Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt’s legacy looms large over U.S. politics. A powerful force in his native New York and a hero of the Spanish-American War before being elected Vice President in 1900, Roosevelt ascended to the Presidency when William McKinley was killed in 1901. Domestic achievements in his nearly eight years in office include the establishment of the U.S. Department of Commerce, the passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act, and the crafting of legislation outlawing monopolistic business practices.  A dedicated conservationist, he also set aside more federal land for preservation than all previous Presidents combined.

Internationally, Roosevelt was instrumental in transforming the U.S. into a world naval power, symbolized by his crowning military achievement – the construction and deployment of the legendary Great White Fleet, which circumnavigated the globe between 1907 and 1909.  In the same spirit he spearheaded the construction of the Panama Canal, which revolutionized commerce and world travel.  Roosevelt also led the way in negotiating the Treaty of Portsmouth, which ended the Russo-Japanese War and garnered him a Nobel Peace Prize.

Theodore Roosevelt’s name is synonymous with strong, resolute leadership and the principles of rugged individualism. His face is carved in the stone of Mount Rushmore, side by side with America’s greatest leaders.

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