PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, 1901-1909

A Modern President.

As president, Theodore Roosevelt embodied the new century, full of boundless energy and endless possibilities. His dynamic personality overshadowed the accomplishments of both his predecessor, William McKinley, and his successor, William Howard Taft. Roosevelt's youthful vigor and active lifestyle personalized the presidency to an extraordinary degree. Public focus shifted away from the party to the man in office, as Roosevelt continued McKinley's efforts to modernize the presidency and aggressively exercised his executive powers instead of playing the part of "caretaker president." Roosevelt used the office as his "bully pulpit," lecturing his fellow citizens on moral, ethical, and political issues. America's power and presence on the world stage expanded further under Roosevelt's "Big Stick" diplomacy, while his writings and speeches also had a major...