Theodore Roosevelt Criticism
Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, was not only a prominent political figure known for his Progressive reforms and diplomatic achievements but also an esteemed author who contributed significantly to American literature. His presidency from 1901 to 1908 was marked by efforts to advance social justice, labor rights, and conservation, as he sought to preserve natural resources, nearly doubling the lands reserved as national parks. In foreign affairs, Roosevelt's military expansions and strategic diplomacy, especially in the Far East, underscored his belief in American expansionism. For his role in mediating the Russo-Japanese War, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1906.
Born in 1858 in New York City, Roosevelt overcame health challenges in his youth through vigorous activities. A Harvard graduate, he embarked on a political career that included roles such as New York State legislator, Civil Service Commissioner, and Assistant Secretary of the Navy, before leading the "Rough Riders" in the Spanish-American War. As President, he championed legislation such as the Sherman Antitrust Act and the Roosevelt Corollary, reinforcing U.S. influence in Latin America. Despite a failed bid for the presidency in 1912 as a Progressive Party candidate, Roosevelt remained an influential public figure until his death in 1919.
Roosevelt's literary works, including The Winning of the West and The Naval War of 1812, reflect his patriotic zeal but have been critiqued for moralizing, as noted in History as Melodrama: Theodore Roosevelt's The Winning of the West. His historical and biographical writings, such as those on Thomas Hart Benton and Oliver Cromwell, have been appreciated for their vivid portrayals of American history, though they sometimes lack depth, as mentioned in Theodore Roosevelt: On Clio's Active Service. Roosevelt’s essays, speeches, and works on nature, like The Wilderness Hunter, demonstrate his varied interests, earning him both praise and critique. His ability to infuse his experiences into literature is highlighted by Roosevelt as Man of Letters.
Despite mixed reviews from modern critics, including the unfavorable perspectives in Roosevelt: An Autopsy and Theodore Roosevelt As Cultural Artifact, Roosevelt remains a significant figure in American politics and literature, representing the complexities of early 20th-century America.
Contents
- Principal Works
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Essays
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The Writings of Theodore Roosevelt
(summary)
In the following essay, Johnston considers the varied subject matter of Roosevelt's writings.
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Theodore Roosevelt: From History As Literature
(summary)
In the following essay, originally published in History as Literature in 1913, Roosevelt argues that historical writing should retain a distinct literary aspect as exemplified by the works of the great historians of the past.
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Roosevelt as Man of Letters
(summary)
In the following essay, Beers praises Roosevelt for his ability to translate his experiences as a man of action into a body of literary works.
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Theodore Roosevelt as a Man of Letters
(summary)
In the following essay, originally published in 1919, he examines Roosevelt's multifaceted character as expressed in his writings.
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Roosevelt: An Autopsy
(summary)
In the following essay, Mencken condemns what he considers unjustifiably favorable portrayals of Roosevelt by his early biographers.
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Theodore Roosevelt, Historian
(summary)
In the following essay, Miller offers a critical view of Roosevelt's historical works.
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The Pragmatic Hero
(summary)
In the following essay, Schlesinger reviews a two-volume edition of Roosevelt's collected letters for the years preceding his term as president.
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History as Melodrama: Theodore Roosevelt's The Winning of the West
(summary)
In the following essay, Lewis explains his reasons for considering The Winning of the West a failure both as literature and as history.
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Teddy Roosevelt: Literary Feller
(summary)
In the following essay, she documents Roosevelt's relationship to New York's literati during his term as police commissioner of that city.
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The President and the Lady: Edith Wharton and Theodore Roosevelt
(summary)
In the following essay, Tuttleton investigates the significance of a reference to Theodore Roosevelt in Edith Wharton's novel The Age of Innocence as well as the author's lifelong acquaintanceship with Roosevelt.
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Theodore Roosevelt and Edwin Arlington Robinson: A Common…
(summary)
In the following review, Burton discusses a likeness he perceives in the attitudes and ideas of Roosevelt and the poet Edward Arlington Robinson.
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A Case Study In Philosophical Rhetoric: Theodore Roosevelt
(summary)
In the following essay, Zyskind studies Roosevelt as an example of a public figure who embodied conflicting views and qualities whose source of may be found in the nature of philosophic rhetoric.
- I. Introduction
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TR and Mark Twain
(summary)
In the following essay, Gibson outlines the affinities and conflicts between Roosevelt and Mark Twain.
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The Natural History Controversy Between Theodore Roosevelt and Jack London…
(summary)
In the following essay, Gershenowitz defends the authority of Jack London as a naturalist with respect to Roosevelt's criticism of him as a 'Nature-Faker.'
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Theodore Roosevelt: On Clio's Active Service
(summary)
In the following essay, Cooper traces Roosevelt's development as a historian.
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Theodore Roosevelt: Learned Style
(summary)
In the following essay, Burton examines the influences that formed Roosevelt's prose style.
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Theodore Roosevelt As Cultural Artifact
(summary)
In the following essay, Aaron charts the declining image and reputation of Roosevelt as a public figure.
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Easterns, Westerns, and Private Eyes
(summary)
In the following essay, Klein discusses the figure of the cowboy as portrayed in various works by Roosevelt.
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The Writings of Theodore Roosevelt
(summary)
- Further Reading