Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt is characterized by biographer Edmund Morris (2001) as an extremely talented individual whose drive, ambition, and will were sufficient to lead to the presidency. In Theodore Rex, Morris (2001, p. 118) argues that when the character and competencies of Roosevelt are considered, one recognizes that "legislation... was not his forte. Public leadership was." Rather than being or performing as a master legislator in the way that later presidents such as Lyndon B. Johnson performed, Teddy Roosevelt used his own charisma and force of will to bring about the kind of policy changes and programs that he valued regardless of whether or not these policies and programs were likely to have originated from within the electorate. As this review will demonstrate, Teddy Roosevelt was the first of the Progressive presidents who led the United States at a time when the country was becoming a modern, urbanized, industrialized, and capitalist world power.
Roosevelt's contribution to the advance of the American agenda in the era following Reconstruction is described by Morris (2001) as instrumental in reuniting a country that had been deeply divided and struggled to reconstruct itself after the Civil War. Even though Roosevelt did not take office until 1901, some 36 years after the Civil War ended, he took charge at a time in the nation's history when national government was much needed to address multiple problems that fractured and fragmented the country. As Morris (2001) suggests, among these problems were rising labor organization, conflict between unions and the new industrial conglomerates, questions regarding trusts and monopolies, and race relations.
Roosevelt was head of a nation that had suddenly acquired an empire via its occupation of the Philippines and Cuba. He served when plans were underway for building a canal across the Panamanian isthmus. Also of significance at this particular time were qu...