Site Map         |          Guestbook
- PRESIDENT
- POLITICIAN
- SOLDIER
- AUTHOR
- OUTDOORSMAN
- FAMILY
- PICTURES
- VIDEOS
- SPEECHES
- CARTOONS
- EPHEMERA
- RESEARCH
- STORE
Theodore Roosevelt's
political career
    Theodore Roosevelt
      "I intended to be one of the governing class."


The Square Deal
Let the watchwords of all our people be the old familiar
watchwords of honesty, decency, fair-dealing, and
commonsense.... We must treat each man on his worth and
merits as a man. We must see that each is given a square
deal, because he is entitled to no more and should receive
no less.... The welfare of each of us is dependent
fundamentally upon the welfare of all of us."
      - New York State Fair, Syracuse, September 7, 1903
Theodore Roosevelt : A Political Career in Pictures
Theodore Roosevelt:
The Young AssemblymanTheodore Roosevelt:
The Young AssemblymanLetter from Joseph H. Choate to Theodore Roosevelt asking about campaign contributions; 31 October 1881
Campaign note of Theodore Roosevelt soliciting support for his campaign to the New York State Assembly; 1 November 1881
Reminder to Young Republicans to attend the nomination ratification of Theodore Roosevelt to the 21st Assembly District
Enrollment sheet for Columbia College School of Law
Theodore Roosevelt, the young assemblyman, after scaling the Matterhorn.
T.R. as a young assemblyman
A cartoon depicting T.R.'s bid for the mayoralty of New York City; T.R. came in third place
Puck cartoons from July 10, 1889 showing Civil Service Commissioner Roosevelt battle the Spoils System Giant
Harper's Weekly cartoon from May 10, 1884 showing Civil Service Commisioner Roosevelt turn away "spoils system" office seekers
Theodore Roosevelt as Civil Service Commissioner
Theodore Roosevelt as Civil Service Commissioner
T.R. as the young Civil Service Commissioner
Theodore Roosevelt with the other Commissioners of the New York Police Board
Cartoon depicting Theodore Roosevelt as Police Commissioner in traditional "dutch garb"
Cartoon depicting Theodore Roosevelt as a police dog (New York police headquarters was located on Mulberry Street)
As police commissioner, T.R. enforced the Sunday "Blue Laws" too rigourously for the taste of some citizens
Police Commissioner Roosevelt at his desk at police headquarters on Mulberry Street
T.R. depicted as a bulldog policeman enforcing the "Blue Laws" prohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages on Sunday
T.R. as Police Commissioner
Signed appointment to the Police Department of New York City
T.R.'s resignation letter of his post as Commissioner of the New York Police Board
T.R.'s resignation letter of his post as Commissioner of the New York Police Board
T.R.'s resignation letter of his post as Commissioner of the New York Police Board
T.R.'s resignation letter of his post as Commissioner of the New York Police Board
T.R.'s resignation letter of his post as Commissioner of the New York Police Board
Theodore Roosevelt : Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Original letter from President McKinley nominating Theodore Roosevelt as Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Assistant Secretary of the Navy at the Naval War College
Assistant Secretary of the Navy at his desk in the Old Executive Building
Assistant Secretary of the Navy at his desk in the Old Executive Building
Assistant Secretary of the Navy at his desk in the Old Executive Building
Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Telegram sent by T.R. to Admiral Dewey to prepare the fleet for possible war
Letter written by Navy Secretary John D. Long, on T.R.'s resignation from his post as Assistant Secretary; T.R. resigned to join the war effort against Spain
Poster showing Theodore Roosevelt's campaign for Governor of New York State
Invitation to the Governor's inauguration in Albany, New York
Governor Theodore Roosevelt during his inauguration in Albany, New York
Gubernatorial candidate Theodore Roosevelt gives a speech
Admiral Dewey receiving Governor Roosevelt aboard the Flagship "Olympia" in 1899
Cartoon lampooning the Great Seal of the State of New York
Cartoon depicting the heavy thumb of Boss Platt trying to keep T.R.'s reformist tendencies in check
Governor Theodore Roosevelt
Governor Theodore Roosevelt
Dinner menu & program honoring Governor Theodore Roosevelt
Governor Roosevelt at the Republican National Convention, about to be nominated for Vice President
Theodore Roosevelt at the Republican National Convention; T.R. is being nominated for Vice-President.
Cartoon depicting T.R. as "stealing the spotlight" from Republican presidential candidate William McKinley
Poster showing the Republican Presidential ticket for 1900
Composite picture (doctored) showing the Republican Presidential ticket for 1900
Original portrait of Vice-Presidential candidate Theodore Roosevelt; a variation of this picture was used to create the previous composite picture
Vice-Presidential candidate Theodore Roosevelt giving a speech
Propaganda poster for the Republican Presidential ticket for 1900
Rare photograph of William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt, the Republican Presidential ticket for 1900
Vice-Presidential candidate Theodore Roosevelt giving a speech
Propaganda for the Republican Presidential ticket for 1900; the motto was "Four More Years of the Full Dinner Pail"
Propaganda poster for the Republican Presidential ticket for 1900
T.R. as Vice Presidential candidate
Election postcard of Theodore Roosevelt for Vice-President
Swearing-in of Wlliam McKinley as the 25th President of the United States; Vice-President Theodore Roosevelt is visible behind William McKinley
Frontispiece of the Menu for the Inaugural Ball Supper held on March 4, 1901
Back cover of the Menu for the Inaugural Ball Supper held on March 4, 1901
Ticket to the 1901 Inauguration of McKinley & Roosevelt
Program of the 1901 Inauguration
Program of the 1901 Inauguration
Berryman cartoon depicting Theodore Roosevelt dressed in Rough Rider garb and presiding over the U.S. Senate
Vice President Roosevelt and Illinois Governor Yates in Springfield on 30 Aug 1901
T.R. waiting for train appx. 1 month before becoming President
Vice President Theodore Roosevelt at Wilcox Mansion after President William McKinley was shot by an anarchist
Vice President Theodore Roosevelt at Wilcox Mansion after President William McKinley was shot by an anarchist
Vice President Theodore Roosevelt at Wilcox Mansion after President William McKinley was shot by an anarchist
President Theodore Roosevelt paying respects to the assassinated William McKinley
          Click the thumbnail
          to see the larger
          image & description
New York State Representative : 1882 - 1884
T.R.'s foray into politics began when his local Republican Club nominated him to a State Representative candidacy. T.R. left his law studies at Columbia University,
and won the election easily thereby becoming at age 23 the youngest State Representative in the history of the State.
T.R. made his mark in State politics by exposing the corrupt relationship between a New York Supreme Court Justice and railroad magnate Jay Gould.
With his whirlwind enthusiasm and calculating mind, TR was easily reelected in 1882 and 1883, eventually being elected the youngest Speaker of the Assembly in the
history of New York. In April 1884, TR was appointed Chairman of the Committee on Cities, whose efforts resulted in vital changes in the Charter of New York City.
ORIGINAL letters detailing T.R.'s Campaign Expenses:     1882     1883
U.S. Civil Service Commissioner : 1889 - 1895
T.R.'s active support and campaigning for Benjamin Harrison during the 1888 Presidential campaign earned T.R. a presidential appointment to the U.S. Civil Service Commission.
T.R.'s was reappointed to the post in 1892 by incoming President Grover Cleveland; Theodore thus continued his "irrepressible, belligerent, and enthusiastic" enforcement of
civil service laws and fight against the spoils system.
1886 - "Present Position of Civil Service Reform" - The New Princeton Review                            1895 - "Six Years of Civil Service Reform" - Scribner's
Commissioner and President of the New York City Police Board : 1895 - 1897
In 1895, TR received an invitation from New York City Mayor William Strong to become a Commissioner of the New York City Police Board. T.R. resigned his post in Washington,
and promptly set out to reform the police force. T.R. established the first Police Academy in the U.S., pioneered bicycle patrols, promoted civil service reforms
for recruitment and promotion of officers, created meritorious service medals, closed corrupt police hostelries, established a Municipal Lodging House through the Board of Charities,
required officers to register with the Board, and had telephones installed in station houses. TR was famous for disguising himself and patrolling the streets at night with
his journalist friend Jacob Riis, both hoping to catch a sleeping "beat cop" or other policemen conducting themselves shamefully (accepting bribes, drinking on the job, etc.).
As Governor of New York State, T.R. signed an act in March 1901 to replace the bureaucratic and politicized Board of Police Commissioners with a single Police Commissioner.
Assistant Secretary of the Navy : 1897 - 1898
Coupling T.R.'s good press with his charisma gained him a national reputation for indefatigable honesty; traits valued by newly elected President William McKinley
who appointed TR, in 1897, Assistant Secretary of the Navy. Shortly after taking his appointment, the U.S.S. Maine, anchored off Havana, Cuba, (at that time a
Spanish possession) blew up killing 234 U.S. sailors. Naturally, hawks in the US blamed and demanded war against Spain, who denied all responsibility for the tragedy.
A student of military affairs and international politics, TR knew that the key to winning the brewing conflict with Spain would be to control the seas. When TR's boss,
Secretary Long, unexpectedly went out of town, TR lost no time and cabled Admiral Dewey who was stationed in Hong Kong at the time. TR ordered Dewey to load coal and sail
for the Philippines immediately; and added that should war be declared, then Dewey must, at all costs, prevent the large yet aged Spanish fleet from leaving Manila Harbor.
Governor of New York State : 1889 - 1895
Following the success and publicity generated by his exploits in Cuba during the Spanish-American War, T.R. ran for Governor of New York State and won the post.
T.R.'s firebrand approach against corruption and "machine politics" inevitably clashed with the State's political bosses, particularly Mark Hanna and Thomas Platt.
These two bosses decided that the best way to be rid of T.R. would be to "bump him up" into a position of political neutrality: The Vice Presidency.
Read T.R.'s Public Papers as 33rd Governor of the State of New York
1899            1900
Vice-President of the United States : 1901
At the Republican National Convention of 1900, T.R.'s name was put forth by the State machine bosses for nomination as William McKinley’s running mate. Unhappy but always
loyal to the party, T.R. accepted his fate with resignation and campaigned successfully for the McKinley-Roosevelt ticket of 1900. His six months in the office were quiet
and uneventful, until President McKinley was shot by Leo Colgosz on September 13, 1901. Theodore Roosevelt was sworn in as the nation's 26th President at the Wilcox Mansion
near Buffalo, New York, on September 14, 1901.
T.R.'s inaugural speech as Vice-President