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Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt served as twenty-sixth president from 1901–1909. He gained a reputation as reformer,
conservationist, and "trust-buster" while in office. Frustrated with the excessive conservatism
of his successor, William Howard Taft, and concerned by the apparent control that big business and the
wealthy had over the national government, Roosevelt decided to seek the Republican nomination again in
1912. Although he was clearly the choice of most Republicans, Roosevelt was denied the nomination at a
rigged convention controlled by conservative Republicans. Running as an independent progressive [Bull
Moose] candidate, Teddy Roosevelt beat Taft but finished behind the Democratic candidate, Woodrow Wilson.
This was the best showing by a third party in United States political history.
Roosevelt’s platform was known as the New Nationalism, and it drew inspiration from Herbert Croly’s The
Promise of American Life as well as Roosevelt’s own presidential experience. Here Roosevelt argues
that
the federal government should take a proactive position to advance American democracy. A strong executive
was needed, he said, to offset the power of both big business and big labor. Corporations should not be
arbitrarily eliminated because they were indispensable in the economy, Roosevelt contended, but they should
be controlled and regulated ". . . in the public interest." The New Nationalism also proposed
a comprehensive package of labor and social legislation with the main objective of providing equality
of opportunity.
What great results did Theodore Roosevelt foresee when equality of opportunity finally exists? What threats
did he see from special interests? Considering the current political culture and activities of special
interests, which of his warnings about the activities and politics of corporations and the wealthy appear
true today? Why would people oppose the New Nationalism? Do you think Theodore Roosevelt would have agreed
with President Eisenhower’s warnings about the military-industrial complex? [See Part VI.] Is there a
need for using national government power in this way in the twenty-first century? Would the modern Republican
Party have embraced the views of Roosevelt, one of their greatest historical figures? Compare the New
Nationalism with the Contract With America [Part IV].
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