Rough Riding Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt, a name synonymous with robust leadership, unyielding spirit, and a profound connection to the American landscape, remains a figure of enduring fascination. The 26th President of the United States, serving from 1901 to 1909, was a multifaceted individual, excelling not only in the political arena but also as a military officer, accomplished author, keen naturalist, rugged cowboy, and ardent conservationist. His life was a tapestry woven with threads of intellectual curiosity, physical resilience, and a deep-seated commitment to public service. This article delves into the formative years and pivotal moments that shaped the remarkable life of Rough Riding Theodore Roosevelt.
Born in the bustling metropolis of New York City on October 27, 1858, Theodore Roosevelt, affectionately known as "Teddy," was the son of Theodore Roosevelt Sr., a respected businessman and philanthropist, and Martha Stewart "Mittie" Bulloch, a charismatic socialite. His lineage traced back to an old Dutch family that had arrived from Holland in 1644, establishing themselves in New Amsterdam, the city that would later become New York City. Theodore’s father was a prominent figure in city affairs, renowned for his philanthropy and widely admired. His mother, Martha, possessed striking beauty and charm, coupled with sound judgment and unwavering devotion.
From his earliest days, Theodore faced physical challenges. He was a frail child, plagued by asthma and other ailments that confined him to bed for extended periods. This illness restricted his participation in the boisterous activities of boyhood. However, this confinement fostered a love of learning. He learned to read at a young age, and books became his constant companions, offering solace and escape from his physical limitations. He would engross his siblings, brother, and friends with stories for hours on end.
His formal education was initially sporadic due to his health. He briefly attended Professor McMullen’s Academy near Madison Square. Tutors and governesses provided an inconsistent elementary education, which he supplemented through extensive reading of heroic tales, natural history, scientific treatises, and biographies. At the age of nine, he embarked on a European tour, but his journal entries suggest a young boy yearning for home. A subsequent trip to Europe four years later proved more enriching. By then, he had developed a passion for natural history, finding interest in the birds of Egypt and the Continent, even if the monuments held less appeal. He spent a winter with a German family in Dresden, broadening his understanding of foreign cultures and fostering a deeper appreciation for his own country. Despite his physical frailty, he diligently prepared for college, driven by a desire to overcome his limitations.
During these formative years, Rough Riding Theodore Roosevelt embraced certain ideals that profoundly influenced his character. He admired heroes, with his father being his greatest hero, and sought inspiration from figures in books. He measured himself against these ideals, recognizing his perceived shortcomings in courage and physical strength. Determined to rectify these perceived defects, he embarked on a rigorous self-improvement program. He took boxing lessons and engaged in persistent exercise in the gymnasium his father had installed. The natural world became a source of joy and adventure, transforming his childhood fascination with birds and insects into a scientist’s pursuit of knowledge. When he entered Harvard College in the autumn of 1876, he was determined to become an animal naturalist.
His years at Harvard were marked by personal growth and camaraderie. He was a dedicated student, reading extensively and deeply, and actively participating in a wide range of undergraduate activities, from boxing, fencing, and football to acting, writing, Sunday school teaching, and art discussions. He enthusiastically embraced both intellectual pursuits and social engagements, cultivating friendships and earning the admiration of his peers, who predicted a bright future for him. He matured in both body and mind.
Upon graduating in June 1880, he married Alice Lee of Chestnut Hill, a vibrant and popular member of his social circle during his Harvard years. They traveled to Europe, where Theodore climbed the Matterhorn, seemingly motivated by the dismissive attitude of some Englishmen who believed they were the only ones capable of such a feat. Upon their return to America, his patriotism was stronger than ever, and they settled in New York.
He then abandoned his plans to become a naturalist, uncertain about his future path. While lacking enthusiasm for the legal profession, he enrolled in Columbia Law School and simultaneously worked in the law office of his uncle, Robert Roosevelt. During this time, he completed his book, The Naval War of 1812, which he had begun in college. He also observed the political landscape of his city and joined the Republican Club of the Twenty-first Assembly District.
He quickly gained influence within the club. Through the initiative of Joe Murray, a shrewd local "boss," he was nominated for the Assembly within a year and subsequently elected. In Albany, he rapidly rose to a leadership position. Before the end of his first term, he had become a national figure. By the end of his third, he was a force to be reckoned with in the Republican Party, leading his state delegation to the National Convention, a hero to young people, and the hope of those striving for the triumph of ethical principles in American politics.
He first gained prominence through his courageous attack on a corrupt judge whom his party leaders were trying to protect. With public support, he succeeded through persistent effort in promoting honest government and progressive legislation.
A personal tragedy abruptly halted his political career. In February 1884, his mother passed away suddenly. On the same night, his daughter was born, and 12 hours later, his wife died. He finished his term in the Assembly, tried to nominate his preferred candidate at the Republican Convention in Chicago, failed, and retreated, heartbroken, to a ranch he had purchased the previous autumn on the banks of the Little Missouri River in North Dakota.
For more than two years, Theodore Roosevelt was rarely seen in the social circles of New York City or the political arena. He had seemingly abandoned any political aspirations. He intended to write and did produce an entertaining book of hunter’s tales, a fresh biography of Thomas H. Benton, another of Gouverneur Morris, and a volume about ranch life. He bought a large herd of cattle, summoned his old friends Bill Sewall and Wilmot Dow from Maine, built a house called Elkhorn, and embraced the life of a ranchman, with its hardships, pleasures, and perils.
The desolate landscape and the primitive conditions captivated his imagination. The hardy men who became his companions earned his affection. The wives of Sewall and Dow joined their husbands and managed Elkhorn, creating a home where the days were filled with hard work and camaraderie, fondly remembered as a pastoral idyll.
Working on the round-up, riding for days after stray cattle, hunting across the prairies and up rugged peaks, Rough Riding Theodore Roosevelt finally gained the physical strength he had sought years before. He also gained an understanding of the common man and the West, a deeper appreciation for democracy, and a renewed interest in life. His career as a ranchman ended in the autumn of 1886 when he returned East to accept the Republican nomination for Mayor of New York City. He was defeated by Abram S. Hewitt, the Democratic candidate. That same year, he married Edith Kermit Carow, with whom he had five children, in addition to his daughter from his first marriage.
In 1889, President Benjamin Harrison appointed him to the United States Civil Service Commission, and President Grover Cleveland retained him in that position. He resigned in 1895 to become president of the police board of New York City, where he achieved national recognition for reorganizing the department to promote honesty and efficiency.
President William McKinley appointed him Assistant Secretary of the Navy in 1897. Rough Riding Theodore Roosevelt dedicated his time to preparing for war with Spain, which he believed was inevitable. He used brief periods as Acting Secretary to advance policies he considered vital for national safety. It was through such actions that Dewey received the coal and ships that enabled him to destroy the Spanish fleet at Manila.
When war was declared in April 1898, he resigned and offered his services to the President to raise cavalry regiments authorized by Congress. General Alger, Secretary of War, offered him the colonelcy of one regiment. He declined, requesting that the regiment be given to his friend Leonard Wood, a veteran of the Indian wars and an army surgeon, with himself as lieutenant colonel. The offer was accepted. In early May, the Rough Riders, as they were nicknamed, began assembling in San Antonio, Texas, from across the country. Their training was brief but thorough. Six weeks after the regiment was formed, it was trained and equipped on the firing line outside Santiago de Cuba.
The Rough Riders first came under fire in late June at Las Guasimas, where Roosevelt commanded the center and later the left wing. He demonstrated his bravery, calm judgment, and exceptional leadership qualities.
The Battle of San Juan Hill took place a week later. It was a small but bloody battle in which American casualties were disproportionately high due to the commanding general’s inefficiency. The day before the battle, Colonel Leonard Wood was promoted to Brigadier General, and Roosevelt assumed command of the regiment.
Throughout the day, under heavy Spanish fire, he and his men awaited orders. Messengers sent for orders were killed. Finally, in the late afternoon, the command to advance arrived. He charged forward, conspicuous on his white horse, broke through the line of regulars obstructing his path, and led his men up the hill. Men fell around him, but he remained untouched. At a barbed wire fence, he dismounted and continued onward, his men following closely. He captured the first crest, pushing back the Spaniards, then another, and a third. Inspired by his courage, the American line advanced along the San Juan range. By dusk, the Spaniards were retreating from the city.
Roosevelt returned home a popular hero. The Republicans of New York State, facing defeat, recognized that Roosevelt was their only hope. He was nominated for Governor that autumn and elected after a close campaign.
He immediately focused on reforming state administration, particularly in the management of canals, and significantly expanded the civil service examination system. By the end of his term, he had become the national leader of the progressive wing of the Republican party. Despite his repeated wishes, he was placed on the national Republican ticket as a candidate for vice president. Upon President McKinley’s death in September 1901, Theodore Roosevelt became president.
He retained President McKinley’s cabinet and continued many of his policies. He advocated for anti-trust legislation and reciprocity treaties. In foreign policy, he firmly defended American rights in international disputes. His recognition of the newly-formed Republic of Panama after Columbia rejected the canal treaty, his efforts to ensure fair treatment of European governments by South American republics, and his support for retaining the Philippines drew criticism from conservative elements within his party and the Democratic party. However, his aggressive domestic policy, honesty, sincerity, and executive ability earned him friends in both parties and across all social classes.
Notable domestic achievements of his administration included the establishment of a permanent Census Bureau, the creation of the Department of Commerce and Labor, a significant increase in the navy’s strength and efficiency, army reorganization, and Roosevelt’s personal settlement of the anthracite coal strike of 1902.
President Roosevelt was unanimously re-nominated by the Republican convention in 1904, facing opposition from Judge Alton B. Parker, the Democratic nominee, and candidates from smaller parties. After a relatively quiet campaign, he won by the largest plurality ever recorded for a presidential candidate and a significant majority in the electoral college. During his second term, he continued his vigorous foreign policy and achieved a notable success in mediating the end of the Russo-Japanese War. Domestically, the most important event was the passage of legislation by the Interstate Commerce Commission to regulate railroad rates.
On March 4, 1909, Roosevelt left office after 20 years of executive work, including seven and a half years as President of the United States. He planned an expedition to Africa to hunt and collect natural specimens for the Smithsonian Institution. On March 23, 1909, he, his son Kermit, and a team of naturalists sailed from New York. The African trip lasted about a year, followed by a tour of Europe.
In 1912, a new political party, the Progressive Party, was formed, and Roosevelt became its candidate for President. During the campaign, he traveled the country giving speeches. On October 14, in Milwaukee, Minnesota, he was shot by a man named John Schrank. The wound was not serious, and he resumed campaigning within weeks. In the November election, the Democratic candidate, Woodrow Wilson, won, but Roosevelt received the second-largest vote. In 1916, he was nominated again by the Progressive Party but declined and recommended that the party unite with the Republican Party.
In 1913 and 1914, he visited South America and led a scientific expedition into the unexplored regions of Brazil. The hardships he endured in the jungles of South America caused a serious illness that weakened him for a long time.
During World War I (1914-1918), Roosevelt was a tireless advocate for preparedness and Americanism. He criticized the administration’s policy of neutrality. After America entered the war, he offered to raise a force of volunteers for service in France, but his offer was declined. He then devoted his time and energy to patriotic service at home.
Roosevelt died at his home at Sagamore Hill, Oyster Bay, Long Island, New York, on January 6, 1919. Charles E. Hughes, in a memorial address before the Union League Club of New York, said of him:
"The career of Theodore Roosevelt has a lasting fascination for the young. There was nothing sordid or commonplace or unclean to mar it. His courage, steadfastness, faith, his deeds of daring, physical prowess, his resourcefulness, exploits as a hunter and explorer, intellectual keenness, his personal charm, and his dominating patriotic motive make their irresistible appeal, and in the shaping of the ideals of American youth for generations to come his most important service is yet to be rendered."