When I learned that TR would go to Wall Street to fund raise from the same people who he would attack as greedy businessmen I pegged Teddy as one of the first political extortionists.
I like Teddy for his pro America and pro military outlook and I can live with him on Mount Rushmore. Still he did do a lot of damage at times. From splitting the party that allowed Woodrow Wilson in who enacted the Income Tax to getting the Nobel Peace Prize which has caused certain future Presidents to do anything for that stupid prize.
Good points. I too liked TR`s strong foreign policy and his nationalistic attitude. But as you point out, the damage TR did to the GOP lasts until this day. Especially in the mind of the current POTUS and a certain Senator from Arizona. Progressive politics, aka.liberal politics, should never be confused with conservative politics.
Bingo. He denounced Mark Hanna as a crook and "malefactor" (a favorite word) yet held private meetings with him after he becaome President, with his sister in the room to take notes.
The "trust-busting" of his Presidency was like his "crime fighting" as NYC Police Commissioner - all to get noticed, to have a favorable press. Had there been an electronic media in his day, we would be making jokes about how dangerous it was to be between him and a camera.
IMHO, his "pro-America" foreign policy, like his obsession with heroism, stems from shame concerning his father's purchase of a replacement during the Civil War.
As you can probably tell, I'm not a big fan of TR. His thinking was cloudy to non-existent. His understanding of economics was no better than any other politician, and his refusal to listen to contrarian advice was disastrous for our country.
He styled himself a "progressive", and I'm also of the opinion he knew just exactly what that means.