BRET BAIER: How Teddy Roosevelt’s spirit and grit turned America into a superpower

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Teddy Roosevelt looked into the American heart and declared it good. America looked at Roosevelt and saw its greatness reflected once again. To this day, more than a century after his death, Roosevelt remains one of our most admired presidents.

This week marks the publication of my latest presidential autobiography, “To Save the American Soul: Teddy Roosevelt and the Birth of a Superpower“It has been an exhilarating experience for me to live for some time in the world of our 26th President.

Bret Baier of Fox News and his latest book, “Saving the American Soul” (Fox News/Mariner Books)

Roosevelt was born two years before the Civil War, when America was tested like never before, and he ascended to the presidency at the turn of the twentieth century, when the country was teeming with opportunity. Things could have gone two different ways.

The Gilded Age created great wealth, but it also crushed income inequality. There was a pattern of corruption and indifference to public life. On the world stage, the United States tended to be neutral and non-interventionist, and success in the Spanish-American War was a one-time event. If we continued on this path, we might have stumbled. But Roosevelt overcame the hardship and stagnation.

Teddy Roosevelt and D.G.T.? Bret Baier discusses the similarities between the two historical presidents after the Israeli ceasefire

Roosevelt came into office through presidential assassination. Everyone wanted to know whether he would be loyal to the policies of his deceased predecessor, William McKinley. He wanted to ease their fears by making this promise, but it was against his nature to adhere to the status quo solely out of loyalty—to a party or to a person. He set his own course, and in the process changed the course of history.

American politician and future President of the United States of America, Theodore Roosevelt during a visit to the Badlands of the Dakotas in 1885 after the death of his first wife. (Photo by TW Ingersoll via Getty Images)

How he succeeded is an interesting story, explored in depth in my book. But I chose four basic reasons that made Roosevelt a great man and a great president.

Roosevelt had a strong moral core

Our nation’s founders placed great importance on the importance of morality. John Adams declared, “We have constitution It was done only for the sake of a moral and religious people. “It is completely inappropriate for the government of any other country.” Ben Franklin agreed. “Only virtuous people are capable of freedom,” he wrote. “When nations become corrupt and evil, they need masters more.”

Roosevelt learned the importance of morality at his father’s knee. A prominent businessman and philanthropist known for his good deeds, Theodore Roosevelt the Elder often told his children that morals were worth more than status, wealth or fame. “Mind your manners first,” he told his son as he headed off to college, and Teddy listened to the lesson. After his father died suddenly while he was in… HarvardTeddy wondered how he could live up to his high moral standard. He spent the rest of his life trying.

President Theodore Roosevelt in his office in Washington, D.C. on February 10, 1903. (History Archive/Global Image Collection via Getty Images)

In public service, Roosevelt was always aware of his moral mandate when he dealt with the daring affairs of men. The key for him was to be uncompromising when it came to values. He once mused: ‘There will be some fool who will say: ‘Well, yes, it may be a bit twisted; But he is “terribly smart.” This type of praise offends the man he praises, and offends the man he praises. We cannot, as citizens of this republic, tolerate successful scoundrels any more than unsuccessful scoundrels.”

Roosevelt believed that America should lead the world

Today, when we hear America referred to as the leader of the free world, we have Roosevelt to thank. He set the course for a long ship sailing in international waters, and established for the United States a presence that had never existed in the world before.

The role President Roosevelt played in brokering an agreement in the Russo-Japanese War may seem like an obscure historical footnote. It’s not talked about much. But it was America’s entry into A greater global role. Later, Roosevelt demonstrated peaceful global dominance when he sent the “Great White Fleet” of battleships on a round-the-world tour.

After leaving office when the world went to war in 1914, he became the loudest voice in favor of America’s entry into the war. Defeating the resistance of the peaceful president Woodrow WilsonHe ridiculed pacifism as tantamount to a retreat from responsibility towards humankind, and described it as unpatriotic. He said: “Peacefulness has proven to be the strongest possible drug for patriotism, courage and manhood. Our current work is to restore these virtues to the nation.”

Theodore Roosevelt stands on a podium and points to the crowd during a campaign speech, circa 1900s. (Getty Images)

When America finally entered the war, Roosevelt wanted to serve in the military, but President Wilson declared that he was past his prime. However, all four of his sons joined the war effort. His youngest son Quentin, a fighter pilot, died during a mission. Roosevelt, emotionally devastated by the loss, did not falter. He continued his scheduled speech in New York He praised the contribution of martyred fighters. “These are the torch bearers,” he said while crying. “These are the ones who dared to take on the great adventure.”

Roosevelt believed that the working class should benefit from America’s success

He came from privilege but felt a strong connection to the common worker. He fought for workers’ rights, linking workers’ ability to earn a living wage to their ability to be good citizens. Roosevelt put it in words that everyone could understand. “No man can be a good citizen unless he has wages more than sufficient to cover the cost of living, and working hours short enough so that after his working day is over, he will have time and energy to bear his share in the government of society, to help bear the public burden.”

An undated photograph of Theodore Roosevelt, who succeeded William McKinley after his assassination. Roosevelt was a popular leader and the first American to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, which was awarded for his mediation in the Russo-Japanese War. (Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)

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Roosevelt always had an affinity for the common man, whether the ranchers or horsemen of his beloved western plains or the miners whose hardships affected him so deeply that he fought for their cause. In any case, his interest was focused on harnessing the greats American spiritpresent among its people, for the future it envisioned.

Roosevelt urged citizens to join the greatest cause on earth – as a civic duty and a calling

He did it all with a passion and joy unusual for CEOs. the The white house Under Roosevelt it was a lively, bustling, happy place, full of children, animals, and the president’s thunderous laughter. He embodied the bold spirit of the new century in a way that allowed others to experience adventure.

Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States (1901-1909) sits at his desk and works, circa 1905. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Following his presidency, Roosevelt made one of the most important calls to action of his time in a speech that still resonates. This speech is called Citizenship in the Republic, and is known as the “Man in the Square” speech. In a straightforward way, he laid out the basic premise of citizenship, saying: “It is not the critic that is important; it is not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of actions could have done them better. The credit goes to the man who is actually in the arena.”

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In powerful prose born of a conviction deep in his soul, Roosevelt called on his fellow citizens to engage fully in their citizenship—to dare greatly in a noble cause.

Words and actions like these make Teddy Roosevelt a unique and remarkable voice – the all-American man whose life epitomized what we strive for as a nation.

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