Custom essays on Facts about Theodore Roosevelt as the President of the USA

Theodore Roosevelt was the youngest president in the national history, at the age of 43 years. He brought new strength and energy in the presidency, he vigorously led Congress and the American people toward progressive reforms and a strong foreign policy.
Roosevelt was born in New York in 1858 in a wealthy family, but he too struggled – with poor health – and his triumph was possible because he was a supporter of hard living.
During the Spanish-American War, Roosevelt was lieutenant colonel of the regiment of heavy cavalry, which he commanded during the battle of San Juan, and he became one of the greatest heroes of this war.
Roosevelt was a member of the Republican Party, and in 1898 he was the Republican candidate for governor. Roosevelt won and became known and popular governor among people. His decision to start his career on a political basis based on the fact that the policy of the local nobility did not give him any chance and he wanted to express his political and reformist goals only by direct appeal to voters.
In 1900 Roosevelt became assistant of McKinley during the presidential elections and his priest-polarity increased the chances of McKinley to win. But McKinley was fatally wounded by a hired killer on Sept. 6, 1901 and a week later, Roosevelt became the 26th President of the USA.
As President, Roosevelt followed the idea that government should be a good arbiter in conflicts of economic forces of the nation, especially between labor and capital, guaranteeing the rights to everyone and giving preference to no one. He had the view that the president, as “leader of people” can take any action for the good of the people that is not explicitly prohibited by law or constitution. “I did not usurp power,” he wrote, “but I have expanded the boundaries of executive power.” (Auchincloss 2004)
Roosevelt ruled the United States more actively into world politics. His favorite saying was “Speak softly and carry a big stick…” (Auchincloss 2004)
Roosevelt was not a racist in the strict sense of modern racial theory. He was the first president who invited to the White House black men, although his visit to the famous Booker T. Washington was badly criticized. Though he thought that not skin color, but progress of civilization of people was decisive for him.
About the Japanese, whose socio-cultural achievements of Roosevelt admired, he spoke with great respect. He received the Nobel Peace Prize for the Russian-Japanese war, when he concluded an agreement on immigration with Japan.
One of the most interesting achievements of Roosevelt was that in 1907 he sent 16 American warships to circumnavigate the globe. This Great White Fleet as noted by Roosevelt: “became the most important to my actions to move towards peace”. (Auchincloss 2004)
Another interesting achievement was the fact that: Roosevelt was the first president to fly, and the first one that sank in the submarine. Being the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, he supported research and development of naval aviation.
Roosevelt was special in that he clearly understood and tried to make full use of new opportunities of the role of world leading country. He consistently used the possibility of constitutional institution of the presidency, to seek reforms to adapt the American political system to the conditions of the XX century. Likewise, his management style was modern in the sense that he deliberately used the new mass media to increase his personal popularity and political strength. “The most successful politician is the one who as often as possible and as loud as possible speak of the facts that everyone thinks.” (Auchincloss 2004)
Definitely Roosevelt was not the spiritual pioneer of the United States. But due to personal integrity, vitality, energy and political closeness to reality, the world’s knowledge and foresight, he had a charisma that covered his weaknesses and made him one of the most popular U.S. presidents. In the historical consciousness Roosevelt represents the ascent of America to world power.

 
Works cited
Gould L. “Presidency of Theodore Roosevelt”. Lawrence, 1991.
L. Auchincloss. “Theodore Roosevelt, The Rough Riders and an Autobiography. Library of America, 2004