Every individual makes decisions on the basis of personal experience and his understanding of the experience of others. In the case of those whose decisions are made on the broad stage of politics, the experiences they turn to are contained in the histories of those who have preceded them. Leaders may seek precedents, or offer interpretations of history, merely in order to support the courses they have already chosen. Many leaders, however, genuinely look to the past for ideas and inspiration. By drawing analogies and parallels between present and past, they hope to determine the best course for the future. But, nothing is easier than to misread history. As May points out, using history as a guide requires an understanding of "the variety and complexity of the past, the tentativeness of most historical reconstructions, and the many hazards associated with claiming that one occurrence is 'like' another" (xxii). May argues that making such informed analyses available to policy makers should be a major priority of any presidential administration. The successes and mistakes of earlier presidents provide examples of how personal experience and historical interpretation have influenced their decisions. As president, Theodore Roosevelt had numerous occasions to call on his own unusual background and on his resources as a historian in making decisions in both the domestic and international spheres. One domestic and one foreign policy issue from Roosevelt's presidential career, will demonstrate the roles that personal experience and historical interpretation can play in presidential decision making.
Theodore Roosevelt was born into a wealthy family and raised in an atmosphere of protected privilege. He was educated at Harvard and surprised his family with his decision to enter politics. He was elected to the New York legislature but, after three years, moved out west to become a rancher and write history. Next, Roosevelt ran fo...