W. Scott Smoot
1858: Wealthy New York Family Raises TR.
His father's wealth helped young Theodore to survive asthma and illness. On doctor's orders, the boy works out in his own private gym, growing from a sickly little boy to a big man on campus at Harvard. He writes his first book and goes to law school.
1882: TR Tries Marriage and Politics
He quits law school, joins the Republican party, and wins election as youngest man ever to join the New York State assembly (twenty-two years old).
1884: TR Suffers Deaths, Retreats West
His mother and his wife die on the same day, two days after the birth of his daughter Alice. TR goes to work on a ranch in Dakota territory, hunts, captures a bandit. He marries a daughter of a family friend, Edith Carow, and publishes more books during the next several years, about his ranch experiences, about politics, and several about American history. Works for the US Civil Service commission.
1895: TR Fights Crime in New York City.
Appointed police commissioner of New York City, TR attracts national attention for his tactics. He creates the police academy to give police target practice and better fitness. He gives late night surprise inspections of police at headquarters and at work. He publishes more books.
1898, July: Secretary of Navy Fights in Spanish-American War
President McKinley appoints TR to be his Secretary of Navy, but when the Spanish-American war begins, TR resigns to be part of the fighting. As a lieutenant colonel, he leads his "Rough Riders" in a much-publicized bloody charge up San Juan hill against Spanish forces in Cuba.
1898, November: War Hero Wins New York Election
New York voters elect TR governor. Only a year later, the Republican party selects him to be the vice-presidential candidate to run with President McKinley.1901: TR Replaces the President
President McKinley is shot by a socialist-anarchist and dies eight days later. Roosevelt at forty-three is the youngest man to be President to that time.
1903: TR Engineers Canal in Panama
He actually encouraged a rebellion in Colombia that created the new nation of Panama, and then got a treaty to build and keep a canal there as US territory.1901-1909: TR "Talks Softly, Carries Big Stick"
That's how he described his own approach to dealing with dangerous animals, but also with possible wars and disorders. He wins the Noble Peace Prize for settling a war between Russia and Japan, and he uses his authority to negotiate labor disputes. He is also noted for creating national parks and the wilderness conservation movement.
1912: Assassin Shoots TR; TR, Unfazed
Disgusted by his own party's performance after he left the White House, TR takes other unhappy Republicans and creates the so-called "Bull Moose" Progressive Party. Giving a speech, he's shot, but he keeps talking. (His glasses case stopped the bullet). In the election, the Republicans come in third, TR second, and the Democrats first with Woodrow Wilson.1916-1919: TR Coaches USA from the Sidelines
In retirement, TR writes more books. He decides not to accept nomination for Presidency again in 1916. When the Great War (World War I) starts, Roosevelt promotes US involvement in it, and asks President Wilson to be able to lead a volunteer army to fight in France, but Wilson refuses. His youngest son dies in France. TR dies of heart disease in his sleep, January 6, 1919, age 60.
timeline, page three of three
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