Megan+D.+-+TR+-+FA09

 Theodore Roosevelt   Born – October 27, 1858   Died – January 6, 1919   Political Party - Republican   Term – 26th President, 1901-1905, no Vice-President   1905-1909, Charles Fairbanks – Vice President  

 Eight months after being inaugurated the President of the United States; William McKinley is shot and killed in Buffalo, New York. His vice President, Theodor Roosevelt, is sworn into office, the youngest man to become President. McKinley’s was the third sitting President to be assassinated. Unlike the prior Vice Presidents that were thrusted into the Presidency under such emotionally stressful and grieving times for our country, Roosevelt with his strong will and personality, lead this country through two terms as president, setting precedents in domestic and foreign affairs, as well as, conservation. He is considered, by many historians, one of our highest five ranking Presidents. This well rounded man earns an A for his accomplishments. 

Due to the tremendous growth in population near the end of the 1800’s, Roosevelt felt it was the government’s responsibility to ensure social justice and economic opportunity. To that end, the President felt the government could regulate big business to protect the welfare of society, which included the busting of trusts. In 1902, Roosevelt went after railroad companies, claiming antitrust violations and unfair billing/rebates on shipping rates to certain big businesses. In his eyes, monopolies were being created and unfair business practices were too common. His goal was to create ‘square deals’, notably in the case of the Pennsylvania coal miners who went on strike. Because of the approaching winter Roosevelt felt a shortage of coal was not acceptable and avoidable if everyone gained fairly in negotiations. When management at the mine refused to negotiate, the President threatened to take over the mine by force and have it run by the government. The mine owners and the union then agreed to have the Interstate Commerce Commission hear the case and decide the outcome. Another goal of Roosevelt’s was conservation. His ideals included managing natural resources, not exploiting them. He, with the help of Gifford Pinchot, head of the forest service, created 150 new national forests, increasing the amount of protected land from 42 million acres to 172 million acres. The President also created five national parks, eighteen national monuments, and 51 wildlife refuges. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">

<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> During both of Roosevelt’s terms, Congress majority was republican, which made passing legislation relatively easy. Although a fight in Congress, the Hepburn Act, which gave additional powers to the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC), gives them the ability to regulate rates in the railroad industry. This legislation was won with public opinion, after Roosevelt took the fight to the people. His administration also approved legislation for the Meat Inspection Act of 1906 and the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906. These acts were aimed at cleaning up the unsanitary conditions in the meat packing industry. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">

<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> Of the many accomplishments of Roosevelt and his administration, the most notable are the conservation acts that we’ve all gained from and the Panama Canal. As stated earlier, the addition of 130 million acres of protected land to the forest service gave all generations to come, preserved land and land management that will allow our country to grow a prosper. The Panama Canal, a lock system for shipping, which connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific, across a forty mile stretch of land in Panama, can be attributed to abilities in foreign affairs. The Canal Allows ships to save valuable time and no longer requiring them to sail around the tip of South America. His achievements in foreign affairs put the United States in the fore front of international politics, putting aside the tradition isolationism of the past. The Panama Canal also gave the United States a military presence in Latin America. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">

<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">With very few low points in his Presidency, changes to the Monroe Doctrine had long term consequences. In what came to be known as the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, Roosevelt asserted that European nations should not intervene in countries to the south of the US, however under certain conditions; United States intervention might be justified. This transpired from debts owed by Latin American countries to European countries and Germany. Roosevelt’s attempts to intervene in European attempts to collect debts were meant to keep economic stability in the southern countries. However, the ideal of attaching amendments to the Monroe doctrine seemed self-serving as the short-term stability is traded for long-term instability.

Ultimately, the President expanded the powers and responsibilities of the Presidential office. Many of Roosevelt’s polices were adopted by Presidents Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Roosevelt. He was a man of many interests and abilities; he could be considered one of the most interesting men to ever become a President. It is obvious that this country is better for having a man like Theodor Roosevelt as President, evident in the fact his face is immortalized in sculpted granite, with George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln at Mt Rushmore in South Dakota. Through executive power with conservation, his progressive ideas, and foreign policy he made a lasting effect on future Presidents and made the United States a world power. The country was better off, and his personality made him popular among the people. Theodore deserves nothing but an A for his Presidency. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">"American President: Theodore Roosevelt." //<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Miller Center of Public Affairs //. Web. 25 Nov. 2009. <[]>.

"Biography of Theodore Roosevelt by Theodore Roosevelt Association." //<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">About Theodore Roosevelt: President and more, from The Theodore Roosevelt Association. // Web. 14 Nov. 2009. <[].>

<span style="color: #262a2c; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">DeGregorio, William A. //<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents //. Fort Lee, N.J: Barricade Books, 2005. Print. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">"Theodore Roosevelt." //<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">The White House //. Web. 14 Nov. 2009. <[]>. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">