Definately one of our best. His adventures have long been legend. His bravery and toughness fact. Leading the charge up San Juan Hill, conqueror of Spanish Cuba.
Teddy the trust buster, the first President to have a black man as guest of honor at the white house. The first President to have a boxing ring set up in the white house, and then the first to take judo lessons there.
Responsible for the first black cadet at West Point. Wanting more funding for the military, Roosevelt sent a fleet of ships half way around the world, and then told the Congress, that
if they
...Speak Softly
and Carry a
Big
Stick...
wanted the ships back home they would have to appropriate the funds to do so. An American businessman, taken hostage in a middle eastern country, the Sultan wired Roosevelt of the problem and offered to act
as "mediator" with the kidnappers. Roosevelt's response was read to the Congress and received a standing ovation.....US businessman alive, or Sultan DEAD. The fleet was then sent out to ensure either option. The fist conservationist president, he established the National Parks Service. After his two terms as President, hunting lions in Africa to pass the time.
"Speak softly and carry a big stick"....I am sure that most are familiar with his creed.
But how many of you have actually heard him speak?
Check out iAmericanRight multimedia and you shall! Among the other goodies there, are several recordings of Roosevelt espousing the Progressive Pary line of rule by the people as opposed to a few self annointed elites .
He makes, what amounts to, a campaign commercials and speeches on early Edisons, the recorded cylinder to be copied and distributed for public consumption. At the time he was the candidate for the Bull Moose Party, which he founded, running against his former ally President Taft (GOP) and Wilson for the Dems. Taft got trounced (there is hope Ohio!) but Wilson won it.
Listen to the calm, reasoned logic of the man. His style was that of teacher, but the words were steel. And, most importantly for we in our time, he defines conservatism to such a degree, that one would have thought that he was the personal mentor of "The Gipper" himself (Ronald Reagan for those of you brought up in the public school system). Check it out!
TR
