Comments on: Teddy Roosevelt: The Ultimate Moderate

By: Kyle

Kyle — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 15:53:00 +0000

I'm not saying that TR wasn't a great president; he was and he is one of my favorites. But the way that you arrived at that same conclusion, Chris, is what I am criticizing. The entire post you praise him for his economic policies which were nothing but talk. He didn't really push the passage of tougher anti-trust legislation and he barely enforced what was on the book.

All I'm trying to do on this thread is to get you to look at your reasoning, because how you arrive at your answer is much more important than the answer itself. In fact, in law school, they keep telling us the answer is pretty much irrelevant, the reasons behind it are all that matter.

By: S.C. Denney

S.C. Denney — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 02:54:00 +0000

Although I wouldn’t label him a moderate (he was a right-of-center Progressive), I will agree that his progressive rhetoric was both inspiring and influential. I agree with Chris that without Teddy, Taft would of been nothing and many of the labor reforms and the general economic prosperity would have ceased to exist, however, I am not so sure that Roosevelt was so keen on brining down the “dishonest” business barons — Roosevelt contrived a collusion-ridden pact with the economic powerhouses of the early 20th century (Morgan, Rockefeller…).

Regardless, I do esteem Roosevelt one of America’s greatest presidents and do very much admire his ambitious life style — the strenuous life, wasn’t it?

By: Kyle

Kyle — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 13:42:00 +0000

Anti-trust regulation had been around for 20 years before Roosevelt became president and the provisions of the laws were not fully enforced until Taft became president. I admire TR for many of his policies, but his hypocrisy on the issue of trusts is something I most certainly do not approve of. The laws were not targeted at “predatory” trusts, they were targeted at trusts. Taft enforced the laws on the books, TR selectively enforced the law when he wanted to. There is nothing admirable in that kind of behavior.

By: Chris McNeal

Chris McNeal — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 12:57:00 +0000

Yes Roosevelt approved US Steel. But that does not mean one flying crap to me. You are misrepresenting history when you make it seem like that was the sole reason he decided to run in 1912. He was agitated at Taft long before US Steel.

Again, before Roosevelt, anti-trust regulation was unheard of.

And the fact that that he didn't file as many suits as you might think actually points to what I think is a positive in him. He was not anti- big business. He was anti predatory big business. If a business could demonstrate social responsibility, he would leave them alone. You, Kyle, being opposed to big business would support anyone like Taft. The point of anti-trust regulation was not to get rid of trusts but to regulate them. You find this throughout just about everything he says on the topic.

By: Kyle

Kyle — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 23:43:00 +0000

When Taft broke up US Steel was when TR decided to run against him in 1912. TR approved the merger that resulted in the formation of US Steel. Taft didn't make the speeches about breaking up the trusts, he did it. TR didn't break up the trusts, he made speeches about it. Taft wouldn't have had to suffer through a presidency that he didn't want and would have been remembered as one of the greatest jurists in American history, as he actually was.

Roosevelt talked big and carried chopsticks, Taft didn't say a word and carried a lead pipe.

By: Chris McNeal

Chris McNeal — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 23:32:00 +0000

Roosevelt was the catalyst. Taft would have been nothing without Roosevelt.

By: Kyle

Kyle — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 23:24:00 +0000

TR wasn’t the opponent of trusts that people have made him out to be. Compare his record on the subject to Taft’s. Taft oversaw the filing of 80 more anti-trust suits than TR, including US Steel, which TR had personally approved. TR was good at making speeches, Taft was good at getting results. Then, as now, people preferred fancy rhetoric to actual results.

By: Mark Elrod

Mark Elrod — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 23:05:00 +0000

TR is an enigma to me.

Nice post.

By: shannon

shannon — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 21:53:00 +0000

Honesty may not get you elected or re-elected, but it is always the best policy.