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Theodore Roosevelt ** // Date of Birth: October 27, 1858  // // Date of Death: January 6, 1919  // // Political Party: Republican  // // Terms of Office: September 14, 1901- March 4, 1909 (2 terms)  // // Vice President: First term- No Vice- President  // // Second term- Charles W. Fairbanks  //

Known as hero of San Juan Hill, “trust buster,” and inventor of the Big Stick (Policy), Theodore Roosevelt served a very controversial presidency. Though known for his impulsiveness and radicalism, Roosevelt’s enormous popular appeal won him the seat of vice- president for McKinley. After McKinley was shot six months into his presidency, Roosevelt then entered the presidential office. From thorns in the presidency, such as the Panama Canal ordeal, the perversion of the Monroe Doctrine, and the Panic of 1907, to roses, like the “Gentlemen’s Agreement,” the Root- Takahira Agreement, the Square Deal, the creation of the Department of Commerce and Labor, extension of executive power, the Meat Inspection Act, and preservation of national forests, overall, Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency deserves a B+.

After President McKinley’s assassination, T.R. strode into office ready to make several significant changes. Among some of his goals were the modernization, expansion, and reformation of the federal government, which included the regulation of trusts and business monopolies, and a canal across the Central American isthmus. As part of his administration, the U.S. Civil Service Commission drafted and implemented foundations of what is now the modern merit system. Reforms included definitions for “just cause” by which an employee could be dismissed, requirements for stricter compliance of the restrictions against political activity by federal officials, regulations forbidding the disbursing of officers from paying the salaries of peoples illegally appointed to civil service positions, the establishment of the modern job survey in the federal service, and a position- classification plan based on job duties. Further federal government expansion during the Roosevelt administration included the formation of a new Department of Commerce and Labor, an addition of almost 150 million acres of public lands as public conservation areas, and new laws protecting the health of Americans and regulating the drug industry. Although not achieved as easily or with as much approval, Roosevelt also achieved his goal of building a canal through the Central American isthmus towards the end of 1903. Wanting to increase the strength of the navy by increasing its mobility, and hoping that a canal would also make defending the recent acquisitions of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and the Philippines easier, while facilitating the operations of the American merchant marine, Roosevelt ran into problems both in his own country and in Panama. After a Panamanian revolution and more forcing of the Big Stick, a treaty was finally signed, however, which left the initial price of the canal strip the same but widened the zone from six to ten miles. This finally resulted in the acquisition of the Panama Canal.

Theodore Roosevelt’s relationship with Congress, at best, was strained. To Roosevelt, the executive officer, by definition, had to run the show and often vehemently criticized the legislative branch. T.R.’s view was that “every executive officer .. was a steward of the people bound actively and affirmatively to do all he could for the people, and not to content himself with the negative merit of keeping his talents undamaged in a napkin.” He regarded Congress as “indecisive and irresolute as an institution.” Roosevelt was the first Progressive president bent on improving the United States with all of his might and he refused to let his vigorous courses of action be delayed by Congress’ debate.

Perhaps the most positive outcome during T.R.’s presidency was his Square Deal for Labor. A term used by Roosevelt in his campaigns against financial trusts, business interests that controlled markets or restrained trade, and the domination of the U.S. economy by the “predatory rich,” Roosevelt promised, “I shall see to it that every man has a square deal, no more and no less.” Although Theodore Roosevelt was not against large corporations and had no intentions of eliminating large accumulations of private wealth, he did intend to act against their tendencies to use the powers of national and state governments against labor and consumers by creating a new cabinet Department of Commerce and Industries, which would be able to regulate industries engaged in interstate commerce. A Department of Commerce and Labor was created by Congress in 1903 but it was not given the regulatory powers suggested by the President. T.R. then turned to the courts to reduce excessive corporate powers in the market place. Most likely his most famous lawsuit was against the Northern Securities Company, a creation of the financier, J.P. Morgan. Morgan had combined several railroads, along with E.H. Harriman and James J. Hill, into the company in an effort to obtain a monopoly on rail transport in the Midwest and the Far West. The Supreme Court upheld Roosevelt in 1904 by dissolving the merger. Additionally, T.R. filed suits against Standard Oil and tobacco and meat trusts for violations of the Sherman Anti- Trust Act and, in 1906, consolidated his Square Deal with several victories, some of which included the Meat Inspection Act, the Pure Food and Drug Act, and the Hepburn Railroad Act, which regulated industries and prevented trusts from fixing prices or providing consumers with unsafe products.

Theodore Roosevelt’s most negative decision during his presidency would be concerning the Panama Canal. While a great and necessary idea, T.R. was more up against legal obstacles than geographical obstacles. In 1850, the United States had concluded with Britain in the Clayton- Bulwer Treaty, that the U.S. could not secure control over such a route. This was quickly overcome in 1901 when the British consented to the Hay- Pauncefote Treaty, which not only gave the United States a free hand to build the canal but conceded the rights to fortify it as well. After Congress decided on the Panama route in 1902, attention fell on Colombia, of which Panama was an unwilling party. Once a highly favorable treaty to the United States was negotiated between Washington and a Colombian government agent in Bogota, a six- mile wide zone was leased. Unfortunately, the Colombian Senate rejected the treaty, which threw Roosevelt into an outrage. Panamanians, fearing that they would lose the prosperity, which would most likely be a result of the construction of the canal, began a revolution. T.R. made things worse when he had U.S. naval forces block Colombian forces from crossing the isthmus, justifying this questionable interference by a strained interpretation of a treaty made in 1846 with Colombia. Three days after the Panamanian uprising, Theodore Roosevelt quickly extended the American right hand of recognition, which opened the door for the new Panamanian minister to sign the Hay- Bunau- Varilla treaty in Washington, thereby giving the United States the canal zone. Although Roosevelt did not actively plot to tear Panama away from Colombia, conspirators knew of his angrily expressed views and counted on his usage of the big stick to hold Colombia at bay. This entire affair blackened and demoralized the United States’ image in the eyes of the European imperialists and created further tension in foreign affairs.

By far, T.R.’s most lasting and significant contribution was the permanent preservation of National Forests, Parks, game and bird preserves, and other federal reserves. By 1900, only about a quarter of the once- vast virgin forests remained standing. Most of the lumber from Maine all of the way to Michigan had been logged off and continued movement outwards was showing. In response, Roosevelt proceeded to set aside some 125 million acres in federal reserves and similarly earmarked millions of acres in coal deposits, as well as water resources useful for irrigation and power. Roosevelt even went as far as banning Christmas trees from the White House.

As 1909 rolled around, bound by his impulsive postelection promise after his victory in 1904, T.R. was finally ready to step down, although he was still largely popular. It can only be imagined the pride he must have felt, having achieved many significant goals. While his presidency was not perfect and was prone to several selfish, impulsive hissy fits, Theodore Roosevelt protected capitalists against popular indignation and socialism and mightily sought the middle road between unbridled individualism and paternalistic collectivism. America most certainly was better off after his presidency and, for this reason, Roosevelt’s presidency deserves a B+.

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.

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"Square Deal." //Answers.com//. U.S. Government Guide. Web. 23 Apr. 2010. .

"Theodore Roosevelt." CB Presidential Research Services, 2010. Web. 22 Apr. 2010. .

"Theodore Roosevelt." //US Office of Personnel Management//. Web. 22 Apr. 2010. .