Rating: 
Summary: incredible information, messy details.
Review: I got the book as a present, and i must say it is incredibly documented, and organised into a very enjoyable read. However, being from Panama, I was of course most interested in what the author had to say about Roosevelt's part on the independence of Panama. Unfortunately, the author exposes the same story told over and over again of Panama's revolution, and with many errors of detail, including the fact that they were called Istmenos, not Istmusenos!!!The war going on in Colombia and Panama during from 1900 to 1902 was not "another revolutionary attempt of Panama to separate", it was another civil war between the liberal and conservative parties, the nth in Colombian history. The most important ommision in this issue is that the author "forgets" to mention, that the Hay-Herran treaty was so abusive of Colombian sovereignty that no self-respecting Colombian would approve of it, thats why it got completely rejected in the Colombian Senate. Its terms were completely favourable to the States, and with their history of interventions in Colombian and LatinAMerican territory, who could trust them? It was only after the rejection of the treaty, and only then, that the Panamanian oligarchy decided it was time to separate from Colombia. The whole story about Colombian subjugation and humilliation of people living in Panama was made up after the fact to accomodate the reasons given for independence. Instead, Morris aligns with Roosevelt and his cronies in saying that the Colombian senate rejected the treaty because it was too greedy and corrupt! The author also "fails" to mention the scandalous accusations Pulitzer's people made on the whole Panama deal about Roosevelt and his cronies benefitting from the biggest real estate deal in history, and how Roosevelt was so mad he sued Pulitzer for libel, which included a full Congressional investigation!!! Its a bit too much of a rosy view, huh?? I know the Panama Canal issue was not the main one in the book, but if he has these erros in the "fine print", I wonder what other issues have been misrepresented. Otherwise, it is a very enjoyable read, although id go somewhere else for historical accuracy.
Rating: 
Summary: Detailed look at the Bully Presidency
Review: Edmund Morris has had an interesting career as a writer. A native Rhodesian (the African country dominated by whites, and replaced by the currently unstable Zimbabwe) he emigrated first to South Africa, then Britain, finally the United States. He then became a full time writer, and for his first book, "The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt" won a Pulitzer for biography. He was then appointed Reagan's official biographer (Reagan read the previous book and liked it) and produced "Dutch", a worthwhile addition to the library of books about Reagan, but one that will remain controversial because of the way Morris treated the subject, and the format in which he wrote the book. Morris's next book is the current one being reviewed, "Theodore Rex." This book covers his presidency, from the succession to the office on the death of William McKinley to his leaving office seven and a half years later. There is a great deal of detail about his life in office, his relations with his family and contemporaries, and the legislative issues that confronted him. The author, while pro-Roosevelt, isn't blindly so. There are instances in the book where he clearly disagrees with what the President did, and is critical of him in consequence. Most notable is the Brownsville Texas incident, where Roosevelt and the high command of the army decided that some black soldiers were guilty of rioting on the streets of that city, and the president decided to cashier the whole unit from the army without court martial or anything. Other characters of the administration are well-drawn and interesting. These include Elihu Root, who held various cabinet positions, and could earn more money on Wall Street, John Hay, who had been personal secretary to Abraham Lincoln forty years before and seen three presidents be assasinated, William Howard Taft, the overweight Secretary of War Roosevelt chose as his successor, and Oliver Wendell Holmes, the Supreme Court Justice who wasn't quite as dependable on cases before the court as Roosevelt thought he was. The issues of the day are carefully delineated in enough detail to satisfy the reader and still not be boring. The coal miner's strike, the Great White Fleet, various war scares, the negotiations that ended the Russo-Japanese War, all are dealt with carefully, and intelligently. The whole of Roosevelt's presidency is here, and interesting. I do have a few issues. The author has an unusual pedigree (see above) and it shows in his penchant for using strange words and phrases. Some of them (a lame duck congress quacking its last, for instance) are amusing, but others are just weird. Nouns become adverbs, sentences are long or clumsy, and it's occasionally difficult to tell what the author meant by something. Also, the way the book is constructed is sort of strange. The author uses short, choppy sections at points to illustrate things. And lastly, the author recounts events and occurances that don't seem to have much, or anything, to do with Roosevelt. One anecdote involves Woodrow Wilson telling a racist joke, another recounts briefly the Wright Brothers flying their airplane the first time. One is occasionally left wondering why they're in the book. All in all, though, I enjoyed this book a great deal, and would recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Great Insight into King Teddy
Review: Edmund Morris won me back with this terrific read. I'll confess that I wasn't the biggest fan of "Dutch," and was somewhat hesitant to read this, but he stepped up to the plate and delivered a masterpiece. Theodore Roosevelt was truly a man years ahead of his time in many aspects. His view on conservation issues, his racial views, and his desire to assert the United States as a player in world affairs were truly fitting for a president at the turn of the last century. Roosevelt balanced so many delicate issues while in office. Worker's rights were just beginning to really take center stage and he found himself thrust in the midst of labor vs. management disputes--an issue that had the potential of wrecking his winning the Republican nomination. As always, he worked his magic, asserting himself and arriving at a mutual agreement. With the Civil War still looming fresh in many minds, and the South still embittered over Reconstruction, Roosevelt also found himself forced to deal with racial issues. His approach, though somewhat suffering from the bigoted mindset that seemed the norm in that day, was to appoint the best people to fill government positions--whether they be white or black. If he worked to hard to appease white Democrats, he risked upsetting black Republicans who once again had the potential of costing him the Republican nomination. The way he dealt with the Germans and British over Venezuela certainly established the supremecy of the Monroe Doctrine. He also managed to avoid a war with Germany, something that we all know would eventually be unavoidable. He faced many of the same issues faced by the Bush Administration today. Race and charges of imperialism. Cuba, the Phillipines, and Puerto Rico could easily subsitute for Afghanistan, Liberia, and Iraq. That being said, it's certainly relevant to today's world and a fascinating read on an amazing man.
Rating:
Summary: A great subject, but simply too long.
Review: TR was, by any estimation, one of the greatest Presidents in U.S. history. His reforms were sweeping, well-timed, and continue to generate change. However, I was not greatly impressed with Morris' treatment of the subject. Particularly, there was a bit too much description of events that I viewed as having little relevance. For example, sometimes several pages would be used to describe minute details of a particular hunting trip. TR was an avid sportsman and I agree that these types of insights can give a better picture of the man. However, when this treatment is applied to every event, the book just tends to get longer and longer. My only gripe was that the book often got bogged down in minor details. If it were a bit more concise, it would be a must read. As it stands, I consider it good but not great.
Rating:
Summary: After the rise, a leveling off, alas.
Review: With the exception of men who ascended to the presidency from generalship in war, TR along with Jefferson must be among the few whose presidential years were less exciting, even anticlimatic, to what went before. And this book reflects that falling off. After the long wait for the appearance of this volume, those of us, and they were multitudes, who had thrilled to the "The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt" which was certainly one of the classic biographies to appear in the last quarter of the 20th century, cannot help but feel a sense of let-down at the dutiful but dull rehearsal of TR's bland presidential years. Politics seems a bit of a bore here, confining to TR's genius, keeping him strained at the leash in spite of his many successes and mastery of the role.
Somehow I have a suspicion that the final volume (The Decline of TR?) will return Edmund Morris to the level of brilliance demonstrated in volume one, as he charts the contentious, exciting but tragic last years of one of the American originals.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent!
Review: I waited a long time for this book. After reading "The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt" several years ago, I eagerly awaiting Morris' continuation of TR's story. Unfortunately, Morris got caught up in writing "Dutch", the misbegotten biography of Ronald Reagan , and didn't finish this book for some time. However, it was worth the wait. Morris picks up where he left off, following TR through his presidency. Once again, this meticulously reasearched book brings TR magically to life. I definitely recommend reading the first book before tackling this one to get a full flavor of the man and his accompishments. Excellent book. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: A bit disappointed
Review: After reading The Rise Of Theodore Roosevelt, I anxiously started Theodore Rex. I must admit to being a bit disappointed. Either the story of TR is not as exciting once he became president or Morris became bored with his subject. Theodore Rex just doesn't crackle with life as The Rise of... did. It is still a good read, not just up to the high standard set by The Rise of TR.
Rating:
Summary: Fit as a Bull Moose
Review: This is one of the best books ever done on a US president. Morris, after a less than satisfactory turn as Ronald Reagan's biographer, is in fine form and I cannot wait for the next volume in this series. Morris brings a real understanding of his subject in this book, the second in a series, projected to include three volumes. Prior to Morris, there were any number of fine books that dealt with TR's era, but each had its failings. I am happy to state that at last Teddy Roosevelt has found a biography that is worthy of his greatness. The strengths of the book are easy to list. First of all Morris knows his subject. He also understands the era and is very good about providing context. This last quality is something that is necessary in all great biographies, but is lacking in most of them. I cannot wait for the next installment.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: This book has been a pleasure to read. The descriptions of the Panama Canal, the peace negotiations between Japan and Russia, the election of 1904, and other major events are written with energy and excitment. The writing slows down near the end of the book but overall this was an excellent book.
Rating: 
Summary: FACTION - better material and narriative elsewhere
Review: Mr. Morris does not seem to have the desire to do the primary research that he did in his pre-Dutch days. There are so many fine works - and so much primary material dealing with TR's life and times remaining untouched that Mr. Morris could have used, but didn't. TR's complex life and times cries out for a good writer to simply and clearly state the facts of this fascinating president. It is a great shame that this is not that book. ROBERT A. CARO HAS SET THE STANDARD for political biography and he has made us aware of how a careful researcher can give real insight into the life and political world of a president. Mr. Morris does not follow Mr. Caro's example. Consider a little of what isn't in this book: If you are interested in how and why TR became the Bull Moose Candidate, don't look here ... Mr. Morris didn't think that TR becoming the last Third Party President elected was worth exploring in any detail! How TR came to the decision to change parties and the story of the policies, politics and power plays that lead to such an extraordinary circumstance could be an entire biography. TR established wilderness protection for the Tongass, the last temperate rain forest in the United States. . . and industry has fought (and won) access to that wilderness despite TR's unprecedented action to protect it from development. Mr. Morris doesn't even note the existence of the Tongass matter, perhaps TR's most important conservation act. Dutch was, in my opinion, pure fiction; Theodore Rex is, in my opinion, mere faction. If you love the popular perception of Teddy Roosevelt - buy the book. If you are a student of political history, the conservation movement, international diplomacy, or the US Presidency...look elsewhere.
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