Theodore Roosevelt: Letters and Speeches

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(Theodore Roosevelt)


"Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far." Chicago, Illinois, April 2, 1903 (761)
Theodore Roosevelt used this West African Proverb in Chicago, Illinois, April 2, 1903 to encourage the nation to take less time talking about their goals, but insted take action by striving to acheive them. At the time he gave this speech in Chicago, he beleived that a strong navy, and the Monroe Doctrine would go far and he strived to acheive both of these goals as he encouraged others to do the same with their own lives. This quote is still used by many today to convey a similair message that one must take action with their goals rather than waste time discussing how they would like to acheive them in the future.

Biography

 (Theodore Roosevelt Whitehouse)
(Theodore Roosevelt Whitehouse)

Roosevelt was born in New York City in 1858 into a wealthy family, but he had his own struggles with his health and became a romodle for taking on the "strenuous" life. He came to presidency after President Mckinley's assasination at age 43, and he became America's youngest president to have served thus far.
The nation was thrilled with this new young presidents bold ideas as he led Congress and the American public toward reforms and a strong foreign policys. Although, he was young, Roosevelt differed greatly from the log cabin presidence. He was rather borth into a wealthy family but he understood the importance of overcoming struggle because his health issues confronted him with many. He soon became known as not only a president, but an extroidinary example of how to overcome adversity.
Theodore Roosevelt was a devoted beleiver in the importance on family, hard work, and womens rights. In 1884 Alice Lee Roosevelt, who was his first wife, and his beloved mother ironically died on the same day. This was another struggle for Roosevelt to overcome, and it wasn't easy. He spent many days on his ranch, and finally came around to making a life-changing trip to London on December 1886 where he met and married Edith Carow. After marrying Edith he went on to have five more children- Theodore Jr., Kermit, Ethel, Archibald, and Quentin. As Alice was the oldess the ofter watched over the children and was also known to be very well liked by the public eye.
Roosevelt was also a remarkable general, and during the Spanish-American War, Roosevelt was lieutenant colonel of the Rough Rider Regiment. This led to the battle of San Juan, which is one of the battles that made him known as a very notable leader. He took great passion in the Rough Riders, and the combination of his hard work and constant acheivement to find a way to overcome struggles made him known as one of our countries greatest leaders. He went on to winning the Nobel Peace Prize.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/tr26.html

"The object of government is the welfare of the people." "Conservation means development as much as it does protection. I recognize the right and duty of this generation to develop and use the natural resources of our land; but I do not recognize the right to waste them, or to rob, by wasteful use, the generations that come after us."
"The New Nationalism" speech, Osawatomie, Kansas, August 31, 1910 (799)
The New Nationalism was Theodore Roosevelts political philosophy. He made the speech in Osawatony, Kansas in August 1910. The central issue he argued was human welfare against property rights. He argued that only a powerful government could garauntee this sosial justice. He beleived that industries were not harmful, as long as they were responsible. He was not fond of government courts regulating business; he wanted the executive agencies to do this. He beleived that the government should protect the laboring men, women and children from exploitation.
"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." "The Man in the Arena" Citizenship in a Republic (781)
This was a speech at the Sorbonne in Paris, France, 1910. This speech conveys, once again, how important Theodore beleived it was for an individual to take action in acheiving his or her goals despite ones fear of faliure. This quotes shows that it is only human to fail when you are competing and taking action, but Theodore bodely expresses the importance of not paying attention to the ones on the side who constantlycritisize rather than take action themselves. One who has not competed cannot begin to relate and they will never obtain a sense for the feeling a glorious victory carries. "The Man in the Arena" is used as a metephore for the many in life who are taking action and facing difficult struggles. The quote is an inspiration for those who have failed to rise above the critics and try again because it is only byu taking action one can accomplish their goals.

(1903 Bearhunt)
(1903 Bearhunt)

"Thrice happy is the nation that has a glorious history. Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat."
"The Strenuous Life"(755)


Once again with this quote and speech Theodore shows his beleif that an individual who puts great effort into his work and is not lazy, will be a success. Theodore beleives it is the duty of one who does not work for a living to devote himself to the arts or sciences. He uses the citizens of Chicago and Illinois as examples of people who are devoted to their work and display great disiplin. He beleives that those who do not embrace the strenuous life, however, do not live meaningful lives. Roosevelt's speech reflected his own personality and life experience.
(Theodore Roosevelt)
(Theodore Roosevelt)

"Much can be done by law towards putting women on a footing of complete and entire equal rights with man - including the right to vote, the right to hold and use property, and the right to enter any profession she desires on the same terms as the man."..."Women should have free access to every field of labor which they care to enter, and when their work is as valuable as that of a man it should be paid as highly."
An Autobiography, 1913 (702)
This quote displays Theodore as a remarkable leader in women rights. This was at a time when women were far less respected than men and he was a president who brought a vast amount of change to a womans status in society.
(Presidential Playmate. The Fun Family Life of Theo.)
(Presidential Playmate. The Fun Family Life of Theo.)

This is the whole Roosevelt family shows from left to right, Ethel, Mr. Roosevelt, Ted Jr., Archie, Alice, Kermit, Mrs. Roosevelt and Quentin.


(Theodore Roosevelt)
(Theodore Roosevelt)

(President Theodore Roosevelt)

"The one thing I want to leave my children is an honorable name." Chicago, IL, April 10, 1899
This one quote of wisdom from Roosevelt displays the gentle-hearted and loyal charictoristics he obtains. It shows his value in the importance of keeping an honerable name, not only for his own reputation, but for his children to remember their father as an honerable man. The importance of family, children, and loved ones shines through in most of Theodore's speeches contributing to the status he obtains as one of out nations most respected leaders.
Work Cited:

"1903 Bearhunt" 28 Nov. 2008. < http://www.teddyroosevelt.com/>.

"President Theodore Roosevelt" 1 Dec. 2008 < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hv-VNTtUYZo>.

Roosevelt, Theodore . Letters and Speeches. New York: Penguin Putnam Inc., 1954.

Theodore Roosevelt. The White House. 12 1 2008 <http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/tr26.html>.

Salzman, Linda . "Presidential Playmate. The Fun Family Life of Theo." Photograph. Teddy Roosevelt.
12 5 2008 <http://lindasalzmanbooks.com/teddy.aspx>.

Theodore Roosevelt. Google. 11 28 2008 <http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=theodore+roosevelt&btnG=Search>.