POTUS 26 - President Theodore Roosevelt, the 20th century face on Mount Rushmore

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President Teddy Roosevelt coined the phrase "my hat is in the ring" and ran for President as a Progressive (aka The Bull Moose Party). I believe he is the last third party President (at least until we come back to our senses).

Theodore Roosevelt is remembered as POTUS 26, but this cat also held dozens of other fascinating jobs and posts: New York State Assemblyman, Governor of New York, Vice President, President, deputy sheriff in the Dakota Territory, Police Commissioner of New York City, U.S. Civil Service Commissioner, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, and Colonel of the Rough Riders.

At 42, he became President. He was a conservation President (and an outdoorsman and hunter), and during his White House years from 1901-1909, he designated 150 National Forests, 51 Federal Bird Reservations, 5 National Parks, 18 National Monuments, the first 4 National Game Preserves, and 21 Reclamation Projects. He provided federal protection for almost 230 million acres. That's a lot of real estate. Thank you Mr. President!

President Roosevelt "busted" trusts and helped control large, thieving corporations, began the Panama Canal project, and negotiated an end to the Russo-Japanese War for which he won the Nobel Peace Prize.

He talked about a "Square Deal" for all Americans, enabling millions to earn a living wage, and built up the Navy as our Big Stick ("speak softly, but carry a...").

"Of all the public men that I have known, on both sides of the Atlantic (and there are few that I have not known in the past thirty years), he stands out the greatest, and as the most potent influence for good upon the life of his generation." Viscount Lee of Fareham, English statesman.

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