Rating: 
Summary: Quite A Story! Quite A Book!
Review: "Theodore Rex" is the second in Edmund Morris' trilogy of the magnificent life of Theodore Roosevelt. Focusing on Roosevelt's presidency of 1901-9, "Theodore Rex" is a worthy successor to "The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt" (see my Amazon review).Chronologically arranged from the assassination of President McKinley to inauguration day, 1909, "Theodore Rex" covers the major issues to confront the Roosevelt Administration, both domestic and foreign. From his first day in office, TR was confronted with the task of winning over the Republican party in order to ensure his nomination in 1904. In this task he had to get around the hostility of McKinley's patron, Sen. Mark Hanna of Ohio. Domestically, TR faced a number of issues, some more successfully than others. Although a believer in Anglo-Saxon superiority, TR did respect the accomplishments of individuals. Race relations was one issue which TR confronted early and often, motivated by a mixture of interests, grounded both in politics and principle. Much of Hanna's influence came from his control of Southern delegations, a particularly corrupt wing of the Republican party. Having no power of their own, the Republican party in the South consisted almost exclusively of whites seeking federal patronage and blacks. In a effort to gain leverage with the black wing of the party, TR made an overture to Booker T. Washington, making him the first black invited to dinner at the White House. This overture was met with overwhelming disapproval by almost all segments of the body politic. Attempts to appoint blacks to federal positions ran into Senate opposition. Even to speak out against the practice of lynching tempered the courage of a leader with calculated political risk. Toward the end of his term, his handling of the case of the 25th Infantry in Brownsville, Texas was to undue much of his record in race relations. Labor relations presented an early test when TR became the first President to mediate a labor dispute as he brought the anthracite coal operators and miners together, turning a potential political nightmare into a major personal victory. His prosecution of the antitrust suit against the Northern Securities company, the railroad trust, brought him into conflict with the captains of industry and finance. This would be followed by his promotion of legislation to allow federal regulation of railroad rates. He would later work with some of these same captains in averting a financial panic. An early consumerist, TR lead the fight for the Pure Food and Drug Act, a measure inspired by Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle" and opposed by strong congressional forces. Much Of TR's legacy survives in the lands he set aside in National Parks and his beginning of conservation policies. Unimpaired by Congressional opposition, TR employed executive orders to expand the wilderness held for future generations. It was in foreign policy that TR had some of his most enduring and spectacular successes. Confronted with a potential German takeover of Venezuela, TR reached back to the Monroe Doctrine and anticipated the war to occur with Germany in the following decade. Unlike some successors, TR was able to go to the brink of war without falling over the edge. When negotiations with Congress and Columbia failed to secure a canal treaty, TR supported the Panamanian revolt and secured the treaty which would lead to the Canal which he considered to be the greatest accomplishment of his administration. Mid-Eastern terrorism was not unknown in TR's day. The kidnapping of the American expatriate, Ion Perdicaris, from his home in Tangier, Morocco by the Raisuli, placed the issue on the President's desk. TR applied mounting pressure on the Sultan to achieve Perdicaris' release. With warships in place, TR finally issued the ultimatum: "We want Perdicaris Alive or Raisuli Dead". Japan would figure prominently among his foreign policy initiatives. Intervening to bring an end to the Russo-Japanese War won TR the respect of the world, as well as the Nobel Peace Prize, the first Nobel Prize won by an American. Despite his belief in Anglo-Saxon superiority he admired the Japanese race and preferred their victory over Russia, a victory which he confirmed after both sides had exhausted themselves in their struggle. Shortly thereafter, relations between Japan and the U. S. drifted toward war when the San Francisco school board voted to segregate Japanese and white students. A combination of moral suation on the school board and a naval display in the Pacific delayed war by 35 years. The buildup of the Navy, which had begun during Roosevelt's service as Assistant Secretary of he Navy, was capped by the circumnavigation voyage of the Great White Fleet, concluding a month before TR's own term. At the end of his term, TR enjoyed an odd mixture of love by the people and hatred by the captains of industry. He was still able to take pride in his accomplishments. He had calmed a nation plunged into grief. This most beligerent of presidents, with his soft speech and big stick had achieved his goals while keeping the peace. He has showed, albeit timidly, how to treat those of other colors as equals. He had limited trusts, affirmed the Monroe Doctrine, built the great Canal, brought peace to the Far East, faced down Mid-East terrorists, settled labor disputes, reduced the lynching rate, expanded the national parks and monuments, had become the first vice-president to succeed to the presidency and win a term on his own and had honored the two term limit. Theodore Roosevelt lived quite a story. Edmund Morris has written quite a book.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Leadership Lessons
Review: TR - the man, the leader, the diplomat, all sides of this effervescent president are flushed out by Edmund Morris in his stunning biography of Teddy Roosevelt. This book goes to great length to look at all parts of Teddy and his subsequent administrations. Teddy took the Presidency to a level of which had not been seen before. He took on the powerful house and senate lead by backroom politicians and forced reform. What we would not do for someone like him today. I think the closest you are going to get is John McCain, but he just doesn't have the power of TR. This is a great book, but takes a while to get through as it is so detailed. Morris must have spent a ton of time researching this book, and it shows. This is a great text, and you will benefit from reading it. A Joseph Dworak
Rating:
Summary: A Big Stick
Review: In this never-boring book, Edmund Morris puts the man Theodore Roosevelt on the page and shows him shaping the events of his presidency. In doing so, Morris presents Roosevelt as he probably appeared to his supporters, with the President first handling race relations, then strikes, then international relations, then Panama Canal, and so on. Certainly, this chronological approach makes it clear why Roosevelt was a great president, since he had great success in improving international relations, as well as delivering domestic reforms to America. But this approach also has the effect of placing all TR's achievements within the flow of events, making the Panama Canal, international relations, and racism in America parts of the same cloth. Bottom line, I'd say Morris tells the story of America's first great international president. Readers who are more interested in other elements of Roosevelt's presidency might want to read books with narrower focus.
Rating:
Summary: Theodore Rex
Review: A riveting biography of one of America's most interesting characters, who happened to end up as President. I was amused, surprised and occasionaly shocked by some of the lesser known events in TR's life. Yet, I was thrilled by the author's honest portrayal of the man. Edmund Morris dispells the commonly accepted caricature of TR as the cowboy who became President. Please note that in order to obtain full enjoyment of this wonderful read, you should finish "The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt" prior to "Theodore Rex". Both of these works are simply "Dee-lightful".
Rating:
Summary: Legendary President
Review: Originally Reviewed on October 31, 2003
If you are looking for an inspirational character that lived the life of a legend, look no further. Crisply written, and an enjoyable read. The man's energy sped me past details that may have slowed the book down a bit. Michael Duranko, Bootism: a shoe religion
www.bootism.com
Rating:
Summary: Accessible intelligence
Review: Edmund Morris has written one of the most intelligent pieces of popular literature on one of the greatest presidents. Morris writes in a fashion that is destined to bring Theodore Roosevelt off the pages and into the mind of the reader in such a way that forgetting this piece of history is something that is just not possible. Morris' well researched account of the life Theodore as president (almost 200 pages in notes) is what is needed in modern accounts of history. Not only is it factually accurate, but is also accessible to the good readers of society.
Rating:
Summary: Legendary President
Review: If you are looking for an inspirational character that lived the life of a legend, look no further. Crisply written, and an enjoyable read. The man's energy sped me past details that may have slowed the book down a bit.
Michael Duranko, Bootism: a shoe religion
Rating:
Summary: Power and charm
Review: Theodore Rex by Edmund Morris. Highly recommended. Theodore Rex (from the dubbing given Theodore Roosevelt by author Henry James) is the second part of a trilogy-in-progress by Edmund Morris but is easily read on its own as coverage of Roosevelt's presidential terms. This installment covers Roosevelt's life from the day of McKinley's assassination and his swearing-in to seven years, one hundred sixty-nine days later, when he departs Washington, D.C., by train and "did not show himself [at Baltimore], as if to emphasize to a small, wistful crowd that he was no longer public property." Roosevelt's partial and whole terms are set during a time of unsettling transition-rapid developments in military technologies and abilities, influx of immigrants from Slavs to Japanese, growing global trade and interdependencies, spreading racial violence, uncontrolled combinations and trusts and corporate greed, and an increased awareness of the mismanagement of and need to conserve natural resources. In Theodore Rex, reflecting the logistics of Congress and the waning powers of a president not returning to office, the shorter first term covers more pages than the full second term. During his presidency, Roosevelt adds the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, begins the Panama Canal after nudging Panamanian independence, supports the liberation of Cuba, resolves a Moroccan crisis, prevents a German-Venezuelan war and all that would imply, settles the Russo-Japanese conflict and wins the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts, balances capital (much to its chagrin) and labor, rebuilds the U.S. Navy and solidifies the U.S. as a world diplomatic and military leader, and preserves an unprecedented amount of land (including five national parks, thirteen national forests, and fifteen national monuments-the Grand Canyon and Muir Woods among them). Morris shows, through personal and family writings, the letters of friends and enemies, speeches, newspaper accounts, commentary (especially that of "Mr. Dooley"-Finley Peter Dunne), and other contemporary sources Roosevelt's intelligence, erudition, strength of will, personal conviction of righteousness, foresight, and uncanny ability to manipulate everyone from the media to senators and diplomats. He is a man who knows what he wants, that what he wants is right, and how to make what he wants happen. His determination and conviction lead to greatly expanded executive power-which in his mind is not incompatible or inconsistent with democracy. He has his weaknesses, too-most notably, an utter lack of understanding of business, finance, and the markets. Although Roosevelt achieves much that directly benefits the public (such as settling the United Mine Workers strike and passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906) and earns popular support bordering on adulation, neither he nor his wisdom is perfect. Morris darkly hints that Roosevelt's enemies may have found their privacy compromised, for examples, senators who find their correspondence has already been opened by the Secret Service, although he later casts doubt on Roosevelt's involvement. More importantly, he discusses the Brownsville (Texas) incident at length, which reveals what can happen when democracy is subverted and power is abused. Roosevelt orders three entire companies of black soldiers-including at least one career soldier with whom he had served in Cuba-dishonorably discharged and banned from the military for life based on an incident that may have been fabricated by resentful white townspeople. Morris writes, "Brownsville had been proof to many, and perhaps even a warning to himself, of the truth of Lord Acton's famous dictum." Morris succeeds in bringing not only Theodore Roosevelt and his compelling personality to life, but those of many others as well: wife Edith Kermit Roosevelt; daughter Alice; son Quentin; House Speaker Joseph Cannon; United Mine Workers president John Mitchell; Cabinet members such as John Hay, Philander Chase Knox, Elihu Root, and George Cortelyou; long-time nemesis Mark Hanna; successor William Howard Taft ("who must have been a very pink and white baby," according to Kate Carew); and confidantes such as Captain Archie Butt. Theodore Rex is not limited to political life, however. Roosevelt is portrayed not only as a writer, reader, hunter/sportsman, adventurer, hiker, swimmer, and athlete. He is shown as a difficult father to Alice (who resents his silence about her own mother, the late Alice Hathaway Roosevelt), didactic disciplinarian to Quentin (along with his "White House Gang" of friends), and favourite uncle to broods of Roosevelt clan children at his Sagamore Hill summer retreat in Oyster Bay, New York. Even in his family relations, however, Roosevelt is always mindful of his image and that of his progressive platform, hence, his "posterity letters"-seemingly personal letters to family and friends, often signed with his full name, he uses to document his viewpoints for posterity. Morris is clearly passionate about Roosevelt, and it shows in the life he brings to events that are more than one hundred years old. Whether you are interested in American history, the U.S. presidency and its holders, turn-of-the-century events, or Theodore Roosevelt himself, Theodore Rex is not to be missed for its honest portrayal of a complex man in changing times and for the light it throws on today's political climate and workings. Be sure to read the notes, which contain many anecdotes, quotes, and other material. Diane L. Schirf, 18 October 2003.
Rating:
Summary: Bully
Review: It is a wonderful book about an incredible man. It is an easy read while being very educational.
Rating:
Summary: A Bully Book
Review: It's written by Edmund Morris so it reads like a novel. It's about Teddy Roosevelt so it feels like a roller coaster ride. What else does one need to say?
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