[Vigilanteman]

I wouldn't shed too many tears for Standard Oil over being broken up by TR. The Sherman Anit-Trust legislation which he was merely enforcing had been passed in the Cleveland administration more than one decade before.

Further, just comparing the prices charged by Standard Oil versus competitors is not a fair comparison as Standard Oil offered favorable pricing only to customers who bought the whole package including transportation by J.D. Rockerfeller owned companies. Rockerfeller was no friend of the free market and was putting politicians in his pocket. TR went after them all.

TR would, in no way, be at home with modern liberals. Witness his famous statements on hyphenated Americans and his insistence we be respected abroad, just to name two instances. I'd put TR behind Washington, Jefferson, Reagan and Lincoln, but would certainly rank him with the next tier of great presidents.

[GeorgefromGeorgia]

Even libertarians like Milton Friedman recognize the need for some anti-trust laws that stifle competition. TR was not as liberal as some on this post have indicated. Who is in favor of child labor, I ask? Also, TR was a great President on national defense. Further, he got things done.