Progressive Presidents Theodore Roosevelt Born to wealthy New

Progressive Presidents

Theodore Roosevelt Born to wealthy New York parents Sickly and nearsighted; he compensated by building himself into a physical and intellectual athlete Boxer, wrestler, mountain climber, hunter Wrote 38 books on a wide variety of subjects Graduated Harvard, traveled Europe, and quickly rose in politics

Then disaster struck His mother and beloved wife both die on Valentine’s Day in 1884

TR went west and became a cowboy When a drunken cowboy made fun of his glasses he laid him out with one punch

After 2 years TR went back to NYC, became police commissioner, then Assistant Secretary of the Navy under Mc. Kinley After becoming a hero in the Spanish American War, Republican bosses decided to make TR Mc. Kinley’s VP in 1900 Hoped to get him out of the way

• Less than a year after the election, Mc. Kinley assassinated by an anarchist

• “Now look, that cowboy is President of the United States”

Bully Pulpit Refers to the ability of a president to use his position to influence the nation Roosevelt increased the power of the presidency this way

Roosevelt’s Progressivism • Roosevelt’s policies known as the Square Deal • 3 C’s – Corporations – Consumers – Conservation

• Corporations – Roosevelt believed in regulating monopolies to prevent abuses – However, if they (or Congress) refused, then Roosevelt used Sherman Anti-Trust act to break up monopolies

Coal Strike 1902 • Coal miners went on strike – Mine owners shut down the mine & refused to negotiate – Mine owner: “The miners don’t suffer – why, they can’t even speak English” • As winter approached, Roosevelt invited union & management to White House to negotiate • When owners refused to budge, TR threatened to take over mines & have the army operate them. – First time government sided with a union.

Consumers Roosevelt read The Jungle & demanded an investigation Results in Meat Inspection Act Later Pure Food and Drug Act passed Creates FDA Placed restrictions on makers of food and medicine Truth in labeling

Patent medicine Makers of unregulated patent medicines advertised exorbitant results from using their products. This ad, while warning against "fraudulent claims, " asserts that a wide belt can cure a variety of ailments. The Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 did not ban such products but tried to prevent manufacturers from making such unsubstantiated statements. (Picture Research Consultants & Archives) Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

• Conservation – Many were worried that development would destroy what remained of frontier – John Muir was a famous preservationist who formed the Sierra Club – Other early conservationists were sport hunters – Roosevelt created many new national parks – Also appointed conservationist Gifford Pinchot as head of Division of Forestry • Pinchot said conservation movement sought to promote the “greatest good for the greatest number for the longest time. ”

William H. Taft Roosevelt’s Sec. of War He’s more conservative than progressive! Weighed 355 lbs. He was the largest president that we’ve had! Runs for president in 1908

Postcard with Taft cartoon This postcard depicts how President Theodore Roosevelt, in command of the Republican Party, persuaded his friend William Howard Taft to run for president in 1908. Taft was not eager for that office, but Roosevelt succeeded in convincing him to seek it. With Roosevelt's strong support, Taft was elected, but he proved a disappointment to Roosevelt. (Collection of Janice L. and David J. Frent) Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Roosevelt goes on a hunting safari in Africa & leaves politics behind J. P. Morgan: “Let every lion do his duty. ”

Taft’s Progressivism • Tried to continue Roosevelt’s policies, but lacked TR’s personality – Detested backroom politics & never felt comfortable in the White House • 16 th & 17 th amendments were passed – 16 th – income tax – 17 th – direct election of senators • Disagrees w/Roosevelt over trusts & conservation – Fires Pinchot for insubordination after he criticizes land sales

1912 Election TR decides to run for 3 rd term When Republican convention chooses Taft, Roosevelt forms 3 rd party “Bull Moose” Party Assassination attempt Crazed assassin who thinks that third parties shouldn’t exist tries to kill TR Bullet goes through his speech & lodges next to his ribs Roosevelt tells crowd to stand back as they attack the assassin Then TR goes to auditorium and delivers two hour speech before going to the hospital

Democrats nominate Woodrow Wilson What happens when a political party splits?

Wilson and Taft Having just squared off in the 1912 election campaign, the two politicians share a light moment before Wilson's inauguration on March 4, 1913. (Library of Congress) Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Wilson’s Progressivism • Federal Reserve Act: Created Federal Reserve System – Central bank divided into 12 federal branches across U. S. – The “Fed” can regulate the money supply to prevent panics or inflation • Also created Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – Meant to prevent unfair trade practices (monopolies) Write this down • Passed the 18 th and 19 th Amendments • 18 th – Prohibition • 19 th – Women’s suffrage

Limits of Progressives Progressivism didn’t extend to African Americans (despite talk of greater democracy) TR invited Booker T. Washington to White House for dinner (first president to ever invite a black man to dinner) But Woodrow Wilson called African Americans “an ignorant and inferior race” and appointed many racists who segregated federal agencies even though many had been integrated for over 50 years

Carnage of World War I convinces many that “progress” for mankind is impossible