Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt Jr. (/ˈroʊzəvɛlt/ ROH-zə-velt;[lower-alpha 2] October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919), often referred to as Teddy or by his initials, T. R., was an American politician, statesman, conservationist, naturalist, historian, and writer who served as the 26th president of the United States from 1901 to 1909. He previously served as the 25th vice president under President William McKinley from March to September 1901 and as the 33rd governor of New York from 1899 to 1900. Having assumed the presidency after McKinley's assassination, Roosevelt emerged as a leader of the Republican Party and became a driving force for anti-trust and Progressive policies.
Theodore Roosevelt | |
---|---|
![]() Portrait by Pach Bros., c. 1904 | |
26th President of the United States | |
In office September 14, 1901 – March 4, 1909 | |
Vice President |
|
Preceded by | William McKinley |
Succeeded by | William Howard Taft |
25th Vice President of the United States | |
In office March 4, 1901 – September 14, 1901 | |
President | William McKinley |
Preceded by | Garret Hobart |
Succeeded by | Charles W. Fairbanks |
33rd Governor of New York | |
In office January 1, 1899 – December 31, 1900 | |
Lieutenant | Timothy L. Woodruff |
Preceded by | Frank S. Black |
Succeeded by | Benjamin Barker Odell Jr. |
Assistant Secretary of the Navy | |
In office April 19, 1897 – May 10, 1898 | |
President | William McKinley |
Preceded by | William McAdoo |
Succeeded by | Charles Herbert Allen |
President of the New York City Board of Police Commissioners | |
In office May 6, 1895 – April 19, 1897 | |
Appointed by | William Lafayette Strong |
Preceded by | James J. Martin |
Succeeded by | Frank Moss |
Commissioner of the United States Civil Service Commission | |
In office May 7, 1889[1] – May 6, 1895 | |
Appointed by | Benjamin Harrison |
Preceded by | John H. Oberly[2] |
Succeeded by | John B. Harlow[3] |
Minority Leader of the New York State Assembly | |
In office January 1, 1883 – December 31, 1883 | |
Preceded by | Thomas G. Alvord |
Succeeded by | Frank Rice |
Member of the New York State Assembly from the 21st district | |
In office January 1, 1882 – December 31, 1884 | |
Preceded by | William J. Trimble |
Succeeded by | Henry A. Barnum |
Personal details | |
Born | Theodore Roosevelt Jr. October 27, 1858 New York City, U.S. |
Died | January 6, 1919 60) Oyster Bay, New York, U.S. | (aged
Resting place | Youngs Memorial Cemetery, Oyster Bay, New York |
Political party | Republican (1880–1912, 1916–1919) |
Other political affiliations | Progressive "Bull Moose" (1912–1916) |
Spouse(s) | |
Children | |
Parent(s) | |
Relatives | Roosevelt family |
Education | |
Occupation |
|
Civilian awards | Nobel Peace Prize (1906) |
Signature | ![]() |
Military service | |
Branch/service | United States Army |
Years of service |
|
Rank | Colonel |
Commands | 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry |
Battles/wars | |
Military awards | Medal of Honor (posthumous, 2001) |
| ||
---|---|---|
33rd Governor of New York
25th Vice President of the United States
26th President of the United States
First term
Second term
Post Presidency
![]() |
||
A sickly child with debilitating asthma, he overcame his health problems as he grew by embracing a strenuous lifestyle. He integrated his exuberant personality and a vast range of interests and achievements into a "cowboy" persona defined by robust masculinity. He was home-schooled and began a lifelong naturalist avocation before attending Harvard. His book The Naval War of 1812 (1882) established his reputation as a learned historian and popular writer. Upon entering politics, he became the leader of the reform faction of Republicans in New York's state legislature. His wife and mother died on the same night and he was devastated psychologically. He recuperated by buying and operating a cattle ranch in the Dakotas. He served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy under President William McKinley and, in 1898, helped plan the highly successful naval war against Spain. He resigned to help form and lead the Rough Riders, a unit that fought the Spanish army in Cuba to great publicity. Returning a war hero, he was elected governor of New York in 1898. The New York state party leadership disliked his ambitious agenda and convinced McKinley to make Roosevelt his running mate in the 1900 election. Roosevelt campaigned vigorously and the McKinley–Roosevelt ticket won a landslide victory based on a platform of victory, peace, and prosperity.
Roosevelt assumed the presidency at age 42 after McKinley was assassinated in September 1901. He remains the youngest person to become president of the United States. Roosevelt was a leader of the progressive movement and championed his "Square Deal" domestic policies, promising the average citizen fairness, breaking of trusts, regulation of railroads, and pure food and drugs. He prioritized conservation and established national parks, forests, and monuments to preserve the nation's natural resources. In foreign policy, he focused on Central America, where he began construction of the Panama Canal. He expanded the Navy and sent the Great White Fleet on a world tour to project American naval power. His successful efforts to broker the end of the Russo-Japanese War won him the 1906 Nobel Peace Prize. Roosevelt was elected to a full term in 1904 and continued to promote progressive policies. He groomed his close friend William Howard Taft to succeed him in the 1908 presidential election.
Roosevelt grew frustrated with Taft's brand of conservatism and belatedly tried to win the 1912 Republican nomination for president. He failed, walked out, and founded the Progressive Party. He ran in the 1912 presidential election and the split allowed the Democratic nominee Woodrow Wilson to win the election. Following the defeat, Roosevelt led a two-year expedition to the Amazon basin where he nearly died of tropical disease. During World War I, he criticized Wilson for keeping the country out of the war; his offer to lead volunteers to France was rejected. He considered running for president again in 1920, but his health continued to deteriorate. He died in 1919. Polls of historians and political scientists rank him as one of the greatest presidents in American history.