Dan+E.+-+TR+-+SP10



October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919
 * __Theodore Roosevelt__**
 * Term(s): ** September 14, 1901 – March 4, 1909 //(2 terms)//
 * Political Party:** Republican (Founded “Progressive” Party in 1912)
 * Vice President:** Charles W. Fairbanks (1905-1909, no VP during 1st term)

Theodore Roosevelt became the 26th President of the United States of America following the assassination of President McKinley. Throughout his years in the nation’s highest office, Roosevelt became well known for his excellent leadership and his aggressive policies. His support of the Progressive Movement and his “Big Stick” foreign policies made him one of the most successful and most revered presidents ever. Due to his accomplishments, Roosevelt deserves an A grade for his presidency.

Although Theodore Roosevelt didn’t “run” for the presidency and express his views through a specific platform, there is no question as to where he stood on current issues. From the start of his presidency Roosevelt made it clear that his main objective was to assist the Progressive Movement by bringing the corporations and trusts under the power of government. So, to accomplish this he passed a series of laws that would weaken the power of the trusts, and also improve life for the “regular” citizens. Notable legislation against “Big Business” includes the Elkins Act of 1903, which imposed heavy fines on railroads that issued rebates, and also Roosevelt’s expanding the Interstate Commerce Commission. Next, Roosevelt set out to improve the quality of the workplace and the quality of the products these places produced. He accomplished these goals by issuing laws that allowed the federal government to inspect products that were being shipped and transported, such as meat. Other goals that Roosevelt had during his presidency were to spread American power onto the world stage and to push the issue of conservation in America. These goals were accomplished through aggressive tactics like the building of the Panama Canal, Roosevelt’s Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, and more legislation like the Forest Reserve Act and the Desert Land Act. Roosevelt had various goals that he intended to accomplish throughout his term, and all of these goals were successfully accomplished through Roosevelt’s straightforward attitude and excellent leadership.

At the time of Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency both houses of Congress were majority Republican. This was good for Roosevelt because, even though the majority wasn’t overwhelming, having a Congress that is mainly the same party as the president allows for easier legislation passing and usually better president-Congress relationships. Such was the case for Roosevelt and his Congress, and the large number of influential legislation Roosevelt passed during his administration evidences this. Due to the many goals Roosevelt had as president, he set about to pass many laws and acts to bring about reform. Congress aided him in his efforts by complying with his policies and voting for almost every bill Roosevelt presented to them. Further evidence of a positive President-Congress relationship is the surprisingly low number of vetoes by Roosevelt. During his two terms, Roosevelt had only 82 vetoes, which is surprisingly low when compared to presidents who came before him, such as Grover Cleveland, who vetoed 584 bills in his eight years in office. Overall, a good President-Congress relationship was essential at the time of Roosevelt’s administration because there were so many critical issues that needed to be taken care of during this time of immense change in America, and Roosevelt and his Congress were successful in their relationship and in handling these critical issues.

With so many pressing issues at the time, and because of how well Roosevelt handled these issues, there were many positive outcomes of the president’s administration. The most positive outcome of his administration was Roosevelt’s Square Deal and his support of the Progressive Movement. The Square Deal was a three-pronged program that focused on the domestic issues of conservation of nature and natural resources, control of corporations and consumer protection. During the early 1900s, when Roosevelt was first elected, America was burning up resources like a wildfire and big business was running rampant. The American public and the middle class had long been oppressed and were pushing for reform and protection from the monopolies. Roosevelt gave a voice to the masses with his Square Deal, which issued legislation to accomplish its three goals. In order to conserve resources that were being used up with amazing rapidity, Roosevelt issued minor acts like the Desert Land Act, which lead to more important acts like the Forest Reserve Act. This act gave the government the ability to set aside land to be protected and preserved, effectively slowing the use of natural resources. To control the Trusts, Roosevelt and Congress passed the Interstate Commerce Act and the Elkins Act, and also attempted to differentiate between “good” and “bad” trusts. These maneuvers on Roosevelt’s part brought monopolies under the control of the Federal Government. Lastly, Roosevelt established protection for consumers by creating federal groups that would inspect factories to ensure that conditions were sanitary. In total, Roosevelt’s Square Deal was the most positive aspect of his administration and improved the conditions of life in America, as well as increasing the popularity of the president.

Arguably the most negative outcome of Roosevelt’s presidency is one that in turn led to very positive reforms. The “Roosevelt” Panic of 1907 was a short-lived financial recession that caused a scare throughout America about the country’s current financial state. Many people blamed this recession on Roosevelt’s extreme policies, saying that his policies had upset the fragile balance of industry that had been so productive over the past few years. Roosevelt in turn blamed the crisis on the small number of wealthy people that controlled the economy. In just one year, the stock market dipped to just above half of what it had been in the previous year, which led to runs on banks, criminal accusations against speculators and many filed bankruptcies. Although at the time this “panic” was a financial crisis, it caused large-scale reforms of economic policies in America and would eventually lead to monumental legislation, namely the Federal Reserve Act of 1913. So even though the economic recession caused panic and crisis in 1907, and was the worst part of Roosevelt’s administration, it did lead to much needed reform.

The most long lasting aspect of Roosevelt's administration was his foreign policies. Roosevelt's few of foreign issues can be summed up with the phrase "speak softly and carry a big stick". Roosevelt represented this ideology by being a peaceful negotiator, but at the same time, always threatening to use the "big stick" to get what he wants. Roosevelt used this policy many times, including such notables as in the suppression of the Anthracite Coal Miners Strike, the Venezuelan affairs in 1902, and also in Cuba. The most notable of all the "Big Stick" examples is one that reaped the most benefits for America, that being the Panama Canal. Panama was the optimum location for America to build a canal, which would hopefully serve as a prosperous economic site. After the U.S. helped Panama to gain it's independence from Colombia, America apparently gained the rights to build the canal. But, Panama was opposed to the idea and tried to prevent America from building the canal. Roosevelt, in typical "Big Stick" fashion, just went ahead and built it. He later proclaimed "I took the canal, and left the debating to Congress". The "Big Stick" of Roosevelt would influence future generations because these economic outlets and establishments would stimulate the economy and cause America to prosper, as well establish the U.S. as a international power on the world stage, a title it still carries today.

At the end of Roosevelt's presidency America was definitely better off then it had been. Prior to Roosevelt's administration, there had been a series of presidents who were essentially very lazy and didn't do much to improve the state of the country. Roosevelt ended this from the day he stepped into office until he left, through his Square Deal and improving life for the middle class American, as well as through his aggressive "Big Stick" foreign policies that introduced America as a world power and also improved the economy. This, and all of the many accomplishments of Roosevelt during his eight years in the White House contribute to his very high grade of an "A" and to the reason why he was one of the most popular and successful presidents ever.


 * __ Bibliography __**

Bailey, Thomas, David Kennedy, and Lizabeth Cohen. The American Pageant: A History of the Republic, 12th Edition. 12 ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2002. Print.

Degregorio, William A.. The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents, Seventh Edition (Complete Book of Us Presidents). 7 ed. Fort Lee: Barricade Books, 2009. Print.

"About Theodore Roosevelt: President and more, from The Theodore Roosevelt Association.." //About Theodore Roosevelt: President and more, from The Theodore Roosevelt Association.//. The Theodore Roosevelt Association, n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2010. []