Theodore Roosevelt Essay

Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt's Early Life
Theodore Roosevelt was born on October 27, 1858 in New York City. He was known as “Teedie” in his early years and after renamed “Teddy”. Teddy Roosevelt was born as a week, frail and very sick boy. As he became a teenager he began a program of gymnastics and weightlifting so that he could build up strength and prove otherwise his condition. When he was graduating from Harvard College in 1880, Teddy married a fair woman by the name of Alice Hathaway Lee. He then entered the Columbia University Law School but dropped out after a year so he could enter public services. At the age of 23, he was elected into the New York State Assembly and served from 1882 through 1884. On February 14 1884, his wife died of child birth complications and his mother also died that same day from typhoid fever. Roosevelt was so devastated by both losses that he abandoned his political work. He made a self recovery by spending the next two years on a ranch in the badlands of the Dakota. He hunted big game, drove cattle and worked as a frontier sheriff. When he returned to New York, he met his childhood love, Edith Kermit Carol, and he remarried. Together they raised six children and his first daughter, Alice.
The Rough Riders In 1886, Teddy Roosevelt ran for the mayor of New York City. Although he was unsuccessful, President Benjamin Harrison appreciated Roosevelt’s service to the Republican Party and gave him a spot on the U.S Service Commission. He was readdressed by Grover Cleveland, Harrison’s successor. After a while, teddy became the president of the New York City Board of Police Commissioners, and later on the US president, William McKinley gave him the title of assistant secretary of the U.S. Navy. When the Spanish-American War broke out in 1898, Roosevelt left his post as naval secretary to become colonel of the First U.S. Volunteer Cavalry and lead them. His Calvary was known as the "Rough Riders." Once he was in Cuba, he led the Rough Riders to victory by leading the Rough Riders at a brave uphill charge during The Battle of San Juan. Upon coming back home he was one of the most visible heroes of war.
Teddy's Start to the White House
The republican political machine that was led by Boss Tweed gave Roosevelt their support when he got back from the war as a hero. With their support Roosevelt was able to defeat a popular candidate to win governship of New York. One he was elected, Roosevelt showed the people his independence and bravery against the party bosses of the political machine. In 1900, the New Work Republican, Thomas C. Platt made an agreement with Mark Hanna, the national party boss, to be named as William McKinley’s partner so that Roosevelt couldn’t run for a second term in the governor’s office. Roosevelt worked hard in his campaign for McKinley by traveling to more than 24 states 21,000 miles over train. McKinley and Teddy won in a landslide against the Democrats Adlai E. Stevenson and William Jennings Bryan.
Unexpected President
On September 6, 1901, a deranged anarchist, Leon Czolgosz, shot President McKinley at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. His wound was serious and he died eight days later. Being the vice president, Teddy Roosevelt was sworn into presidency as the 26th president. He was the youngest president in the nation's history at 42 years old, and his hardiness changed completely the aspect of the presidency. During the time of the First Annual Message to Congress members in December 1901, Teddy showed his progressive belief that the government should be even between conflicting forces like labor and capital, isolationism and expansionism, conversation to the natural resources and development, as a way to stabilize the American society.
Roosevelt's Policy
Roosevelt made a domestic program called the "Square Deal", which promised to battle large trusts but also

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