Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt, who came into office in 1901 and served until 1909, is considered the first modern President because he significantly expanded the influence and power of the executive office. From the Civil War to the turn of the twentieth century, the seat of power in the national government resided in the U.S. Congress. Beginning in the 1880s, the executive branch gradually increased its power. Roosevelt seized on this trend, believing that the President had the right to use all powers except those that were specifically denied him to accomplish his goals. As a result, the President, rather than Congress or the political parties, became the center of the American political arena. As President, Roosevelt challenged the ideas of limited government and individualism. In their stead, he advocated government regulation to achieve social and economic justice. He used executive orders to accomplish his goals, especially in conservation, and waged an aggressive foreign policy. He was also an extremely popular President and the first to use the media to appeal directly to the people, bypassing the political parties and career politicians.

In facing new industrial conditions, the whole history of the world shows that legislation will generally be both unwise and ineffective unless undertaken after calm inquiry and with sober self-restraint. First Annual Message
First Annual Message

Legacy

Roosevelt became the youngest president yet at age 42 when he rose to the office upon President McKinley’s assassination. He brought his endless energy and love of the outdoors to the national stage, and was the first president committed to conservation of natural resources. He in fact created the U.S. Forest Service and signed the 1906 Antiquities Act, which designated 18 national monuments. He also worked with Congress to establish five national parks and 51 wildlife refuges, as well as to protect more than 125 million acres of land as national forests.

Throughout his political career, even before becoming president, Roosevelt fought corruption and sought to help the poor, with his actions firmly rooted in the belief that all Americans should have a “square deal.” As president, he pursued policy and action that would help balance more fairly the needs of the working class with the interests of business. To that end, he prosecuted monopolies in the business world and also intervened in a coal miners’ strike to help win higher wages and shorter workdays for the miners. He also created the Department of Commerce and Labor to regulate industry and implement laws to control the railroads and food and drug industries.

Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt

Legacy

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