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====Theodore Roosovelt (October 27, 1858 - January 6, 1919) ==== ====Republican (later Progressive) ====

====Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt was the Presidential maverick perhaps most responsible for securing the current US position is foreign relations. Through his “Big Stick” diplomacy, secured the United States political positions abroad, and accomplished diplomatic feats such as the construction of the Panama Canal, solving a Japanese immigration crises, and mediating the Treaty of Portsmouth - which he later won a Nobel Prize for. In addition to succeeding internationally, Roosevelt was also accomplished domestically, and worked to protect consumer rights, establish a strong, reform-minded Supreme Court, and conserve large quantities of national forests. For his demonstrated competency in both foreign and domestic diplomacy, as well as his personal popularity, Teddy Roosevelt is awarded a grade of an A+; a rank given to only the greatest presidents. ====

====Roosevelt’s most lasting effects were in foreign diplomacy where his forceful “Big Stick” doctrine helped establish the United States as an emerging world power. Roosevelt’s push for the construction of the Panama Canal was efficiently and safely executed, and was a major accomplishment for US foreign diplomacy, even though it was opposed by some South American and European countries. The construction of the Panama Canal established the United States as a dominant world power, provided the quickest naval route to the vital Asian market from the West, lowered transport costs, and increased the efficiency of the Merchant Marines. However, Roosevelt’s most successful foreign diplomacy act was the mediation of the Portsmouth Conference, for which negotiations he won a Nobel Peace Prize. ====

==== In addition to his resounding foreign success, was also domestic success centered around protecting consumers - a doctrine fundamental to the Progressives. Most domestic policy initiatives were centered around three C’s - 1) Control of corporations, 2) Consumer protection, 3) Conservationism. Through initiatives such as sustained yield logging, watershed protection and summer stock grazing, Roosevelt created an environment where business and conservationism coexisted. Roosevelt’s "Square Deal" brought ethical oversight to industry through the enactment of political legislation designed to protect workers and consumers. Also, in response to muckrakers such as Upton Sinclair (author of //The Jungle)// , President Roosevelt by using his Big Stick to force the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act through Congress - an action that was not favored by his political party. The final aspect of the Square Deal was trustbusting, establishing industrial regulations preventing unethical actions, and arbitrating in favor of Unions in disputes like the Anthracite Coal Strike of 1902. ====

====Throughout Roosevelt’s Presidency, Congress was mostly Republicans, but not all Republicans were Progressives. This Roosevelt to have considerable influence over Congress, and he rarely had problems passing legislation. Notably, Roosevelt only had one veto overridden by Congressional vote; a surprisingly low number for a politically controversial president, demonstrating Roosevelt’s political efficacy in a time of great social change. The conservative tendencies of Congress, however, did not allow him carte blanche control, for example Roosevelt was largely unsuccessful passing significant womens' rights reforms throughout his term. . Few presidents before and few since have ever been capable of utilizing congress as effectively during the course of their presidency, showing how profound the effect of Roosovelt was on the United States Congress. ====

==== The most successful and beneficial action of Roosevelt’s was the establishment of the Square Deal. This set of legislation provided the industrializing country with an increase in business ethics, food and safety regulations, and workers rights. This legislation also limited the corporate powers of Rockefeller, Vanderbilt, and Gould, allowing smaller businesses to compete in a fair market and bargaining rights for workers. Also, Roosevelt’s appointment of strong Supreme Court Justices had a long-term positive effect on the country. The appointment of Justices Oliver Wendell Holmes and William R. Day allowed the Progressive ideals of Roosevelt’s to be enacted even after he left Presidential office. For example, in //Lochner//  v. //New York// , Holmes voted against the popular opinion to allow states to regulate working hours; a step forward for workers rights. In addition, both of these Justices voted in //Coppage//  v. //Kansas// <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">, to establish that a private contract could be nullified if it violated an individual’s rights, protecting the rights of workers, similar to legislation in the Square Deal. ====

====<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Although very successful as an economic asset, the construction of the Panama Canal was the most negative decison of Roosevelt’s Presidency. The construction, although very safe by early 20th Century work standards, left some South American countries with a negative view of United States and some European countries with disdain of the United States’ growing political influence. However, Roosevelt’s assessment to endure the negative political fallout of the construction of the Canal because of the tangible benefits to trade, industry, and travel demonstrate that he had the forethought to make foreign diplomacy decisions that are unpopular because of the overwhelming benefit they offer. ====

====<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline;">The United States was significantly better off after Roosovelt’s Presidency than it was during the era before. During his Presidency, Roosevelt decreased the influence of unethical corporations through Square Deal Legislature, defended individual rights’ through labor reform policy and increased the international influence of the United States by using Big Stick Diplomacy. For exceptional success domestically, internationally, and persistantly, Roosevelt is given an A+ grade, and is considered one of the best Presidents of United States history. ====

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Bibliography

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