Theodore Roosevelt Essay -- Presidents History Essays

Theodore Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt was fond of quoting an old African proverb that admonished people to "speak softly and carry a big stick." Ironically, it was his thunderous voice that made him president, earned him enemies and brought him friends. That voice also made him the bulwark of the Progressive Movement. On October 27, 1858, Roosevelt was born on East Twentieth Street in New York City to Martha Bulloch, who he described as a "sweet gracious, beautiful Southern Woman" and Theodore Roosevelt Sr., who he wrote was "the best man I ever knew." Roosevelt was born into wealth, with his father a henchman of the family firm, Roosevelt & Son. Roosevelt’s grandfather, Cornelius Van Schaack Roosevelt, had earlier redesigned the business so it focused on selling plate glass instead of retail hardware. When the financial Panic of 1837 struck New York, Roosevelt’s grandfather bought up land. The plate glass business was sold to a British firm in 1876 and it changed its focus again – this time moving into the private banking and investment business. As Roosevelt grew up, his uncle, James A. ran the business, but his father received a portion of the enormous profits. (Renehan, 16) Roosevelt was a frail and asthmatic child who was teased and bullied. He gradually overcame his ailments be becoming physically active, learning to box and ride horseback. He looked forward to the long vacations his family spent in the country, where he could revel in the countryside and its wildlife. While he was still a young boy, he became interested in natural history and zoology. His interest in hunting and nature were a lifetime passion for Roosevelt. In the fall of 1876, Roosevelt entered Harvard, where he graduated in 1880. "I thoro... ...cted, it became clear that the United States would probably become involved in Europe’s war whether it wanted to or not. Roosevelt began lobbying Washington so he could raise a division of infantry and cavalry to serve in Europe. He did not receive favorable responses and journeyed to Washington D.C. to personally speak with Secretary of War Newton D. Baker and President Wilson. His wish to create a division was refused. Roosevelt would later write a friend that Wilson’s soul was "rotten through and through." In 1918, Roosevelt was once again consorting with Republican conservatives such as Taft and Elihu Root, who were opposed to Wilson and his League of Nations. Roosevelt was overjoyed in 1918 when republicans won a Senate majority. Early in 1919 he was boasting that he would be given the Republican nomination for president in 1920. But he died on January 6, 1919.