Theodore Roosevelt: Energetic
2023-08-20
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1VOA Learning English presents America's Presidents.
2Today we are talking about Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States.
3Many Americans like to call him "Teddy" Roosevelt or even "T.R."
4These nicknames for the president show that Roosevelt was, in general, popular with the public.
5He is one of the four presidents whose face can be seen on Mount Rushmore, a memorial to famous U.S. leaders.
6Historians note that Roosevelt's term in office marks the beginning of the modern presidency.
7In other words, he expanded the position, and used the media to connect with the public.
8Among Americans, his public image is often linked to youth, energy, strength, courage, and playfulness.
9But his image has also been linked to a strong liking for military action - and for oneself.
10Theodore Roosevelt is also often tied to the American West,
11but he was born and raised on the East Coast, in New York City.
12His father was a wealthy businessman.
13His mother was from a Southern planter family that owned slaves.
14Theodore Roosevelt had two sisters and a brother.
15His family called him by another nickname: Teedie.
16When he was a boy, young Theodore was often sick.
17He had asthma, a lung condition that could make physical activity difficult.
18So, as he got older, Roosevelt strengthened his body.
19For the rest of his life, he strongly believed in physical exercise and vigorous activity - what he called "the strenuous life."
20Young Roosevelt also had hunger for learning.
21He studied with private tutors, traveled overseas, and studied many subjects while in college at Harvard.
22After his college years, he studied law briefly, and then began serving in public office in New York.
23But tragedy halted his early government service.
24Roosevelt had married Alice Hathaway Lee, who soon became pregnant.
25But two days after the baby was born, Roosevelt's wife died of kidney disease.
26And, as it happened, Roosevelt's mother died on the same day, in the same house.
27She suffered from Bright's Disease, another disorder affecting the kidneys.
28The future president was struck by grief. He left his baby daughter with his sister and went to the American West.
29There, Roosevelt lived as a cowboy - hunting, riding horses, taking part in cattle drives, and even chasing people who broke the law.
30The experience helped define Roosevelt's life and beliefs.
31But after two years, he was ready to return to the East Coast.
32There, he married Edith Kermit Carow, a woman he had known since childhood.
33They settled in a house on Long Island, New York and raised Roosevelt's daughter, Alice.
34He and Edith also had five other children.
35His family supported Roosevelt's rise in Republican Party politics, including his campaign to become governor of New York.
36But some of the party officials were not happy with Roosevelt.
37They did not like his independence, and they did not want him to be re-elected as governor.
38So, they plotted to have him nominated as U.S. vice president in the election of 1900.
39They believed Roosevelt would not be able to give them much trouble in that position.
40As the Republican leaders hoped, Roosevelt and the sitting president, William McKinley, won both the popular and electoral vote in a landslide.
41But less than a year later, McKinley was dead.
42And with that, Republican leaders found that the man they wanted to get out of their way was now the country's 26th president.
43When he became president, Roosevelt was only 42 years old.
44He is still the youngest person to hold that office.
45At first, Roosevelt promised to continue the policies of McKinley, who was, after all, the president voters had re-elected.
46But Roosevelt quickly put his own mark on the presidency.
47He is known for trying to balance the needs of many groups in society, including business owners, farmers and workers.
48Roosevelt called his program the "Square Deal."
49In other words, he suggested that everyone was treated fairly.
50However, some Americans objected to Roosevelt reducing the power of big businesses.
51They said his use of government rules, in general, did not let market forces operate freely.
52Roosevelt is also known for protecting the nation's wilderness areas.
53He set aside more than 800,000 square kilometers of land to protect nature and wildlife.
54In his foreign policy, Roosevelt was energetic.
55He helped Panama win independence from Colombia in order to start building the Panama Canal.
56He also defended and even added to the Monroe Doctrine, an idea from the presidency of James Monroe.
57Roosevelt confirmed that the United States would bar European powers from intervening in South America.
58And, more than that, that the U.S. would "police" the Western Hemisphere and make sure that countries honored their international obligations.
59In other words, Roosevelt believed the United States had the right and responsibility to be a world power.
60If diplomatic negotiations did not work, he was not afraid to threaten the use of force.
61He famously said, "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far."
62Voters approved of Roosevelt's actions.
63Or, at least they enjoyed his leadership, and his young family that played all over the White House.
64In 1904, Roosevelt easily won the presidency in his own right.
65He is the first vice president who took power after the death of a sitting president to earn his own term.
66Although he was permitted to seek another term as president, Roosevelt promised not to.
67He left the White House in 1909, still a very young man.
68For a while, he traveled overseas.
69But when he returned home, he did not like the direction the new president and the Republican Party was going.
70So Roosevelt created a new political group, called the Progressive Party - or, as some called it, the Bull Moose Party.
71Not surprisingly, the term "bull moose" was meant to suggest Roosevelt and his animal-like strength.
72Although he earned many votes, Roosevelt did not win the 1912 election.
73Instead, he split the votes of the Republican Party, and permitted a Democrat to win the presidency.
74Roosevelt's efforts were not entirely lost, however.
75Later presidents - including Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, John Kennedy, and Lyndon Johnson - used many of his ideas for reform.
76And, major U.S. political parties today often find lessons from Roosevelt's presidency they admire or support.
77Both Democrat Bill Clinton and Republican George W. Bush said Theodore Roosevelt was one of their role models.
78In the years after the 1912 election, Roosevelt remained active.
79He traveled, campaigned, and continued to try to influence politics from his home in New York, where he died unexpectedly in his sleep at age 60.
80One public official observed, "Death had to take Roosevelt sleeping, for if he had been awake, there would have been a fight."
81I'm Kelly Jean Kelly.
1VOA Learning English presents America's Presidents. 2Today we are talking about Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States. 3Many Americans like to call him "Teddy" Roosevelt or even "T.R." These nicknames for the president show that Roosevelt was, in general, popular with the public. He is one of the four presidents whose face can be seen on Mount Rushmore, a memorial to famous U.S. leaders. 4Historians note that Roosevelt's term in office marks the beginning of the modern presidency. In other words, he expanded the position, and used the media to connect with the public. 5Among Americans, his public image is often linked to youth, energy, strength, courage, and playfulness. But his image has also been linked to a strong liking for military action - and for oneself. 6Early life 7Theodore Roosevelt is also often tied to the American West, but he was born and raised on the East Coast, in New York City. His father was a wealthy businessman. His mother was from a Southern planter family that owned slaves. 8Theodore Roosevelt had two sisters and a brother. His family called him by another nickname: Teedie. 9When he was a boy, young Theodore was often sick. He had asthma, a lung condition that could make physical activity difficult. 10So, as he got older, Roosevelt strengthened his body. For the rest of his life, he strongly believed in physical exercise and vigorous activity - what he called "the strenuous life." 11Young Roosevelt also had hunger for learning. He studied with private tutors, traveled overseas, and studied many subjects while in college at Harvard. 12After his college years, he studied law briefly, and then began serving in public office in New York. 13But tragedy halted his early government service. 14Roosevelt had married Alice Hathaway Lee, who soon became pregnant. 15But two days after the baby was born, Roosevelt's wife died of kidney disease. 16And, as it happened, Roosevelt's mother died on the same day, in the same house. She suffered from Bright's Disease, another disorder affecting the kidneys. 17The future president was struck by grief. He left his baby daughter with his sister and went to the American West. There, Roosevelt lived as a cowboy - hunting, riding horses, taking part in cattle drives, and even chasing people who broke the law. The experience helped define Roosevelt's life and beliefs. 18But after two years, he was ready to return to the East Coast. There, he married Edith Kermit Carow, a woman he had known since childhood. They settled in a house on Long Island, New York and raised Roosevelt's daughter, Alice. He and Edith also had five other children. 19His family supported Roosevelt's rise in Republican Party politics, including his campaign to become governor of New York. 20But some of the party officials were not happy with Roosevelt. They did not like his independence, and they did not want him to be re-elected as governor. So, they plotted to have him nominated as U.S. vice president in the election of 1900. They believed Roosevelt would not be able to give them much trouble in that position. 21As the Republican leaders hoped, Roosevelt and the sitting president, William McKinley, won both the popular and electoral vote in a landslide. 22But less than a year later, McKinley was dead. 23And with that, Republican leaders found that the man they wanted to get out of their way was now the country's 26th president. 24Presidency 25When he became president, Roosevelt was only 42 years old. He is still the youngest person to hold that office. 26At first, Roosevelt promised to continue the policies of McKinley, who was, after all, the president voters had re-elected. 27But Roosevelt quickly put his own mark on the presidency. He is known for trying to balance the needs of many groups in society, including business owners, farmers and workers. 28Roosevelt called his program the "Square Deal." In other words, he suggested that everyone was treated fairly. 29However, some Americans objected to Roosevelt reducing the power of big businesses. They said his use of government rules, in general, did not let market forces operate freely. 30Roosevelt is also known for protecting the nation's wilderness areas. He set aside more than 800,000 square kilometers of land to protect nature and wildlife. 31In his foreign policy, Roosevelt was energetic. He helped Panama win independence from Colombia in order to start building the Panama Canal. He also defended and even added to the Monroe Doctrine, an idea from the presidency of James Monroe. 32Roosevelt confirmed that the United States would bar European powers from intervening in South America. And, more than that, that the U.S. would "police" the Western Hemisphere and make sure that countries honored their international obligations. 33In other words, Roosevelt believed the United States had the right and responsibility to be a world power. If diplomatic negotiations did not work, he was not afraid to threaten the use of force. He famously said, "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far." 34Voters approved of Roosevelt's actions. Or, at least they enjoyed his leadership, and his young family that played all over the White House. 35In 1904, Roosevelt easily won the presidency in his own right. He is the first vice president who took power after the death of a sitting president to earn his own term. 36Legacy 37Although he was permitted to seek another term as president, Roosevelt promised not to. He left the White House in 1909, still a very young man. 38For a while, he traveled overseas. But when he returned home, he did not like the direction the new president and the Republican Party was going. 39So Roosevelt created a new political group, called the Progressive Party - or, as some called it, the Bull Moose Party. Not surprisingly, the term "bull moose" was meant to suggest Roosevelt and his animal-like strength. 40Although he earned many votes, Roosevelt did not win the 1912 election. Instead, he split the votes of the Republican Party, and permitted a Democrat to win the presidency. 41Roosevelt's efforts were not entirely lost, however. Later presidents - including Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, John Kennedy, and Lyndon Johnson - used many of his ideas for reform. 42And, major U.S. political parties today often find lessons from Roosevelt's presidency they admire or support. Both Democrat Bill Clinton and Republican George W. Bush said Theodore Roosevelt was one of their role models. 43In the years after the 1912 election, Roosevelt remained active. He traveled, campaigned, and continued to try to influence politics from his home in New York, where he died unexpectedly in his sleep at age 60. 44One public official observed, "Death had to take Roosevelt sleeping, for if he had been awake, there would have been a fight." 45I'm Kelly Jean Kelly. 46Kelly Jean Kelly wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. 47_____________________________________________________________ 48____________________________________________________________ 49Words in This Story 50nickname - n. a name that is different from your real name but is what your family and friends call you when they are talking to you or about you 51vigorous - adj. done with great force and energy 52strenuous - adj. requiring or showing great energy and effort 53grief - n. deep sadness caused especially by someone's death 54landslide - n. an election in which the winner gets a much greater number of votes than the loser 55obligation - n. something that you must do because of a law, rule, promise, etc. 56in his own right - n. because of his own efforts, talent, etc., and not because of his connection with someone else 57lesson - n. something learned through experience