Regardless of political ideology, I think we can all agree that Teddy Roosevelt had the temperament, drive, and intelligence to be the greatest president: it’s a shame he lived in mediocre times.
Hard times make great men. Roosevelt was a great man without the opportunity to show his quality.
No we can’t all agree.
Teddy Roosevelt was a Progressive.
He strongly argued for greater government control over the economy.
His Congress created the Bureau of Corporations which eventually became the Federal Trade Commission. TR was a trust buster.
He called for a graduated income tax and inheritance taxes.
Roosevelt declared the idea of natural rights was scientifically wrong and morally obsolete. He believed humans could progress beyond their selfish individualism.
TR believed that the right of property could be justified only if it benefited the community, and wealth must be redistributed. Government is not just about the rule of law but was about bringing “social justice” to the citizenry.
TR evolved to embrace the idea of a “living Constitution.”
Denied the Republican nomination of 1912, Roosevelt ran for president under the Progressive Party ticket. Enough said.
I would trade TR on Mount Rushmore for Calvin Coolidge any and every time.
“I think we can all agree...” No...The whole point and strength of this forum is to air similar or differing opinions.
I certainly do not agree.
My opinion pretty much aligns with post #5.
In addition, I disagree with your theory he would have done better had it not been for mediocre times.
In terms of this nation falling flat on it’s a$$ and going to actual full blown socialism if not communism, this almost happened to us with Hitlery. IMO, this qualifies as hard times. During hard times true heroes come out to become great Presidents. In terms of greatness, Trump has both socialist Roosevelts beat 10 times over.
In 1927, when the Mount Rushmore monument was started, it was far too early to evaluate the Theodore Roosevelt Administration in historical perspective.