Theodore Rex, Edmund Morris

Theodore Rex is a well written and informative book about the Presidential years of Theodore Roosevelt.  It begins in 1901 right before the McKinley assassination and ends after Taft takes office in March of 1909. 

I have always been intrigued by Roosevelt and have read many books about him.  I have read several books about the Spanish American War and the Rough Riders, I have read Roosevelt’s account of his African Safari in African Game Trials, and I have read about his expedition down the Rio Da Duvida in the Amazon Basin.  This is the first book I have read that covers the entirety of his presidential tenure. 

It is clear from reading the details of Roosevelt’s presidential years that he shaped the progression of the 20th century and started a progressive movement that continues to gain momentum in the beginning of the 21st century.  I believe no other president in the 20th century had as much impact on the shaping of the country than Theodore Roosevelt.  He impacted the course of the World by starting one of the largest engineering projects of the 20th century, the Panama Canal.  He greatly expanded the Federal Government, expanded the power of the executive branch, brought the United States to the forefront of International affairs, put massive amounts of land under Federal Protection, built a massive Navy and sent its ships around the World,  busted the biggest monopolies in the country and served as a mitigator been labor and capital as well as  starting the Federal Drug Administration and the Department of Commerce and Labor.  On the international scene he liberates Cuba, determines the route of the Panama Canal, resolves the Venezuela Crisis of 1902-1903 and negotiated the end of the Russo-Japanese War of 1904 to 1905.

Morris does an excellent job of giving us a look behind the scenes as Roosevelt proves that he is a master of diplomacy and the political process.  What is remarkable is that as he gains the respect of friend and foe by his intelligent and cunning political abilities he simultaneously earns the adoration of the majority of the citizens of the country.  Morris also gives us a glimpse into his personal and family life as he shapes the country.  I find it remarkable that with as much energy and fervor he put into his presidency he was able to maintain a stable and happy family life and was well balanced in keeping up an extreme exercise regimen, constantly reading and educating himself, and participating in sport as often as possible. 

I recommend this book to everyone as it is an accounting of history that still greatly impacts every citizen of the United States today as well as history that impacts the history of the World.