Below The Beltway

The July 3, 2006 issue of Time Magazine is dedicated, in large part, to the life and leagacy of America’s 26th President, Theodore Roosevelt. There are several interesting articles about Roosevelt’s Presidency, his legacy, and whether the role for America that he advocated has a place in the 21st Century. Of all the articles, though, two stand out largely because of who wrote them, Newt Gingrich in one case, and Karl Rove in the other.

Full discussion below the fold.

First, Gingrich explains why Roosevelt is deserving of continued attention from Americans:

One hundred years ago America had its most popular President since George Washington. TR, as Theodore Roosevelt was popularly known, captured, to an extraordinary degree, the imagination of the American people. At the same time, he also captured the respect of much of the world, culminating with his being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for helping negotiate peace between Russia and Japan. There is much Washington could learn from studying Theodore Roosevelt. Paying little regard to either the Republican or Democratic bosses, he was a natural maverick who did what he thought was right. A passionate believer in technology, TR, in 1902, became the first President to ride in an automobile ? something for which at the time, he was praised by the newspapers as an act of courage and foresigh

And, Gingrich says, current politicians could learn a thing or two from Roosevelt in areas ranging from the environment:

Most Republicans would do well to study his commitment to national parks, national forests, and the management of the natural world. On the other hand, Democrats would do just as well to note that Theodore Roosevelt saw man as part of nature and not as its opponent. As a rancher, big game hunter, fisherman and perhaps the most outdoor President in American history, TR believed that conservation included land use and not merely its preservation. I believe he would have resoundingly advocated a multiple use approach to Federal lands.

To immigration:

As TR put it, “In the first place we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the man’s becoming in very fact an American, and nothing but an American. . . . There can be no divided allegiance here.”

To America’s place in the world:

As President, TR believed in a policy, as he put it, to “Speak softly and carry a big stick.” He used American power carefully but effectively to dramatically increase the role of America in World Affairs.

Presidential advisor Karl Rove goes on to discuss some of the lessons that can be learned from Roosevelt’s Presidency. Some highlights:

2. Politics should be animated by large, important ideas. For a man who said “I like big things,” politics was about precisely that. T.R. was not interested so much in management or budgeting matters; he wanted to grapple with big issues like America’s role in the world, social justice and fairness in competition. Whether it was waging war or waging peace–T.R. was the first American to win the Nobel Peace Prize–he shaped the future of the nation and the course of human events. In doing so, he helped invent the modern American presidency.

3. The United States, while not flawless, is a profound force for good in the world. Theodore Roosevelt led a reluctant nation, largely indifferent to world affairs, onto the global stage. On his watch, America became a great world power. “There comes a time in the life of a nation, as in the life of an individual, when it must face great responsibilities, whether it will or no,” he said in 1898. “We have now reached that time. We cannot avoid facing the fact that we occupy a new place among the people of the world … Our flag is a proud flag, and it stands for liberty and civilization. Where it has once floated, there must be no return to tyranny.”

4. Leadership matters. Confident in his own powers of judgment and persuasion, Roosevelt believed in “immediate and rigorous executive action” in times of crisis. And whether they agreed with him or not, Americans knew where this human dynamo stood on the great issues of his time. Driven by a fervent belief in the Declaration of Independence, he drew strength from his faith that all Americans “stand on the same footing,” as human beings worthy of respect. And like all great leaders, he inspired those he led, turning his convictions into theirs.

The interesting thing about the qualities of TR that Rove chooses to highlight is the extent to which you can see them come-to-life, in some sense and by no means perfectly, in the Bush Administration.

The entire issue is worth attention when you have the time.