ROOSEVELT, THEODORE, an American
statesman, historian, essayist, publicist, naturalist, explorer, civil and political reformer, soldier, 26th president of the United States. Born, New York City, Oct. 27, 1858; was graduated from Harvard University 1880, and was subsequently the recipient of many honorary degrees from American and European universities. During early life Roosevelt was frail, but succeeded in building up a strong physical constitution by exercise and open air life.
After graduation he engaged in the
study of law, but abandoned the pursuit
to become a member of the New York
State Legislature, 1882-84, representing
the 21st Assembly District of New York. The key to his later attitude as a reformer will be found in his indignation over the decision of the Court of Appeals that a law he had fathered in favor of public health by prohibiting the manufacture and the preparation of tobacco in tenement-houses was declared unconstitutional.
He was a delegate to the Republican
National Convention, 1884, and during
the campaign supported James G. Blaine. From 1884-86 he lived on a ranch in North Dakota, which gave the background for his subsequent writings on life in the far west. In 1886 he was defeated for the
mayoralty of New York City by Abram
F. Hewitt. Upon appointment by President
Benjamin Harrison, Roosevelt
became a member of the United States Civil
Service Commission serving 1889-95. Into this work he threw great enthusiasm, and forced the question of civil service reform upon Congress and the American people. He resigned in 1895 to become President of the Board of Police Commissioners for the City of New York, in which position he probably made himself
more felt than any other official in the
history of the city.
At the request of President McKinley
in 1897 he resigned to become Assistant
Secretary of the Navy under John D. Long of Massachusetts. Foreseeing that war with Spain was inevitable, he insisted on putting the United States fleet in preparation for instant action. When the war with Spain came he resigned his naval position, May 6, 1898, and entered the military service as Lieutenant Colonel, First United States Cavalry Volunteers, known subsequently as the “Rough Riders.” He was in command of his regiment in the fight at San Juan Hill, was commended for gallantry and promoted to be Colonel.
In November, 1898, Roosevelt was
elected Governor of the State of New
York. During his incumbency he fought
strenuously against boss control and for
the many measures he had advocated
while United States Civil Service
Commissioner.
The Republican National Convention in
Philadelphia, 1900, nominated him for, the
Vice-Presidency on the McKinley ticket, a candidacy which Roosevelt was very reluctant to accept. President McKinley was assassinated on Sept. 14, 1901, and Roosevelt succeeded to the Presidency at the age of 43. During his term of office he fulfilled his promise and adhered strictly to the Republican platform and principles as enunciated by McKinley during the campaign, and retained the Cabinet which McKinley had chosen. One of his outstanding acts was to appoint the Anthracite Strike Arbitration Commission, which brought about peace in the anthracite coal regions for many subsequent years.