Theodore Roosevelt

**Theodore Roosevelt Jr.** (October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919), also known as **Teddy** or **T.R.**, was an American politician who served as the 26th president of the United States from 1901 to 1909. Before becoming president, he served as the 25th vice president under President William McKinley for six months in 1901. Roosevelt is often ranked as one of the greatest presidents in American history. He earned the Nobel Peace Prize in 1906, making him the first president and the first American to do so, for settling the Russo-Japanese War.

## Early life

Theodore Roosevelt Jr. was born on October 27, 1858, in New York City. As a child he was curious and so he took up studying animals and took up boxing. He went to college at Harvard. He married twice, first to Alice Hathaway Lee and later to Edith Kermit Carow. He had six children: Alice, Theodore Jr., Kermit, Ethel, Archie, and Quentin.

## In politics

After spending time in North Dakota, Roosevelt was elected into the New York State Legislature, and served, as a Civil Service Commissioner and New York City police commissioner (a non-police officer who is in charge of making the police department run smoothly). In 1897, he was appointed Assistant Secretary of the Navy but gave up on that to fight in the Spanish-American War.

Roosevelt became Governor of New York and then Vice-President. After William McKinley was shot and killed, he became President of the United States.

## Soldier

Roosevelt joined the United States Army in the Spanish-American War. He was a Lieutenant Colonel in the 1st U. S. Volunteer Cavalry. The horsemen were called the "Roughriders."

For his actions during the war, Roosevelt was recommended for the Medal of Honor.

In 2001, Roosevelt became the first President to receive the Medal of Honor.

### Medal of Honor

Roosevelt's Medal of Honor recognized his conduct in frontline fighting in Cuba in 1898.

The words of Roosevelt's citation explain:
> Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Roosevelt distinguished himself by acts of bravery on 1 July 1898, near Santiago de Cuba, Republic of Cuba, while leading a daring charge up San Juan Hill. Lieutenant Colonel Roosevelt, in total disregard for his personal safety, and accompanied by only four or five men, led a desperate and gallant charge up San Juan Hill, encouraging his troops to continue the assault through withering enemy fire over open countryside. Facing the enemy's heavy fire, he displayed extraordinary bravery throughout the charge, and was the first to reach the enemy trenches, where he quickly killed one of the enemy with his pistol, allowing his men to continue the assault. His leadership and valor turned the tide in the Battle for San Juan Hill. Lieutenant Colonel Roosevelt's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

## Presidency

President Roosevelt worked to make the U.S. a world power and one of the most powerful countries in the world. Until then, it had been the richest country in the world but not a significant military power. Roosevelt's foreign policy was described by an African proverb as "speak softly and carry a big stick." That meant that without making war, but one should give that impression to be respected. He increased the size of the United States Navy and sent ships across the world to demonstrate to other countries that the United States was strong and could fight if it had to.

He continued the Monroe Doctrine and used the country's military power to influence Latin American politics. He had the Panama Canal built, which allowed ships to travel in less time by taking a shortcut. In doing so, he created the independent country of Panama, which had been part of Colombia, by invading it. He also took a part for the United States, where the canal was built. It was not turned over to Panama until 1999.

As President, Roosevelt was interested in what happened in other countries. In 1905, he helped to end the war between Russia and Japan. It was widely thought that Russia would defeat Japan, but the result was the opposite. Roosevelt met both parties and convinced them to sign a peace treaty. He won a Nobel Peace Prize for that success in 1906. He was the first president of any country to win the prize.

At home, Roosevelt fought for all Americans having a "Square Deal," meaning an equal chance for all Americans to become successful. As part of his Square Deal, he regulated big businesses called trusts and forced several of them to split up in several smaller companies. That should support competition, which he thought was important. Roosevelt supported labor laws for the working class, required meat and drugs to be inspected, and protected the environment. He created several nature reserves.

Those ideas would influence later presidents to expand the government's role in the economy and to help ordinary workers. Many in the Republican Party opposed him, however.

## Later life

Roosevelt did not run for president in 1908, as he had the office for nearly eight years. He wanted Solicitor General William Howard Taft to run for president instead. Taft was chosen, and Roosevelt went to Africa to hunt big game. However, when he came back, Roosevelt thought that Taft was not doing a good job and was taking too little actions against so-called trusts. Taft was also more conservative and did not continue all of Roosevelt's progressive policies.

Roosevelt decided to challenge Taft for the Republican nomination in 1912. He failed, but many Republicans preferred Roosevelt, and instead he launched his own party, the Progressive party. While running for president and holding a speech, he was shot, but lived and even finished his speech. Because the Republican voters were split between Roosevelt and Taft, they lost to Woodrow Wilson. Roosevelt also thought Wilson was not doing a good job either and wanted the U.S. to enter World War I soon after it broke out.

He prepared to run again, for the third time, in 1920. Nobody had served more than eight years at the time. Roosevelt died, however, on January 6, 1919 of a blood clot in his sleep. Because he was so strong, a newspaper commented that "death had to take Roosevelt asleep, because if he had been awake there would have been a fight between him and death."

## Trivia

Besides being president, Roosevelt was an author and historian. He wrote 35 books about politics, ships, and hunting. He is thought to be one of America's presidents who read the most. He owned a large ranch in North Dakota. He also hunted large animals throughout the world and was active with the Boy Scouts of America.

## Legacy

Roosevelt is one of four Presidents to be carved in stone on Mount Rushmore. Historians consider him one of the best U.S. presidents.

### Namesake

Theodore Roosevelt is the namesake of many American schools. He has a national park in North Dakota named after him, a type of elk, as well as river in Brazil. The popular stuffed animal doll, the _Teddy bear_, was named after Roosevelt.

Two US Navy ships are named after him:
- _USS Theodore Roosevelt_ (SSBN-600), a submarine that was in commission from 1961 to 1982
- _USS Theodore Roosevelt_ (CVN-71), an aircraft carrier that has been in the Atlantic Fleet since 1986

## References

**Notes**

## Other websites

- Theodore Roosevelt's White House biography

## Infobox (officeholder)

- **caption**: Roosevelt in 1904
- **order**: 26th
- **office**: President of the United States
- **term start**: September 6, 1901
- **term end**: March 4, 1909
- **predecessor**: William McKinley
- **successor**: William Howard Taft
- **order2**: 25th
- **office2**: Vice President of the United States
- **president2**: William McKinley
- **term start2**: March 4, 1901
- **term end2**: September 6, 1901
- **predecessor2**: Garret Hobart
- **successor2**: Charles W. Fairbanks
- **order3**: 33rd
- **office3**: Governor of New York
- **lieutenant3**: Timothy L. Woodruff
- **term start3**: January 1, 1899
- **term end3**: December 31, 1900
- **predecessor3**: Frank S. Black
- **successor3**: Benjamin Barker Odell Jr.
- **order4**: 5th
- **office4**: Assistant Secretary of the Navy
- **president4**: William McKinley
- **term start4**: April 19, 1897
- **term end4**: May 10, 1898
- **predecessor4**: William McAdoo (New Jersey politician), William McAdoo
- **successor4**: Charles Herbert Allen
- **office5**: President of the New York City Board of Police Commissioners
- **appointer5**: William Lafayette Strong
- **term start5**: May 6, 1895
- **term end5**: April 19, 1897
- **predecessor5**: James J. Martin
- **successor5**: Frank Moss (lawyer), Frank Moss
- **state assembly6**: New York
- **district6**: New York's 21st State Assembly district, 21st
- **term start6**: January 1, 1882
- **term end6**: December 31, 1884
- **predecessor6**: William J. Trimble
- **successor6**: Henry A. Barnum
- **birth name**: Theodore RooseveltJr.
- **birth place**: New York City, U.S.
- **death place**: Oyster Bay, New York, U.S.
- **resting place**: Youngs Memorial Cemetery
- **party**: Republican Party (United States), Republican (1880–1912, 1916–1919)
- **otherparty**: Bull Moose Party, Progressive "Bull Moose" (1912–1916)
- **children**: 6
- **relatives**: Roosevelt family
- **signature**: Theodore Roosevelt Signature-2.svg
- **signature alt**: Cursive signature in ink
- **awards**: Nobel Peace Prize (1906)
- **allegiance**: United States
- **branch**: New York Army National Guard
United States Army
- **rank**: Colonel (United States), Colonel
- **mawards**: Medal of Honor
- **commands**: 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry
- **battles**: * Spanish–American War
** Battle of Las Guasimas
** Battle of San Juan Hill
- **image**: Theodore Roosevelt by the Pach Bros.jpg