Bekah+A.+-+TR+-+FA12

Theodore Roosevelt Jr. October 27, 1858 New York, NY - January 6, 1919 Oyster Bay, NY  Republican Terms: 1901-1904 (following assassination of McKinley), 1905-1909 Vice President: Charles Warren Fairbanks 1905-1909


 * Theme:** Teddy Roosevelt was certainly a large influence on foreign policy, changing the American identity very greatly. His ‘Big Stick Policy’ changed the American’s previous role in the global view, which was little to none. As countries such as Britain and Russia became more and more greedy and imperialistic, Roosevelt controversially joined the imperialistic trend. In his inaugural address, Roosevelt declared it an obligation to intervene as absolutely necessary in Latin America. He defined absolutely necessary as any case of ‘inability…to do justice at home and abroad [that] had violated the rights of the United States or had invited foreign aggression.’ Roosevelt also intervened with foreign efforts when he blocked the isthmus with ships, preventing other vessels from reaching Colombia to suppress the current rebellion.


 * Thesis:** Theodore Roosevelt earned an A for his presidency. He created safety for consumers with the Meat Inspection Act and Pure Food and Drug Act in 1906. He also conducted peaceful diplomacy with Russia, Japan, Great Britain and many other countries, even receiving a Nobel Peace Prize for his negotiating skills. Roosevelt, with his love for the outdoors, also organized State and National Parks not to be destroyed by the greedy corporate timber men, created dams to irrigate the West and created the first national wildlife refuge in Pelican Island, Florida. Although the Panic of 1907 was blamed on him by administration critics, he handled it considerably well and recovery began as soon as spring of 1908.


 * Goals:** As stated in his inaugural address, Roosevelt wished to present the United States to other countries, in words and actions, as one of genuine friendship and a positive attitude. He called for peace and justice as well as protection of the consumer and laborer. Relations with Latin America that involved the promise of intervention only as necessary- mediation and negotiation of the Russo-Japanese War in 1905 and the Gentlemen’s agreement to resolve issues of Japanese immigration tension in California- all proved the United States as a nation of friendly help and compromise as Roosevelt wished. He further protected consumers with the passing of the Meat Inspection Act and the Food and Drug Act in 1906. He assisted laborers with the Anthracite Coal Act in 1902, when he organized negotiations between strikers and mine owners.


 * Congressional Relations:** Roosevelt had an exemplary relationship with Congress as the majority of both the House and the Senate was Republican. Roosevelt enacted few vetoes, showing that he and Congress often saw eye to eye. The Congress also supported Roosevelt’s decisions when many others did not, and worked with him in cases such as the construction of the Panama Canal.


 * Most Impactful Outcomes:** The Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 was by far the most positive legislation by Roosevelt’s administration. The Act was influenced by Upton Sinclair’s //The Jungle// which described in detail unsanitary conditions in the meat industry. ‘Adulterated or misbranded or poisonous or deleterious foods, drugs, medicines and liquors’ were now prohibited in interstate commerce. This thus protected the consumer from unknown substances being placed in their food without them knowing, insuring their health and well-being. The Panic of 1907 was the most negative outcome of the administration, which is surprising considering how short the panic was. Although, Roosevelt was blamed by critics of his administration who claimed that his antitrust and pro-labor policies squeezed corporate profits, the Panic of 1907 began with the failure of the Knickerbocker Trust Company of New York in October. This then led to the failure of 12 banks and some railroads, and the decline of stock prices. This was the most negative part of the panic, as the federal government began depositing funds into hurting banks, the panic began to recover.


 * Future Presidential Administrations:** Theodore Roosevelt’s Big Stick Diplomacy was certainly the most influential on future administrations. He became involved with imperialism, even though much of America was opposed to governing without the consent of the governed. He also began to prove that America did not have to isolate itself from the rest of the world in order to prevent war as it had in the past.


 * Conclusion:** The United States was certainly better off at the beginning of Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency than the end. He earned an A for his dedication to the reformation of the labor industry and advocating for new protection for consumers. He also saved nature from being destroyed companies in the timber industry. His quick thinking recovered the nation from the Panic of 1907 and provided for peaceful negotiations and compromise.

DeGregorio, William A., and Sandra Lee Stuart. // The complete book of U.S. presidents //. 7th ed. Fort Lee, NJ: Barricade Books, 2009. Print.
 * Bibliography: **