Theodore Roosevelt (The Found Order)

Theodore Roosevelt (October 27th 1858 - January 6th 1919) was an american politican who served as the 29th President of the United States (1901 - 1909) and the 31st President of the United States (1913 - 1919), he was the first President since Andrew Jackson to win a second consecutive term, and the only President to be elected to serve more than two terms in office.

Roosevelt's first period in office was dominated by both progressive social reforms and an expansionist foreign policy. However his second term largely revolved around the Great War.

1900 Presidential Election
Main Article: United States presidential election, 1900

Few had expected Roosevelt to be a future President. He was only 31 at the beginning of 1900, and had only served as Governor of New York for one term. The main factor contributing to his success at the 1900 Republican Convention was the absence of any other strong candidate. Former President Harrison refused any attempt to draft him, Thomas Brackett Reed had resigned over the issue of War with Spain, Levi Morton was 75 and considered too old for the Presidency, and other potential candidates lacked the nationwide publicity (and popularity) of Roosevelt.

Roosevelt's main opponent for the nomination was Ohio Senator Mark Hanna. Hanna was a more orthodox republican than Roosevelt, and had the support of most of the party bosses. On the first ballot Roosevelt led, with Hanna second and  the rest of the votes disperesed amongst an array of lesser known candidates. It took four more ballots (and a lot of careful negotiating) before Roosevelt was finally nominated.

1912 Presidential Election




Legacy
Roosevelt remains a very popular political figure, with his jingoism and patriotism appealing to conservatives, and his social reforms and progressive ideas appealing to liberals. He consistently ranks high in opinion polls, and in 2000 was voted the greatest american of the 20th century.