Rating: 
Summary: Without a doubt, the best presidential biography ever!
Review: With all due respect to David McCullough's "John Adams" and Robert A. Caro's impressive Lyndon Johnson volumes, this is the best presidential biography ever written.Starting with Theodore's birth and ending with the death of President McKinley, thereby making Vice-President Roosevelt the youngest (still) President ever, this book covers every aspect of Roosevelt's life and his ascent in politics . We see him change his mind over and over in college about what career he will pursue. We witness him attempting to win over the heart of Alice and later her death while in labor on the same day as his mother's death from cancer. We follow his rapid political career. First as state assembly man, then as federal Civil Service Commissioner, then New York City Police Commissioner. Also well documented and are his years as Governor of New York, Assistant Secretary of the Navy (his passion) and finally his short stint as Vice-President. More than anything else, we see Theodore Roosevelt the human. His personal triumphs and defeats. His loves (hunting, reading, writing and reforming) and his dislikes (corruption, ignorant people who have more power than him). We also see him at his happiest and his darkest days. As a former resident of North Dakota, I always heard about Theodore Roosevelt while growing up. After reading this first part of the planned trilogy, I feel like a close personal acquaintance. I almost feel like a friend.
Rating:
Summary: "When the wolf rises in the heart..."
Review: Theodore Roosevelt... Harvard graduate, historian, New York state assemblyman; rancher, Civil Service Commissioner, New York City Police Commissioner, Assistant Secretary of the Navy; Commanding officer of the "Rough Riders;" war hero; Governor of New York; Vice President, and then President of the United States. All of these accomplishments by the time this extraordinary man reached 42 years of age. Theodore Roosevelt's historical achievements are indeed most impressive! In his Pulitzer Prize-winning biography "The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt," biographer Edmund Morris masterfully chronicles the life of this mercurial, complex, and paradoxical man who became the 26th President of the United States. Morris's brilliant narrative depicts Theodore Roosevelt as a man who towered over his world. Yet who would have guessed at future greatness for this, the oldest son of one of New York's wealthiest and most respected families? A sickly child, afflicted with constant bouts of asthma and chronic diarrhea, he is seen by his parents as a child "with the mind, but not the body..." for high achievement. But the young Roosevelt senses his own potential for greatness and resolves to strive mightily to achieve it... Throughout his life, TR is a man of many paradoxes. Largely self-educated, he eventually attends Harvard University, from which he graduates magna cum laude in 1880 with a Phi Beta Kappa key in one hand and a membership in Porcellain, Harvard's most prestigious social club, in the other. The son of a wealthy philanthropist, he eschews the traditional, genteel, upper-class lifestyle in favor of the rough-and-tumble of New York politics. A member of the Republican party, he champions progressive reform. By age 26, he has served two terms in the New York state assembly; has earned the begrudging respect of his colleagues; and has authored several significant pieces of reform legislation. After the death of his first wife, Alice Lee Hathaway Roosevelt, and his mother, Mittie (both women die on the same day, in the same house) TR flees New York, heading to the harsh, uncompromising Dakota Badlands to earn his living as a cattle rancher and writer of history books. Here, in this barren country, a startling transformation takes place. The thin, sickly youth of sallow skin and frail constitution becomes the muscular, tanned, robustly healthy man known to history. "The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt" vividly demonstrates how this intensely energetic politician used his forceful personality in the cause of badly needed reform at all levels of American government. As Morris points out, Roosevelt puts his personal stamp on nearly everything he undertakes. As Civil Service Commissioner during the Harrison administration, he publicly - some say bumptiously - investigates claims of graft and corruption within the Civil Service. He alienates many colleagues, but achieves lasting results. During his tenure, the Civil Service expands dramatically, despite fierce political opposition. The same holds true for TR's tenures as president of the New York City Police Commission (1895-97) and Assistant Secretary of the Navy (1897-98.) In 1898 a series of unexpected events propels TR to national prominence. When war breaks out between the United States and Spain, TR asks for and receives commission in the New York National Guard. Soon he has assembled a tough group of cavalrymen called the "Rough Riders" - friends from his days at Harvard and in the old west. On July 1, 1898, TR and his grizzled band of soldiers will enter the pantheon of American heroes at a place in Cuba called San Juan Hill... After the Spanish-American War, TR returns to New York and runs for Governor. After a tough, closely fought campaign that features former "Rough Riders" endorsing their candidate, TR is elected by a razor-thin margin of 18,000 votes out of nearly 1.1. million votes cast. TR will only spend a year in the governor's mansion, though. By 1900, New York's "old pols" have had enough of Roosevelt's attempts to force progressive reforms through a recalcitrant, conservative New York legislature. Considering TR "too dangerous" to keep on as governor, they make an arrangement to get Roosevelt on the national ticket. McKinley agrees, and an Roosevelt enthusiastically becomes McKinley's running mate. In November 1900, McKinley easily wins re-election and Theodore Roosevelt becomes Vice President of the United States. Ten months later, on September 6, 1901, at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York, President William McKinley is gunned down by a young anarchist... Not since I read William Manchester's two-volume "The Last Lion" biography of Winston Churchill have I read a book that's as good as "The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt." Make no mistake: this book is as good as biography gets! Here is the powerfully eloquent story of one of the most gifted and controversial men of the twentieth century, and perhaps even of all time. "The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt" reads almost like a novel. I haven't found a single part of this book that I would classify as "dry" or boring. In fact I found it pretty hard to put down once I started reading it. Part of the reason for that, I suppose, is because TR's life was so darned fascinating to begin with; but give Edmund Morris his due. He has told the story of Theodore Roosevelt with tremendous style and panache. "The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt" is a fair and balanced biography, although Edmund Morris displays an obvious affection for his subject. Morris combines an intellectually stimulating and literate historical narrative with brilliantly insightful historical analysis. Roosevelt's less attractive qualities - his impulsiveness, his emotionalism, and his attempts at self glorification among others - all receive full coverage in this masterful book. Edmund Morris has written an extremely readable, highly entertaining, and factually sound biography. In "The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt," he completely captures the essence of this towering early twentieth century figure, making him totally relevant to today's readers. "The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt" is a biography that's indeed very well worth reading!
Rating:
Summary: Wow! An outstanding story about an amazing person
Review: Teddy Roosevelt is surely one of the most captivating figures in history, and this book is an incredibly lively and vivid chronicle of his rise to the American presidency. Edmund Morris writes in delightful prose with colorful imagery and funny stories, and provides an astounding level of detail. You will not want to put down this book; it is as mesmerizing as Tolkien's Ring. It is hard to imagine a better-written story. Mr. Roosevelt is abundant in charisma, intelligence, and drive. If you can only read one book on the man, choose this one.
Rating:
Summary: Unmatched detail, Hyper-scrupulous research, VERY readable
Review: Morris somehow manages to bring TR to life to the point that he practically stands up and walks out of the book into your living room. Even more impressive, Morris does this while dutifully retaining objectivity, giving equal and judicious space to the man's (relatively few) shortcomings and quirks. The result is that the reader lives through nearly every fascinating detail of how a real human being named Theodore Roosevelt surmounted his very human hurdles ultimately to develop into the true larger-than-legend icon he was and is. As much as I have enjoyed other TR biographies (e.g. by McCullough, by Miller) these do not quite reach the level achieved by Morris. The only disappointment is that the book focuses only on his life to the point of ascending to the Vice-Presidency, but after all the title is The RISE of Theodore Roosevelt . . . On rare occasions, the most detailed and honest truth is the most interesting story to read; this is one of them, don't miss it.
Rating:
Summary: A Rising Start!
Review: "The Rise Of Theodore Roosevelt" tells the outstanding story of the pre-presidential years of this remarkable individual. In an attention-holding style, Morris relates the anecdotes known to all TR fans. In addition to the well known facts, Morris reveals lesser known facts which help us to understand TR and his career. Beginning with he President's New Year's Day Reception of 1907, the book quickly jumps back to a very youthful TR. In the following pages we read of the close relationship between TR and his father. We read of the father who, by example and word, taught TR his greatest virtues of honesty, social responsibility and concern for others. It was this father who drove him through the streets of New York to get him over his asthma attacks as well as the one who told him that he "had the mind, but not the body" and that he must build his body. When TR was contemplating a scientific career, it was this father who told him that he could pursue such a career, "if I intended to do the very best that was in me; but that I must not dream of taking it up as a dilettante", but that he would have to learn to live within his means. Theodore Roosevelt, Sr.'s payment of a substitute during the Civil War left his son with a sense of guilt which could only be assuaged by his own military service. We learn of the shattering effect that this father's death had on the Harvard student. As president, TR would remark that he never took any serious step without contemplating what his father would have done. Much attention is given to the "Roosevelt Museum of Natural History" assembled by the young taxidermist. This was the first of three career paths considered by TR, scientific, which he abandoned, literary, which supported him for much of his life, and political, which became his life work. We learn of TR's loves, both of Edith and Alice. We learn of how TR pursued love with the same vigor and intensity that he pursued everything else which he desired. The death of his mother and Alice on Valentine's Day, 1884, which drove him into ranching in Dakota, would be almost as shattering as the death of his father. There are details of TR's young life of which I had been unaware, prominent among them are his extensive travels in Europe and the Middle East. In the course of this book we see the step by step maturation of TR from the snobbish Harvard freshman to the inclusive leader which he later became. College, romance, politics, ranching and war all played their parts in the development of the character of TR. During his political career, TR's outlooks on issues developed, but his core values never wavered. From his first caucus meeting, uncompromising honesty was a trademark of TR's character and his demand from others. TR always walked a tight rope between independence and party loyalty, earning both the support an enmity of reformers and the organization alike. After having established himself as an unrelenting foe of corruption during his service on the U. S. Civil Service Commission and the New York Board of Police Commissioners, his appointment as Assistant Secretary of the Navy enabled TR to act on the world stage. Taking advantage of Secretary Long's frequent and extended absences, TR prepared the Navy for its spectacular successes in the Spanish-American War., a war which TR had worked so hard to bring about. The war gave TR the opportunity to pay his inherited debt by service in the Rough Riders. Organizing a volunteer cavalry of westerners, Indians and Ivy League athletes, TR had to work to get his men equipped and to the front. Their heroic charge up San Juan Hill is the stuff of which legends are mad and TR made his legend as a Rough Rider. Exploiting his martial glory, TR road into the Governor's mansion where he continued to walk the fine line between independence and party loyalty. His successes he won and the enemies he made lead him to the vice-presidency. I have mentioned just a few of the highlights of TR's young life, but this book covers many more. Morris employs a talent to tell the details without becoming bogged down. Read "The Rise Of Theodore Roosevelt" to learn of TR's early life and character and then bring on "Theodore Rex".
Rating:
Summary: quality man, quality book
Review: Well researched, entertaining chronicle of the developmental years of a remarkable man, of a sort we don't see today. I could hardly put it down. Morris is a superb writer, and captures the nature and personality of his subject intelligently and effectively. This book must be read in tandem with Theodore Rex, about which I would say the same things. One wishes for a world like this, and a man like this, today.
Rating: 
Summary: Seldom known information
Review: Many times we read pages written about presidents for example, and learn of their successes, failures, and moments while they were in office. This book does just the opposite of that, explaining his entire life up until the point of his presidency, focussing instead on how he became a great president rather than just how he was one. I have yet to purchase a book concerning TR's presidency, but I knew at about page 200 in this book that I would do so upon finishing it. Yes, it's a lengthy book at 780 or so, but his life story is more than intriguing enough to keep you turning pages. Combine that with interesting anecdotes on other figures of the time period such as Marquis de Mores, Platt, and Lodge, and each chapter is interesting without a boring section of his life. Lastly, through those small anecdotes, the book has now inspired my curiousity for the characters encountered in this book that were not fully explained. i.e. I'm looking to read books on the following characters listed above that weren't fully described (as it's not Morris' job in a biography of TR to do so). A book that peaks your curiousity in other subjects and people as well as the one you're reading about is a success in my opinion.
Rating:
Summary: What a Subject!
Review: I first read this book in college and recently read it again to prepare myself for the second volume of Mr. Morris' biography. What an interesting person! TR had a zest for life that I would have to say is unmatched! His time in the Badlands, his adventures with the police department in New York City, any part of TR's life is facinating and his zeal for it unmatched. Reading this book is a wild ride along side a wild and endlessly interesting man!
Rating:
Summary: All Hail Teddy
Review: Like the great big bulk of a man that Theodore Roosevelt was, it took awhile to digest this hulk of a book. Which maybe a good thing to say about a 96 ounce steak, is not always a redeemable trait for literature. We want our casual readings to come easy, to whisk-fully be enjoyed, to turn the last page and say...why I had no idea this book was 780 pages. Such was not the case with Edmund Morris' "The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt,"...with this reader at least. Morris does much to deify Teddy. And granted TR was a remarkable man with no equal in energy, drive, tenacity, and a touch of the silver spoon. However, Morris kneels down at the altar with bowed head so frequently that I'm afraid he missed a critical look at some of TR's faults. Leading up to the Spanish-American War over Cuban independence, Teddy was absolutely itching for a fight. Hell-bent on Jingoism, little is said critical of this war at all cost lust. Instead TR is credited for bringing the nation to war with scant a nod at diplomacy, and is made a demagogue in the American bellicose heart prevailing at that time. A great man would have pursued peace going unwantingly into war if necessary. In Morris' deification of TR, some of Teddy's slightly racist views are inattentively glossed over. It can be written off with the statement that those viewpoints were prevalent at the time, but then the Earth being the center of the universe was prevalent during Galileo's time. Not that Teddy was one to go against the grain when needed, but in his earlier days, Teddy got the race issue wrong and little is made of it from Morris. It's not all bad. I did give this one 4-stars after all. The reading is engaging along the way. It holds interest, but 780 pages worth is difficult to persistently sustain enthralled engagement. Morris loves Teddy and it shows. As in Cameron's "Almost Famous," the young Rolling Stone writer gets the advice, "You can't be a fan and write on a band at the same time," so do we miss out I fear on the critical fisheye lens look at Teddy Roosevelt in this book. Like Teddy's endless prattle of conversation dominant in send mode, I fear Morris is in need of conciseness as well. Good book overall, but I expected more of a Pulitzer Prize winner.
Rating:
Summary: It provides valuable insight about an American President.
Review: Morris's book describes the life of Theodore Roosevelt from his birth to his assumption of the Presidency. Roosevelt was a sickly and frail child. He suffered frequently from asthma throughout his youth. But despite his frail health, there were indications of greatness even as a child. Theodore Roosevelt was a curious child. He spent his time studying nature, especially birds. He was a taxidermist as well, collecting many specimens of various animals. His passion for wildlife continued into adulthood and assumed several forms. Roosevelt became an avid hunter. He traveled to the Midwest to hunt bison and other big game animals. He became friends with cowboys, hunters, and ranchers. He even built a house for himself in the Dakota Badlands and became involved in the beef industry. Roosevelt proved himself to be physically and mentally tough. His hunting excursions usually lasted several days and covered many miles. Theodore Roosevelt was also skillful in politics. He held several political positions prior to his presidency. He served as an assemblyman in New York during his twenties. He later became a police commissioner for New York City. He then became Assistant Secretary of the Navy. Afterward, he became New York's governor. He then became McKinley's Vice President. When McKinley was assassinated, Roosevelt became President. Throughout his political career prior to the Presidency, Roosevelt was dedicated to fairness and justice. He fought the political machines of New York because they usurped political power from the electorate. He reformed the New York police department by fighting bribery and enforcing the law. He also became interested in promoting the welfare of common Americans against the interests of corporations. Roosevelt was also an avid writer. His books on warfare and nature can still be read today, although some of them contain dubious information. TR was also a brave soldier. Although he was already famous politically when the Spanish American War began, his command of the Rough Riders and their exploits won Roosevelt additional fame as a war hero. In sum, Roosevelt had a fortunate political life. Events seemed to place him at opportune moments to increase his fame. To conclude, Morris's book provides an intimate look into the life of a then future American President. It is fast-paced despite it being about eight hundred pages long. I am eager to read Theodore Rex.
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