Dear America,

I want you all to picture a young child that, despite his many debilitating medical issues, pursues boxing, hiking, wrestling, writing, and hunting. Now picture this same child as a young man, having just lost his father, deciding to take an unorthodox career choice for someone of his class – entering the political realm. A man who becomes an assemblyman at the age of 23 and, quickly, a rising star in the Republican party, only to retire abruptly from politics to become a cattle rancher. A man who returns to serve in President Benjamin Harrison’s civil service commission– to then become the New York City Police Commissioner. That same man leaves and resigns as police commissioner to become the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, only to leave that position to form the First U.S. Volunteer Cavalry Regiment and fight alongside his troops in the war. This man then rises to become the Governor of New York, Vice President, and, ultimately, President of the United States. He is a man of force, determination, and pure will, embodying the American Spirit of the 20th century. This man is Theodore Roosevelt.

I've read many biographies about our past presidents such as Washington, Jefferson, Truman, Reagan, and Kennedy, all of which are remarkable in their own way. However, only one truly captivated my attention like no other, and that is President Theodore Roosevelt. Today, I decided to reflect on President Roosevelt's life after reading books 1 & 2 in the trilogy collection on Roosevelt's life by Edmond Morrous. In a time when political polarization is at an all-time high, and both parties don't seem to have a party leader that can bridge this divide, I think there's a lot we can learn from Theodore Roosevelt (T.R.). Upon examining the life of T.R., we see him face many trials and tribulations that force him to become the man we remember him as. Throughout his life, T.R. demonstrated that he was a man of integrity; his principles and values served as a compass, leading him to do what was right for the American people, not necessarily for the political party he served. At age 42, Theodore Roosevelt was the youngest-ever President of the United States and a driving force of progressive and anti-trust policies. However, we must understand Roosevelt, the man, to understand Roosevelt, the President.

Throughout his early life, T.R. showed signs of having a clear set of values and morals that he would not budge on, such as corruption. If we look at T.R. throughout his several elected positions such as a young 23-year-old assemblyman or serving under the civil service commission, he was often faced with times that tested his soul. Yet, despite money and influence opposing and threatening him, T.R. always chooses to do what suits the people. His early courage and willingness to sacrifice political standing in favor of morals enabled him to continue moving forward, defying the odds of what it meant to be a politician at the time. Roosevelt became a symbol of anti-corruption, polarizing public and political opinions because it was evident that, as a politician, he could not be controlled.

Roosevelt often found himself unafraid in treacherous situations, whether it be going after corrupt and influential people, fighting in a war, capturing boat thieves as a deputy sheriff, or even hunting big black bears before becoming the President. Roosevelt’s courage and willingness to put himself in the line of fire, I believe, is because of his relationship with death. No stranger to death early in his life, T. R. saw the deaths of his father, mother, and first wife all before the age of 27. Perhaps these early experiences forced T.R. not to fear death but to face it head on, courage that followed him through extreme situations later in his presidency.

Roosevelt's path to the presidency might have been written in the stars; but, it was surely expedited when his political party attempted to limit the power and influence he gained during his governorship of New York. As New York’s governor, we begin to see the principles that would shape his presidency: the insistence upon the public responsibility of large corporations, regulation of railroad rates, protection of the less fortunate members of society, conservation of natural resources, and a balance of labor and capital. T.R., as Governor, was not your typical Republican since he was concerned with social reforms, combating internal corruption, and regulating large corporations. During Roosevelt’s governorship, we see him doing his best to distance himself from the "Machine" of party politics, just as we saw during his time as an assemblyman. However, this time, T.R., was becoming problematic for the old establishment, especially for the "Boss", Senator Thomas C. Platt – one of the most corrupt and powerful leaders of the contemporary Republican party. Boss Platt soon learned that he could not control Roosevelt, and the story goes that Platt conspired with other party leaders to move Teddy Roosevelt out of the Governor's office by maneuvering him into what Roosevelt considered a useless position—Vice President of the United States. Little did they know that “the damned cowboy” would become President shortly after the assassination of President McKinley.

I won’t be able to enumerate all of President Roosevelt’s achievements as a president, so I will do my best to capture some of his key moments. If we analyze his achievements, we can see how Roosevelt's early life and career obstacles developed the character necessary for this success. As aforementioned, Roosevelt always put the general welfare of the American public first – even if it meant causing strife in his own party. One issue that caused a huge divide in his party was his views on capital and labor. During his presidency, Roosevelt worked to balance big business interests and workers' needs. One notable achievement was breaking up Northern Securities Company, the largest railroad monopoly at the time, and regulating Standard Oil, the largest oil company. Furthermore, Roosevelt was responsible for pushing Congress to pass the Meat Inspection Act of 1906 and the Pure Food and Drug Act to bring much-needed regulation to the food industry. These laws were a direct response to public concerns about the unsanitary conditions in meatpacking plants and the safety and quality of food and medications.

At the same time, Roosevelt recognized the importance of organized labor and believed that workers had the right to unionize and negotiate for better wages and working conditions. He supported the creation of the Department of Labor and worked to promote workplace safety and fair labor practices. In 1902, when a coal strike threatened to disrupt the country's energy supply, Roosevelt became the first president to help settle a labor dispute between coal miners and coal operators. The result of this settlement was an improvement in working conditions and a shorter workday for miners.

Roosevelt was not afraid to use force and showcase strength when he deemed it necessary, especially when managing foreign affairs. While his policies can seem controversial to some, Roosevelt believed that the United States had a special responsibility to exert its influence in the world and to promote American values and interests. During Roosevelt's administration, we see America, for the first time taking the steps that would eventually help them become a global superpower. Most notably, was the creation of the Panama Canal, a passage between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through Central America, one of Roosevelt's greatest accomplishments. He was, as well, responsible for the near immediate navy expansion during his time as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, and as President.

While we might often note the aggressiveness of his foreign policy, Roosevelt was also a peacemaker. When Russia and Japan went to war in 1904, Roosevelt played the mediator and urged both countries to find peace, and for this he won the Nobel Prize for Peace, becoming the first U.S. President to do so. Roosevelt also arbitrated a dispute between France and Germany over the division of Morocco, helping to prevent a large-scale war in Europe.

It should be no surprise that the success of Roosevelt's administration had Americans and, by then, even some Republicans calling for Roosevelt to run for a third term. However, T.R. was adamant about not accepting a third term, feeling that a set number of terms provided a check against a dictatorship. I do believe that Roosevelt was wise not to run again in 1909. At that point, Roosevelt had become a larger-than-life figure recognized worldwide, and his views were making it difficult to find common ground with both parties. In the last year of Roosevelt's term, he moved even further left of the Republican Party, calling for a series of reforms that Congress ultimately failed to pass. Especially towards the end of Roosevelt's second term, T.R. doubled down on his rhetoric against “predatory wealth” and the need for labor laws. By the end of Roosevelt’s second term, he will become loved by the American people – but many in Washington were glad to see him gone. It was clear that T.R.’s progressive views no longer had a place in the Republican Party. In the years after he left office, Roosevelt’s dissatisfaction with the path of the Republican party led him to create a progressive party known as the Bull Moose Party under which he eventually did run for a third term, unsuccessfully.

Of course, Theodore Roosevelt had his faults, as every president does; but, one cannot deny his impact on our nation. Even though we may never see a president like Theodore Roosevelt again, there's a lot we can learn from him. Theodore Roosevelt demonstrated that having a set of principles and values, along with the courage to stand by them, is a trait that every person should aspire to have. Without a moral compass, one cannot navigate life's trials and tribulations. Today, we need to restore this integrity. You don't need to become president to make a change; you only need courage.

Signed,

G.S.P.