Teddy Roosevelt "The Bull Moose Party Founder"

Roosevelt is noted for his energetic personality, range of interests and achievements, leadership of the Progressive Movement, and his "cowboy" image and robust masculinity. He was a leader of the Republican Party and founder of the short-lived Progressive ("Bull Moose") Party of 1912.

I just finished this painting of Teddy Roosevelt and wanted to get it posted. This series helps to show what these presidents were all about. The quote attached to this painting is a well known verse in sports circles but it does add some insight into what President Roosevelt was all about. It is really a lot of fun to rediscover these men and what they did with their time in office like Mr. Roosevelt who as a child suffered with severe asthma and refused to succumb to his physical limitations embraced all things physical and became an outstanding athlete and later in life outdoorsman. He was home schooled until he attended Harvard and took up boxing. In 1881, one year out of Harvard, he was elected to the New York State Assembly as its youngest member. Roosevelt's first historical book, The Naval War of 1812 (1882), established his professional reputation as a serious historian.

After a few years of living in the Badlands, Roosevelt returned to New York City, where he gained fame for fighting police corruption. The Spanish–American War broke out while Roosevelt was, effectively, running the Department of the Navy. He promptly resigned and led a small regiment in Cuba known as the Rough Riders, earning himself a nomination for the Medal of Honor, which was received posthumously on his behalf on January 16, 2001. After the war, he returned to New York and was elected Governor in a close-fought election. Within two years, he was elected Vice President of the United States. He did all this before the age of 42.

n 1901, President William McKinley was assassinated; and Roosevelt became President at the age of 42, taking office at the youngest age of any U.S. President in history. Roosevelt attempted to move the Republican Party in the direction of Progressivism, including trust busting and increased regulation of businesses.