Theodore Roosevelt was a man of contradictions: a warrior who won the Nobel Peace prize, a wealthy man who battled corporate greed, a thinker who prized action more than words (but who wrote fine books himself).
He was also, writes Louis Auchincloss in this lucid biography, an extraordinary leader, "a political idealist who had the wisdom to know that only by astute and well-considered compromise in our legislative process could he hope to see enacted even a fraction of the social and military programs that he deemed ... essential to the welfare of his nation." Compromise he did, of course, though in the end the war hero and trustbuster could not bring the right wing of the Republican Party to see the wisdom of his reformist ways. The result, Auchincloss chronicles, was a terrible split, bringing about the defection of liberals from that once-liberal institution and the birth of a political war that still rages.
With a keen eye for political nuance and a clear appreciation for Teddy Roosevelt as a one-of-a-kind, self-made man, Auchincloss offers an engaging view of a great American president. --Gregory McNamee
From Publishers Weekly
The statement "radical... action must be taken to do away with the effects of arrogant and selfish greed on the part of the capitalist" might sound like Karl Marx or Eugene V. Debs, but it comes from Theodore Roosevelt. Yet this president was "neither by birth, upbringing, or mature inclination in the least bit a radical," according to eminent novelist Auchincloss (The Atonement, etc.). TR (1858-1919), he says, embodied numerous contradictions for which he has been periodically pilloried by liberals and conservatives alike. Responsible for much progressive legislation he passed the Pure Food and Drug Act, created federal forest lands and obtained antitrust legislation he was also an aristocrat who was against monopolies because they were not gentlemanly, invaded Panama to build the canal and casually exhibited racism during the Spanish-American War. Born into a wealthy New York family, Roosevelt overcame bad health in childhood to embody an image of manliness (losing an eye in a boxing match against a "younger and stronger" man) and bluster that defined his era. He also avidly read Dickens, Thackeray and Greek drama. Though acknowledging Roosevelt's many contradictions, Auchincloss sidesteps most serious criticism of his subject. He paints a vivid portrait and almost treats the president as a quirky character in one of his own novels of upper-class America. More ruminative essay than close historical study, Auchincloss's narrative wanders in chronological disarray. Nonetheless, it is a compelling, novelistic approach to history. Readers curious about Roosevelt but intimidated by Edmund Morris's multi-volume bio can wet their toes in this slim text, the first title in the American Presidents series, edited by eminent historian Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. and clearly modeled on the successful Penguin Lives series of short biographies by notable writers. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
"The American Presidents," a new series with Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. as its general editor, is one of several recent series of little books on big topics. The series leads off, at under 150 pages, with novelist Auchincloss's biography of Theodore Roosevelt. Despite the brevity, Auchincloss offers frequent blocks of quotation from Edmund Morris and other full-length biographers, as well as from the prolific Roosevelt himself, and readers may suspect that the brief format did not call forth the author's best effort. The book offers none of the virtues of its parts, since either a full-scale biography or an Auchincloss novel would give more pleasure, and a good encyclopedia article would say as much about TR while taking up even less of the reader's time. Auchincloss is the author of another brief presidential life, Woodrow Wilson (LJ 4/15/00), in the "Penguin Lives" series. Not recommended. Robert F. Nardini, Chichester, NH Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From AudioFile
"All the great masterful races have been fighting races," T.R. said once, and this former weakling certainly meant to be included. Despite this bellicosity, and despite his Rough Riders, Roosevelt came from money, as does Louis Auchincloss, the author of this biography. Ira Claffey's passionate but cultivated voice is the perfect medium in which to join two men of refinement. The book's great failing is its attempt to include everything in so little space. One sentence takes us through T.R's nomination as vice president, his election to that post, and the assassination that slipped him into the White House. It's a long sentence, but not long enough. B.H.C. © AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine
From Booklist
"It was the great and deciding moment of TR's life." Surely, Auchincloss means the death of Roosevelt's mother and wife on the same day? Or the charge up San Juan Hill? No, the superlative moment goes to Roosevelt's decision not to bolt the Republican Party in 1884, which would have ruined his political future. Auchincloss supports such propositions so fluidly as to make yet another book on TR well worth reading. For those who aren't familiar with Roosevelt's career, this precis is a perfect alternative to the long biographies by Edmund Morris or David McCullough, particularly in arguing for TR's place among the presidential "greats." With Roosevelt's advocacy of masculine and martial virtues and his reputation as an imperialist, ranking him among the elite chief magistrates might not be an obvious choice for contemporary critics, a fact Auchincloss acknowledges. For the author, it was TR's vigorous leadership as a progressive president, rather than what he particularly achieved as such, that earns him the plaudit. A sparkling biographical summary. Gilbert Taylor
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Book Description
An intimate portrait of the first president of the 20th century
The American century opened with the election of that quintessentially American adventurer, Theodore Roosevelt. Louis Auchincloss's warm and knowing biography introduces us to the man behind the many myths of Theodore Roosevelt. From his early involvement in the politics of New York City and then New York State, we trace his celebrated military career and finally his ascent to the national political stage. Caricatured through history as the "bull moose," Roosevelt was in fact a man of extraordinary discipline whose refined and literate tastes actually helped spawn his fascination with the rough-and-ready worlds of war and wilderness.
Bringing all his novelist's skills to the task, Auchincloss briskly recounts the significant contributions of Roosevelt's career and administration. This biography is as thorough as it is readable, as clear-eyed as it is touching and personal.
Card catalog description
A biography of the twenty-sixth president of the United States, focusing on his childhood and young adulthood.
About the Author
Louis Auchincloss is a highly renowned novelist, literary critic, and historian. The author of more than fifty books, including The Rector of Justin, The House of Five Talents, and The Atonement, he is the former president of the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He lives in New York City.
Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., is arguably the preeminent political historian of our time. For more than half a century, he has been a cornerstone figure in the intellectual life of the nation and a fixture on the political scene. He served as special assistant to John F. Kennedy; won two Pulitzer Prizes for The Age of Jackson (1946) and A Thousand Days (1966); and in 1998 received the National Humanities Medal. He published the first volume of his autobiography, A Life in the Twentieth Century, in 2000.
Theodore Roosevelt (The American Presidents Series): An American President FROM THE PUBLISHER
An intimate portrait of the first president of the 20th century
The American century opened with the election of that quintessentially American adventurer, Theodore Roosevelt. Louis Auchincloss's warm and knowing biography introduces us to the man behind the many myths of Theodore Roosevelt. From his early involvement in the politics of New York City and then New York State, we trace his celebrated military career and finally his ascent to the national political stage. Caricatured through history as the "bull moose," Roosevelt was in fact a man of extraordinary discipline whose refined and literate tastes actually helped spawn his fascination with the rough-and-ready worlds of war and wilderness.
Bringing all his novelist's skills to the task, Auchincloss briskly recounts the significant contributions of Roosevelt's career and administration. This biography is as thorough as it is readable, as clear-eyed as it is touching and personal.
SYNOPSIS
An intimate portrait of the first president of the 20th century.
FROM THE CRITICS
Publishers Weekly
The statement "radical... action must be taken to do away with the effects of arrogant and selfish greed on the part of the capitalist" might sound like Karl Marx or Eugene V. Debs, but it comes from Theodore Roosevelt. Yet this president was "neither by birth, upbringing, or mature inclination in the least bit a radical," according to eminent novelist Auchincloss (The Atonement, etc.). TR (1858-1919), he says, embodied numerous contradictions for which he has been periodically pilloried by liberals and conservatives alike. Responsible for much progressive legislation he passed the Pure Food and Drug Act, created federal forest lands and obtained antitrust legislation he was also an aristocrat who was against monopolies because they were not gentlemanly, invaded Panama to build the canal and casually exhibited racism during the Spanish-American War. Born into a wealthy New York family, Roosevelt overcame bad health in childhood to embody an image of manliness (losing an eye in a boxing match against a "younger and stronger" man) and bluster that defined his era. He also avidly read Dickens, Thackeray and Greek drama. Though acknowledging Roosevelt's many contradictions, Auchincloss sidesteps most serious criticism of his subject. He paints a vivid portrait and almost treats the president as a quirky character in one of his own novels of upper-class America. More ruminative essay than close historical study, Auchincloss's narrative wanders in chronological disarray. Nonetheless, it is a compelling, novelistic approach to history. Readers curious about Roosevelt but intimidated by Edmund Morris's multi-volume bio can wet their toes in this slim text, the first title in the AmericanPresidents series, edited by eminent historian Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. and clearly modeled on the successful Penguin Lives series of short biographies by notable writers. (Jan. 4) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
Library Journal
"The American Presidents," a new series with Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. as its general editor, is one of several recent series of little books on big topics. The series leads off, at under 150 pages, with novelist Auchincloss's biography of Theodore Roosevelt. Despite the brevity, Auchincloss offers frequent blocks of quotation from Edmund Morris and other full-length biographers, as well as from the prolific Roosevelt himself, and readers may suspect that the brief format did not call forth the author's best effort. The book offers none of the virtues of its parts, since either a full-scale biography or an Auchincloss novel would give more pleasure, and a good encyclopedia article would say as much about TR while taking up even less of the reader's time. Auchincloss is the author of another brief presidential life, Woodrow Wilson (LJ 4/15/00), in the "Penguin Lives" series. Not recommended. Robert F. Nardini, Chichester, NH Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
AudioFile
"All the great masterful races have been fighting races," T.R. said once, and this former weakling certainly meant to be included. Despite this bellicosity, and despite his Rough Riders, Roosevelt came from money, as does Louis Auchincloss, the author of this biography. Ira Claffey's passionate but cultivated voice is the perfect medium in which to join two men of refinement. The book's great failing is its attempt to include everything in so little space. One sentence takes us through T.R's nomination as vice president, his election to that post, and the assassination that slipped him into the White House. It's a long sentence, but not long enough. B.H.C. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
Auchincloss (Her Infinite Variety, 2000, etc.) trains his acute sensibility and elegant prose on our most colorful chief executive, rendering Teddy as a man of his time as well as a timeless example of principled leadership. Auchincloss argues that Roosevelt's bluster was his most human trait. The first president of the 20th century was given to loud talk and exaggeration. So what? asks the author. It masked his political shrewdness. To understand Roosevelt, one need only understand the policeman's ethic, writes Auchincloss. Before all else, Teddy did what was right. And he enjoyed coming down hard on those who did wrong. His concept of the gentleman was tantamount to a chivalric code, right up to a man's duty to fight for his country. Roosevelt insisted on expanding the American Navy, using its battleships on the international stage, and gladly sent his sons into WWI and WWII. He insisted on boxing with younger and stronger army officers, one of whom blinded him permanently in the left eye. Like a cop, Roosevelt was often bull-headed in his pursuit of what he thought was the right course of action. This stubbornness caused him trouble at the outset of WWI. First, Roosevelt gave the White House to the Democrats by opposing business-friendly Taft and splitting the Republicans. Then the ex-president had to put up with university professor Woodrow Wilson leading America into war. After Wilson ignored his predecessor's request to lead a cavalry regiment against Germany-a foolish desire, given that Roosevelt had only a few more years to live-Teddy spent much of the rest of his life fulminating against the administration, one arguably more progressive than his. Auchincloss quotes extensivelyfrom Roosevelt's writings, which are as awe-inspiring and dramatic as any novelist's. It's a wonderful way of bringing this giant to life on the page. A master craftsman's rendering of a character who needs no embellishment.
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