his policies for conservation were creating the National Conservation Commission to record the nation’s resources and manage their use more efficiently, Delegate two hundred million acres as national forests, mineral reserves, and waterpower plants, as well as an addition of five national parks and eighteen national monuments to the list of protected lands. Roosevelt worked very hard to try and keep the economic issues of his time intact.

“A whole generation of Americans had grown up knowing no other president. He was a presence in their living rooms, he had called them my friends, and he had been at the helm of the two worst crisis of the century.” (“FDR”) The people loved his optimism and his sympathy with the less fortunate. (Perkins, 7) He was the people’s champion and they elected him to office four consecutive times. (Schlesinger, Time) President Roosevelt rescued America during the hardship that was the great depression. His decision to enter World War II played a substantial role in defeating fascism. Roosevelt believed in a multilateral effort in ending conflicts around the world. Franklin D. Roosevelt left an indelible mark of progress on American history.

Teddy Roosevelt became the twenty sixth president of the United States of America from September 14, 1901 until March 4, 1909. His nickname was T. R. He was the youngest president. During his time as president, he brought many accomplishments and contributions to the United States of America. He always thought about the best interest of the people before making any final decisions. His decisions were never based on someone’s opinion; however, it was all about bettering the people’s future and their safety. President Teddy Roosevelt was a rich man prior to becoming the president but the poor was his main concern. He had a wife and six children. The most interesting things about President Teddy Roosevelt was that he changed the operation of businesses and the government, how the coal was generate to the public, Panama Canal, and over saw the big remodel of the White House.

Theodore Roosevelt is considered by many to be America’s first progressive president due to his conservationism, his military prowess, and the natural ease with which he handled national and worldwide politics. He had a vision for the place he wanted America to be, a courage that made him admirable, and a jovial attitude that made people love him. Not only did he take steps to make the office of president more important than it once was, he tried to do so in ways that were important. One of these ways was by protecting the natural beauty of America so that it would not be entirely depleted before it could replenish itself. Another way was by proving his leadership, his bravery, and his dedication to complete the task at hand in the military. His struggle for equality in his nation and international peace also show his determination to make the world better. These points prove that Theodore Roosevelt had his eyes set on the future and was determined to move toward it.

Roosevelt’s most famous foreign policy was definitely the Panama Canal. Roosevelt created the National Bird Preserve. He was the president that had set aside land for some national parks and natural preserves. Theodore Roosevelt had strongly promoted the Conservation Movement.

His first target were huge corporations. He was known as a "trust buster" by forcing the dissolution of a great railroad combination in the Northwest. He also fought for the reforms to benefit the American people, specifically the middle and working class. He broke up business monopolies, placed regulations on railroads, and set protection from harmful foods and drugs, and started conserving natural resources. Roosevelt added enormously to the national forests in the West, reserving lands for public use, and fostered great irrigation projects.

The Lincoln Principle, If you never try, you'll never succeed, applies greatly to Theodore Roosevelt. If he had not tried to change America many things would be different even now. He regulated businesses more so that they didn't become as powerful as they were becoming. He wanted to change things so he did. If he had not pushed to have the Panama Canal finished it probably would have taken much longer and more people may have died in the making of the Canal from going slower and more mosquitos and such insects are able to suck the blood from people. This puts them at a higher risk to get diseases transmitted by the insects.

Theodore Roosevelt was one of our greatest presidents. He created the FDA and improved the position of the presidency greatly. Before Theodore came to be president, the position of presidency was slow and wasn’t very interesting so he made the executive branch more powerful by starting new reforms and a strong foreign policy. The life of a president is hard. It is full of stress, responsibilities, and a strong dedication the welfare of your country. Theodore had to deal with all of these presidential stresses, taking up much of his time. Do you know, though, that despite being a president, he led a life of excitement and freedom that many other presidents had never before experienced? Theodore, “Teddy” as his first wife Alice called him,

Theodore Roosevelt believed that wildlife conservation and preserving our lands was of the upmost importance. The article on sageamericanhistory.net states that Theodore Roosevelt stated, “As a nation we not only enjoy a wonderful measure of present prosperity but if this prosperity is used aright it is an earnest of future success such as no other nation will have. The reward of foresight for this nation is great and easily foretold. But there must be the look ahead, there must be a realization of the fact that to waste, to destroy, our natural resources, to skin and exhaust the land instead of using it so as to increase its usefulness, will result in undermining until the days of our children the very prosperity which we ought by right to hand down to them amplified and developed. For the last few years, through several agencies, the government has been endeavoring to get our people to look ahead and to substitute a planned and orderly development of our resources in place of a

Americans have become used to politicians who will not go against their party’s line. Instead of having numerous free thinking elected officials who come together to ensure the welfare of society, we have two parties that control almost everything. This was not how Theodore Roosevelt led our country. He was a visionary and ethical leader. This paper explains why by describing Theodore Roosevelt’s use of visionary leadership to protect America’s natural resources by being an emotionally flexible leader and using his inspirational motivation. Theodore Roosevelt was an Ethical Leader because he put service before self by resigning from the position of Assistant Secretary of the Navy to fight in the Spanish American War and was a free thinker who went against his party to protect the welfare of society. Theodore Roosevelt has personal relevance in my development as a leader by modeling service before self and allowing me to see how I can improve my inspirational motivation. In order to understand Theodore Roosevelt as a leader, you should first know the impact of his visionary leadership.