Theodore Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States from 1901 to 1909. He was Vice President when William McKinley was assassinated, and at the age of 42, was the youngest person to become President. He was the first American to win a Nobel Peace Prize for his work to end the Russo-Japanese War. He is known by his nickname, “Teddy.”
Early Life
Theodore Roosevelt was born October 27, 1858 in New York City. As a child, he suffered with severe asthma and adopted an active lifestyle to improve his health. He attended Harvard College and Columbia Law School. He married his first wife, Alice Hathaway Lee, in 1880. After her death, he married Edith Kermit Carow in 1886.
In addition to his work in politics, he was an author, a cowboy, a big-game hunter and a conservationist. He served in the Spanish-American War and became famous for leading the “Rough Riders” up San Juan Hill in Cuba.
In his political career in the Republican Party, he served in the New York State Assembly and the United States Civil Service Commission. He was President of the New York City Board of Police Commissioners and Assistant Secretary of the Navy. He was Governor of New York from 1899 to 1900, when he was nominated for Vice President.
Presidency
Roosevelt pushed for change in his “Square Deal” policies and used his “bully pulpit” to advance progressive reforms. He broke up trusts that controlled corporations, promoted programs to conserve natural resources, and started the departments of Labor and Commerce. He pushed Congress to grant powers to the Interstate Commerce Commission. The Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 regulated the production and sale of food and drugs.
He engaged the nation to think critically about the United States’ role in world affairs. He is credited with securing a route through Panama and starting construction of the Panama Canal.
While Roosevelt was in office, the executive mansion became known as the White House.
Post-Presidency
Roosevelt did not run for reelection in 1908. However, he became dissatisfied with his successor, William Taft, and ran against him as a third party “Bull Moose” candidate in 1912. His campaign split the Republican vote, giving the election to the Democrat, Woodrow Wilson.
Roosevelt died suddenly on January 6, 1919, at the age of 60. He is one of four presidents with his face carved on Mount Rushmore in South Dakota.
