Synopses & Reviews
Theodore Roosevelt has a complicated legacy. To some, he was the quintessential American patriot and hero, a valiant soldier who won the Congressional Medal of Honor. Others remember him as a cultural icon, the man who brandished a "big Stick," proclaimed the "Square Deal," led a "Strenuous Life," and inspired the "Teddy Bear." He was a farsighted conservationist who essentially founded the modern environmental movement. He was also a legendary hunter. Mark Twain once called him "insane."
So who was the real Teddy Roosevelt?
Daniel Ruddys new biography cuts through the impenetrable tangle of misconceptions and contradictions that have grown up over the last century and obscured our view of a man who remains perhaps the most controversial president in U.S. history. Avoiding the sins of hero worship and character assassination, Ruddy gives the public what is long overdue—a fair-minded and even-handed assessment of a misunderstood American icon.
Synopsis
Theodore Roosevelt has a complicated legacy. To some, he was the quintessential American patriot and hero, a valiant soldier and hawkish leader. Others remember him as the Progressive cultural icon, the trust-buster who split from the Republican Party.
So who was the real Teddy Roosevelt?
Daniel Ruddy's new biography cuts through the impenetrable tangle of misconceptions and contradictions that have grown up over the last century and obscured our view of a man who remains one of the most controversial and misunderstood presidents in U.S. history. Weighing Roosevelt's lifetime of actions against his sometimes-contradictory Progressive rhetoric, Ruddy paints a portrait of a man who led by undeniably conservative principles, but who obfuscated his own legacy with populist speeches. By focusing on Roosevelt's actions and his effect on American history, Ruddy clears the cobwebs and presents a real and convincing case for remembering Theodore Roosevelt as a great conservative leader.
About the Author
Daniel Ruddy holds a masters degree in international relations from the London School of Economics. His first book, Theodore Roosevelts History of the United States, collected Teddy Roosevelts own writings about U.S. history. Ruddy lives in Pensacola, Florida.