“ Shifty , adroit logothete . moth-eaten - blooded , minute - minded , discriminatory , obstinate , timid old psalm - singing Indianapolis politician . No more backbone than a chocolate éclair . A flubdub with a run of the second - pace and the usual in him . Puzzlewit ! Fathead ! Brains less than a guinea pig ! ”
Yes , those are the words of Theodore Roosevelt . President of the United States , generator , philanthropist , devouring reader , and inhalation for the teddy bear . He was , from most accounts , a kind and sociable man . But if Roosevelt find flaws , he was flying to articulate them — a fast and furious violent stream of putdowns designed to bombard the mark of his onrush with abuse that might involve a lexicon to fully treat .
Roosevelt did n’t unleash these special philippic at just anyone . He appropriate them for somebody he maintain to the in high spirits standard because they have got the high-pitched spot in the earth . For Roosevelt , anything less than the naked , harsh Sojourner Truth direct at the commander - in - chief would be a disservice to his country . When it came to other presidents , Theodore Roosevelt pulled no punches . How rough did it get ? We ’re about to notice out .
From Mental Floss and iHeartRadio , this isHistory Vs . , a podcast about how your pet historic figures face off against their with child enemy . This calendar week ’s episode is TR vs. Other Chief Executive .
Roosevelt ’s famously tempestuous posture toward politician may have started with his impossible touchstone . His role model for all things presidential was Abraham Lincoln , the sixteenth commander - in - honcho of the United States , and one of the few president Roosevelt had no quarrel with . He grew up in a menage where Lincoln was revered — at least by his Republican father , Theodore Senior , or Thee . ( His mother Mittie , a southerner and Confederate comforter , belike had other feelings . ) Thee hadworkedwith Lincoln ’s administration during the Civil War and had evenjoinedAbraham and his married woman Mary at church .
After Lincoln was assassinate in 1865 , his funeral procession persist through New York City . From his grandfather ’s star sign in Union Square , 6 - year - old Roosevelt and his brother , Elliott , watched as the United States President ’s coffin was carried through the streets .
A photographer even fascinate the bit , a young Theodore peering out of the windowpane in what would be the first of his many eyewitness experience in chronicle . Here ’s Clay Jenkinson , founder of the Theodore Roosevelt Center at Dickinson State University in North Dakota .
Roosevelt ’s admiration for Lincoln endure throughout his life . As president , Roosevelt referred to him as “ my great hero , ” a grade of affection he reserved for very few people aside from his Fatherhood .
With Lincoln ’s portrait hang both in the White House and in his home office at Sagamore Hill , Roosevelt was forever reminded of Lincoln ’s bequest . “ I look up to that mental picture , ” he said , “ and I do as I believe Lincoln would have done . ”
He even kept a lock of Lincoln ’s pilus in a ring , which Rooseveltworefor his inauguration in 1905 . It was given to him by John Hay , who had served in Lincoln ’s brass — and went on to wait on in Roosevelt ’s .
That ’s Tyler Kuliberda , the education technician at Sagamore Hill , Roosevelt ’s onetime home and now a National Historic Site .
Roosevelt enjoy having a souvenir of Lincoln so nigh to him . But he was not so fond of one of the other President who would end up on Mount Rushmore alongside him .
Roosevelt was famously coolheaded toward Thomas Jefferson , blamingthe long - deceased United States President for his ineffectual sweat in building a military force-out during the War of 1812 and for Jefferson ’s insurgent foeman to George Washington ’s policies while serving as his repository of state .
But it was Roosevelt ’s contemporaries that received most of his scorn . That rant about a “ cold - blooded , narrow - minded , discriminatory , obstinate , fainthearted sure-enough psalm - spill the beans Indianapolis politician ” ? That was point at Benjamin Harrison , our 23rd United States President from 1889 to 1893 and the same man whoappointedRoosevelt as a civil inspection and repair reform commissioner around the start of his term .
Roosevelt had campaigned for him when he was on the Republican just the ticket . So where did things go so wrong ?
For one matter , Harrison did n’t really want reform for Union employees . The place was more of a figurehead role . That did n’t suit Roosevelt and his mellow touchstone at all . In his mind , if someone was grant a federal business , it should be because theydeservedit and not because they were owed a favor .
For the six years he hold the Emily Post , Roosevelt wasdefiant , putting languorous polite service worker and section in his crosshairs . HeadvisedHarrison to send away George H. Paul , postmaster of Milwaukee , for allow jobs to his friends . His investigation into the Baltimore Postal Service — where Roosevelt observe workers tap money for political purposes on regime prop , which , according to historian Edmund Morris , was against the Civil Service Code — put him against Postmaster General John Wanamaker even more directly .
Wanamaker tried to race his own investigating into the matter and reported that it encounter that no wrongdoing had take place . But a House Investigative Committee , act on Roosevelt ’s insistency , find that Roosevelt was right . Here ’s Jenkinson :
This was n’t how government was supposed to work — regime was n’t supposed to be fair . Cynicism and cronyism mandated that politicians did party favour and the gain team establish support . But Roosevelt did n’t handle what party anyone go to . He was on a delegation , and if Harrison ’s allies were in the way , he had no problem taking them down .
That allegiance had effect for their relationship . When Harrison and Roosevelt get together , Harrison took totappinghis finger , a nervous tic that develop as a resolution of the aggravation Roosevelt caused him .
There was , of course , the post with the money - soliciting Baltimore postal workers .
And the fact that Roosevelt proceed after William Wallace , the postmaster of Indianapolis and a man who also happened to be Harrison ’s best booster , forhiringincompetent — and corrupt — proletarian because they were Republicans .
Later , Harrison would say of Roosevelt , “ The only trouble I ever had with him … was that he wanted to put an goal to all the evil in the world between sunrise and sundown . ”
Harrison ’s open displays of favoritism goad Roosevelt , perpetuating some of his most articulate insults . He call off Harrison “ the short gray man in the White House ” and “ a genial small runt ” behind his back .
Roosevelt managed to last through Harrison ’s term , and would end up being re - appoint polite table service reform commissioner once Grover Clevelandenteredoffice in 1893 . He left his post in 1895 and became president of the gameboard of law commissioner in New York City . His next brush with the presidency would come when William McKinley run for the government agency in 1896 .
McKinley ’s campaign had given Roosevelt pause . Before McKinley ’s first term , Rooseveltwroteto his protagonist and Massachusetts Senator Henry Cabot Lodge that “ it will be a nifty misfortune to have McKinley nominated … If I could tell you all I have learned since his campaign has progressed , you would be as completely alarmed over the prospect of his presidential nomination as I am . ”
When it seemed like McKinley would shortly be named the Republican campaigner , Roosevelt dashed off a letter to his sister , Bamie : “ McKinley , whose firmness I perfectly distrust , will be nominated ; and this … I much rue . ”
Roosevelt did n’t dislike McKinley . Henotedhe was an “ honorable homo , of very considerable ability and just record as a soldier and in Congress . ” But where Roosevelt felt Harrison was politically savvy , he get the impression that McKinley was without a spine . “ He is not a strong man , ” Roosevelt say . “ Unless he is well - stake I should experience rather uneasy about him in a serious crisis , whether it took the form of a soft - money fad , a gigantic labor thigh-slapper , or peril of foreign conflict . ”
Roosevelt ’s tune changed slightly when McKinley was elected .
McKinleyappointedRoosevelt assistant secretary of the Navy in 1897 . But the peacefulness did n’t last long .
He would later fight extensively for McKinley ’s 2nd terminus . By this point , Roosevelt was more than just a admirer . After a two - twelvemonth terminal figure as governor of New York , he was the vice - presidential nominee on the McKinley ticket .
One would remember that Roosevelt would exert a short more longanimity with the guy on his crusade ticket , but … it ’s Theodore Roosevelt we ’re talking about here .
For one affair , Roosevelt did n’t really want to be frailty chair . Hethoughtthe authority was ineffectual and contract . “ I would a enceinte deal rather be anything , say professor of history , than frailty president , ” he order .
Here ’s Kuliberda :
But Roosevelt ’s friends knew it was a footmark closer to the presidency . Senator Lodgeurgedhim to take it on and stick by McKinley ’s side , declare it “ invaluable ” for his futurity in politics .
So why would McKinley select him as a track mate ? It was more indifference than anything . friend buzzed in McKinley ’s ear that Roosevelt , then the governor of New York and a war hero , wouldbringsome much - needed fervidness into the drive . Plus , the New York Republican party car desperately need him out of the commonwealth .
And so McKinley and Roosevelt became the Republican hopefuls of 1900 . Ohio Senator Mark Hanna , who take in Roosevelt as a informal carom , was not a fan . “ Do n’t you clear , ” he read , “ that there is only one life between this madman and the White House ? ”
Roosevelt ’s concerns about the role proved exact . McKinley never consulted him on insurance andrefusedto let him interact with the Senate as a link , as he had done with his late frailty president , Garret Hobart . Roosevelt , meanwhile , found McKinley ’s frigid decision - hit process infuriating . But he would n’t have to endure it for long .
On September 6 , 1901 , McKinley wasshotin the stomach by anarchist Leon Czolgosz .
He died of gangrene only a little over a hebdomad later . According to an eyewitness , when Roosevelt heard the news of McKinley ’s shooting , “ a look of unmistakable anguish come up to his face , and tears immediately fill his oculus . ”
Roosevelt bucket along to Buffalo to be by McKinley ’s side , although he would be too late to see the chairman before he passed . Though they had their remainder , the tragedy overshadow any political divide .
The so - shout madman was now in the Executive Mansion . Would that experience give him a new linear perspective on the challenge of the chore ? Of of course . Would it prompt him to bite his tongue when it come to his heir ? Probably not .
We ’ll be right on back .
Imagine what it would be like to let down someone with the standards of Theodore Roosevelt . Just … think about that for a moment .
William Howard Taft did n’t have to think about it . He have it first - hand .
Taft was Roosevelt ’s secretary of war . When Roosevelt provide agency , he take Taft as hischoicefor the presidential nominating speech . Taft was named the campaigner in 1908 , and Roosevelt believed he would welcome advice with an open pinna .
Hmm . Not quite .
Roosevelt felt Taft was a minuscule too careless with his picture . Seeing Taft fishing and golfing rather of shaking hands and snog babe , he urged Taft to “ put yourself prominently and emphatically into this campaign . ”
Of his recreational activities , hesaid : “ I am convinced that the prominence that has been given to your golf game playing has not been wise , and from now on I trust that your people will do everything they can to foreclose one word of honor being sent out about either your fishing or your playing golf game . ”
Roosevelt had very particular mind about how a president should behave , and what kind of figure they should see . Presidential candidates were n’t conjecture to be seen savour themselves . “ I never let champion promote my lawn tennis , and never let a pic of me in tennis costume seem , ” he said . And Rooseveltbelievedthat Taft should permit his constituents to see him smile : “ Always . Because I feel that your nature shinny out so transparently when you do smile — you big , generous , high - minded fellow . ”
accord to Kuliberda , TR had tight controller over his public epitome — very much a matter with politicians today but a unexampled concept in TR ’s time . It ’s one of the things that made him the first mod president .
If it sounds like Roosevelt was act as an prototype adviser for Taft , well , he was . He was Roosevelt ’s hand - pick successor , and his success — or failure — would in some way reflect back on Roosevelt ’s legacy .
accord to Jenkinson , Roosevelt was proper to lecture Taft about golfing , because median people back then could n’t afford to golf .
It ’s not concentrated to imagine that Roosevelt ’s nagging irritated Taft . The mechanical press ’s spin on things may have also rubbed him the wrong path : Theydecidedthat his last name could be an acronym , little for Take Advice from Teddy .
Taft beat Democrat William Jennings Bryan , and TR was sure his heir would continue his legacy of reform . Roosevelt go out on a hunt trip to Africa for a class , allowing Taft a chance to make his own cross in office .
Taft did n’t live up to Roosevelt ’s majestic expectations . He found it easier to be complacent with survive laws than to become disputatious . A former lawyer , he wanted toremainwithin the boundaries of office , whereas Roosevelt was smashing on exercise as much restraint as he could . Taft possessed none of Roosevelt ’s firebrand policies , none of his fast-growing attitude towards improve the land . At the end of the Africa trip , hewroteto Roosevelt to complain : “ I do not know that I have had harder luck than most presidents , but I do love that thus far I have bring home the bacon far less than … others . I have been conscientiously seek to carry out your policies but my method acting of doing so has not act swimmingly . ” Poor Taft lament that he could n’t even lose system of weights .
In some way , Taft was like a sibling , look up to a giving brother for blessing . He invited Roosevelt to the White House , but Rooseveltrefused . “ I do n’t think it well for an ex - president to go to the White House , or indeed to go to Washington , except when he can not serve it , ” he sniffle . Time and again , Taft would make advances and Roosevelt would rebuff them . Taft would later say Roosevelt ’s parky demeanor “ deeply bruise ” him .
The rubbing grew bad when Taft finally made a sweeping change , notify the government tosuethe monopolistic U.S. Steel — an industrial behemoth Roosevelt had tacitly approve of in 1907 to forfend fiscal panic . Not only was Taft slow to act , but when he did , it was to hear and reverse one of Roosevelt ’s decision . An irate Roosevelt really penned entire publish essaysdevotedto separating his policies from those of his one-time friend .
The problem ? Roosevelt ’s decision on the U.S. Steel situation was probably a mistake . accord to Jenkinson , the key players in the merger hide their true motivation from the President of the United States . Economics was not TR ’s strong wooing , and he acted speedily to stave in off the scare — but if he ’d had more fourth dimension to read up on his options , he might not have approve the merger . Still , nothing stopped him from defending the conclusion he had made .
A poison pen was not Roosevelt ’s only riposte . He decided to dispute Taft in the ultimate arena of the presidential election . Rooseveltannouncedhe was bring back to turn tail in 1912 , vie for the Republican nomination against Taft . Those references to a “ flubdub ” and “ someone with nous less than a guinea pig ” ? Roosevelt was referring to Taft . The incumbent was quick to retort , holler Roosevelt a “ honeyfugler , ” or someone whogainsan advantage by betray , as well an egoist , a demagogue , and a flatterer . And after Roosevelt enjoin he was no longer going to attack Taft in person , Taft promulgate , “ having called me everything in the category of bad name that are mentioned in polite society , he now wishes to indulge in less emphatic verbalism . ”
The Republicans tried to cut back the rivalry , offering to arrive at a compromise and witness a third candidate . Roosevelt would have none of it . “ I ’ll name the via media candidate , ” he said . “ He ’ll be me . I ’ll name the via media platform . It will be our platform . ”
After a controversial convention that saw the Republican National Committee award Taft the necessary delegate to guarantee his pick , Roosevelt could have been courteous in frustration . alternatively , he stay in the race , breaking aside from the Republicans and running as a Progressive in his Bull Moose party . The sniping keep on .
Indispensable , or perdurable ? set for a oral communication at Milwaukee Auditorium on October 14 , 1912 , Roosevelt wasshotby a would - be assassin named John Schrank . He survived . He even finish his speech . Schrank subsequently say he shot him in part because William McKinley had come to him in a aspiration and consecrate him to do the deed . It seemed that Theodore Roosevelt ’s clashes with president both past and present were far from finish .
In vie against each other , both Taft and Roosevelt lost . It was Democrat Woodrow Wilson who secured the 1912 election . And unfortunately , Roosevelt did n’t much care for him , either .
Wilson was studious and self - mindful . He recognize Roosevelt appear to be larger - than - aliveness . “ He is a tangible , vivid soul , whom they have see and shouted themselves gruff over and vote for , zillion inviolable , ” Wilson said . “ I am a vague , conjectural personality , more made up of opinion and academic prepossession than of human trait and reddish corpuscles . ”
In the face of such ego - deprecating commentary , Roosevelt still rent him have it with both barrels . Wilson , he said , was “ a proficient humanity who has in no manner show that he possess any special fitness for the presidency . ” Here ’s Jenkinson :
As it often did , Roosevelt ’s scorn stemmed in part from a president who deviate from Roosevelt ’s well - worn route . In a accord with Colombia a few calendar month before the opening of the Panama Canal , the United States proclaimed “ sincere regret ” that anything come in between the friendly relationship of the United States and Colombia , like the Panamanian coup Roosevelt had sent a ship to abide .
To Roosevelt , that was an admission — a star sign of institutional failing he would never have permit . That it was in open rebelliousness of his decision rankled him even more .
In a insistence release , Roosevelt called Wilson ’s handling of alien affairs “ such as to make the United States a figure of fun in the international worldly concern . ” He criticized the treaty and with the help of Senate ally blocked the pact ’s ratification . When the accord was in the end sign a few years after Roosevelt ’s death , the “ sincere regret ” article had been removed .
But it was more than a difference of delicacy . In his heart , Roosevelt was a soldier . He go for combat , be it verbal , strong-arm , or territorial . When Wilson was faced with the decisiveness to make for America into World War I , Roosevelt criticized his console ’s passivism .
Writing to his friend Arthur Lee , Rooseveltsaidthat “ It is not a good thing for a area to have a professional yodeler , a human trombone like [ William Jennings Bryan ] as secretary of state , nor a college chair with an astute and shifting brain , a hypocritical ability to deceive plain people … and no real knowledge or wiseness pertain inner and outside amour as head word of the country . ”
On another juncture , he bemoaned Wilson ’s lack of action following the German sinking feeling of theLusitaniaandtoldhis Word Kermit that a “ lily - livered gage ” was occupy the White House .
Speaking to the populace at large about the sinking feeling of theLusitania , hesaid : “ This lay out not just buccaneering , but piracy on a vaster scale of murder than any old - time pirate ever do . ” Roosevelt said that the act “ form war against innocent men , cleaning woman , and baby traveling on the ocean , and to our own fellow countryman and countrywomen , who are among the sufferers . It seems inconceivable that we can abstain from taking action in this thing , for we owe it not only to humanity , but to our own home ego - esteem . ”
spell to his son , Archie , Roosevelt was even more accusatory , placingthe blame for the victims of theLusitaniadirectly on Wilson ’s shoulders . “ As a res publica , we have thought very footling about foreign affairs ; we do n’t realize that the murder of the thousand men , cleaning woman , and children in theLusitaniais due , solely , to Wilson ’s abject cowardice and weakness in failing to take energetic action when theGulflightwas sink but a few days previously . ”
( Just a quick fact tab here : Though there were reports that theGulflighthad been sunk , it wasactuallyjust damaged and towed in . OK , back to the quote . )
“ … [ Wilson and Bryan ] are both low creatures and they wo n’t go to war unless they are kicked into it , and they will consider nothing but their own personal advantage in the matter . ”
Wilson , however , did put up a fight — when Roosevelt prick him into one . “ The way to treat an resister like Roosevelt is to stare at the stars over his head , ” Wilsonsaid .
The men reconciled , if ever so shortly , when Wilson decide to link up the war . Roosevelt come over to the White House and , over lemonade , pitched himself as going back to the Army to take up his situation as a commanding officer of the Rough Riders , which had barnstormed the Spanish - American War in 1898 and helped perpetuate Roosevelt ’s report as a hands - on combatant . Wilson finally refused , which once again drew Roosevelt ’s ire .
Wilson latersaidhe believed Roosevelt ’s causa was borne out of ego and self - aggrandisement . on the QT , he may have also dread Roosevelt becoming a warfare hero once more could lead to a White House run in 1920 .
Roosevelt ’s four Word lift up muster in . One of them , Quentin , die in the skies over France . It was Wilson who support the news show via telegram .
Roosevelt would n’t dwell to see the oddment of Wilson ’s second terminal figure . He died on January 6 , 1919 . Some of his remaining days were pass authoringeditorialsfor theKansas City Starabout his repeated criticisms of the Chief Executive . While it concerned Wilson , it summarizes Roosevelt ’s feelings about the office he treated with such reverence :
Roosevelt was ferociously decisive of the power of the administration , a role he believed require to be contextualized and challenged constantly , which could be one explanation for why he tax other presidents so raspingly . But there is another potential explanation . Were his insults , criticisms , complaints , and monition feed by ego ? By a sense that he , Theodore Roosevelt , could and did do a better job ? Perhaps .
But Roosevelt was n’t fighting just for the sake of fighting or to have his own legacy milled . He fought because he felt it was the function of citizen to confront government , to force politician to defend their positioning and remain culpable to the somebody they stand for . Theodore Roosevelt did n’t want to press other chairman . He want other presidents to fight back for him .
CREDITS
account Vs.is host by me , Erin McCarthy . This episode was drop a line by Jake Rossen , with research by me and fact contain by Austin Thompson . Field transcription by Jon Mayer . Joe Weigand voice Theodore Roosevelt in this episode .
The executive producers are Erin McCarthy , Julie Douglas , and Tyler Klang . The oversee producer is Dylan Fagan . The show is edited by Dylan Fagan and Lowell Brillante .
exceptional thanks to Clay Jenkinson and Tyler Kuliberda .
To ascertain more about this instalment , and Theodore Roosevelt , check out our website atmentalfloss.com/historyvs .
History Vs . Is a output of iHeart Radio and Mental Floss .
