Theodore Roosevelt

Return to public life

In the 1888 presidential election, he campaigned for Benjamin Harrison in the Midwest. After winning the election, President Harrison appointed Roosevelt to the United States Civil Service Commission, a post he served in until 1895. In his term he vigorously sought enforcement of civil service laws, and the number of jobs that fell under that classification more than doubled during his tenure. This made few friends for Roosevelt among party professionals. In spite of his support for Harrison's reelection bid (see U.S. presidential election, 1892), Grover Cleveland (a Democrat) reappointed him to the same post.

Related Topics:
1888 presidential election - Benjamin Harrison - United States Civil Service Commission - 1895 - U.S. presidential election, 1892 - Grover Cleveland - Democrat

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In 1895 Roosevelt became president of the New York Board of Police Commissioners. In the two years that he held this post, Roosevelt radically changed the way a police department was run. Roosevelt required his officers to be registered with the Board and to pass a physical fitness test. He also saw that telephones were installed in station houses. Always an energetic man, Roosevelt made a habit of walking officers' beats late at night and early in the morning just to make sure that they were on duty. It should also be noted that Roosevelt also opened up job opportunities in the department to women and Jews for the first time.

Related Topics:
1895 - New York - Police Commissioners - Telephone - Women - Jews

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In 1897 President William McKinley appointed him Assistant Secretary of the Navy. He loved the job and was instrumental in preparing the Navy for the coming conflict with Spain. In 1898 Roosevelt resigned from the Navy Department and, with the aid of U.S. Army Colonel Leonard Wood, organized the First U.S. National Cavalry out of a motley crew ranging from cowboys, Indians and outlaws from the Western territories to Ivy League chums from New York. The newspapers, being the primary medium at the time, billed the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry as the "Rough Riders." Originally Roosevelt held the rank of lieutenant colonel and served under Col. Wood, but after Wood was promoted to Brigadier General of Volunteer Forces, Roosevelt was promoted to full colonel and put in control of the Rough Riders. Under his direct command, the Rough Riders became famous for their dual charges up Kettle Hill and San Juan Hill in July 1898, the battle being named after the latter hill.

Related Topics:
1897 - William McKinley - Assistant Secretary of the Navy - Spain - 1898 - Navy - U.S. Army - Colonel - Leonard Wood - First U.S. National Cavalry - Indians - Outlaw - Ivy League - Lieutenant colonel - Brigadier General - Kettle Hill - San Juan Hill

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On January 16, 2001, Roosevelt was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by President Clinton. The award was accepted on Roosevelt's behalf by his great-grandson Tweed Roosevelt. The Roosevelts thus became one of only two father-son pairs to receive this honor. His eldest son, Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt II, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism at Normandy during the D-Day invasion of 6 June, 1944. The other pair was Douglas MacArthur and his father, Civil War hero Arthur MacArthur.

Related Topics:
January 16 - 2001 - President Clinton - Tweed Roosevelt - Medal of Honor - Normandy - D-Day - 6 June - 1944 - Douglas MacArthur - Arthur MacArthur

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Upon his return from Cuba, Roosevelt reentered New York State politics and, using his military record to great advantage, was elected governor of New York. He made such a concerted effort to root out corruption and "machine politics" that, it is said, Republican leaders in New York advanced him as a running mate for William McKinley in the 1900 election simply to get rid of him. (At the time, becoming Vice President, generally, was considered the end of a political career—only 27 served full terms, only 17 went on to other elected offices, and only 14 went on to become President.)

Related Topics:
Cuba - New York State - Governor - Machine politics - 1900 - Vice President

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