He remains the youngest person to become President of the United States. Roosevelt was a leader of the progressive movement, and he championed his "Square Deal" domestic policies, promising the average citizen fairness, breaking of trusts, regulation of railroads, and pure food and drugs.
Born in October 27th, 1858. He was a sickly child and his asthmatic condition left him in bed in his early years. This made him unable to attend ... the local school, and as a result he was home schooled. When he wasn't studying he was busy studying Naturalism, Ornthology,hunting, and taxidermy (just to name a few).
In 1879, he was admitted into Harvard College as a freshman. He actually was not an exceptional student and was viewed as eccentric and odd. ...However, he did rival many of his classmates in physical activities, and ended up being a runner up in the Harvard boxing championship.
Theodore met Alice Hathaway Lee in his junior year at Harvard. In October 1880 they were married. ...The same year he joined the Republican Party.
On November 8th, 1881 (of the next year) he was elected to the New York State Assembly. He wrote his first published work, "The Naval War ...of 1812", which would establish him as a serious historian.
In 1884 his first born daught was born but tragically his wife Alice died soon after from bright's disease along with his mother on the ... same day. This devastated Theodore he postphoned further political involvement and withdrew to his ranch in the Badlands of (South) Dakota. was there he became a prolific hunter and a deputy sherif for the county not until 1886.
In 1886, he returned to his home New York City after a severe winter wiped out his herd of cattle. It was also later during this year that he ...remarried. He rented the republican candidate for mayor of New York City in 1886 portraying himself as a "Cowboy of The Dakotas". He lost the race to Abram S Hewitt, the son-in-law of former president candidate Peter Cooper.
On May 5th 1895, he became the Police Commisioner of New York City and earned acclaim by finding police corruption.
He was appointed to the post of assistant secretary of the Navy by President William Mckinley in 1897. The Spanish-American war broke out ... during this time. Not being one to avoid the action, he promptly resigned and led a small regiment in Cuba known as the "Rough Riders", earning a nomination for the Medal of Honor.
After the war he returned to New York and was elected governor in a closely fought election. Theodore was elected Vice President on March ... 4th, 1901. He didn't keep that position for long. Six months later, President McKinley was assassinated and Theodore took the oath of office at age 42. During his presidency he passed significant laws, such as, a 'Meat Inspection Act of 1906' and the 'Pure Food And Drug Act'. His policies were openly progressive in nature and his famour for coined the phrase: "square deal", meaning that the average citizen would get a fair share under his policies. His foreign policies were characterized by his slogan "speak softly and carry a big stick".
His chapter in life as a president came to a close after serving two presidential terms by 1909. Soon after leaving office he embarked ... on a safari trip to Africa. He and his friends trapped more than 11,397 animals. They captured a vast variety, ranging from insects and moles to hippopotamuses and elephants. These animals were mounted and sent to Smithsonian. Because of the huge amount of specimens collected many were sent to smaller museums.
He returned to the U.S. in 1910 and was immediately unimpressed with the policies of this presidential successor William Howard Taft. ... As a result, he decided to run for president againt but was denied entry into the race by the Republicans. He then form his own independent party, the "Bull Moose Party".
While campaigning in Milwaukee Wisconsin on October 14th, 1912, Roosevelt was shot by a saloonkeeper. He declined medical attention, ... and instead delivered a scheduled speech that lasted 90 minutes. There were three contenders in the election that year: Republican Taft, Roosevelt and Democrat Woodrow Wilson. While he beat Taft, he lost his election to Wilson.
On January 6th, 1919, Theodore Roosevelt passed away in his sleep at the age of 60. It was said that "Death had to take Roosevelt sleeping, ...for if he had been awaken there would have been a fight."
Although some of his political policies and subject remain the subject of controversy and crtique, his incredible courage and stamina, his adventures and his honest and forthright character and personality still continue to inspire us today.