Historian - October 2005

Finally the time and occasion is right to write of the life of Theodore Roosevelt. Here in Portsmouth his active work stabilizing the peace treaty between Russia and Japan one hundred years ago is being celebrated with many exhibits of the parts he played in it. The Portsmouth Athenaeum, the Portsmouth Historical Society (at the John Paul Jones House), and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard all are having major exhibits on this important Peace Treaty.

In the short time that covered his Presidency 1901-1909 it seems that the world was at war. In the Franco-German Moroccan confrontation 1905-1906 here was a leader who had the courage to bring foreign powers to the negotiating table. He even defied Congress by sending the Great White Fleet around the world.

Recently, I read an article by the Boston University Alumni magazine on the Country’s Greatest Presidents. I don’t hold with their decision. They list Lincoln, Roosevelt, and Washington, and I list Washington, Lincoln, and Roosevelt. They could never understand my thinking even in my college years!

Roosevelt’s strong belief in military power was in evidence at an early age when he became leader of the Rough Riders in the taking of San Juan Hill in Cuba. During World War I he endeavored to raise a regiment to fight in France, but, rightly, President Wilson forbade it. He had four sons in this war: Quinton was killed and Archie severely wounded; later in WWII Kermit died, and Theodore Jr. died on D-Day plus 5. It was the way he would have preferred—dying in defense of his country.

Both his foreign protective tariffs and his trust busting of large corporations were actions that made Americans feel good and protected Americans at large. His work as a Mason was evidence of his strong belief in the brotherhood.

Lastly, as a conservator and preservationist of many of the natural forests and parks within the United States we owe him a debt of gratitude.

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