The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of American Presidents: Part 11

All too often, American presidents are generalized. This one was good, this one was bad, or all of them were bad before or after this point. In reality, each President has positive or negative aspects that may be frequently overlooked. Sometimes what seemed good at the time is not so good in retrospect, or what was controversial would be accepted today. In this series, we'll look at the highlights of each President from the founding of America to today.

In Part 10, we looked at the presidencies of Grover Cleveland and Benjamin Harrison. We now continue with two more presidents, William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt.

25. William McKinley (in office March 4, 1897 – September 14, 1901)

Served in the Civil War (last president to have served in that war).

Only president to begin his military service as an enlisted man and end it as a brevet major.

Mentored by future President Rutherford B. Hayes during and after his military career.

Successful career as an attorney.

Elected to Congress, representing Ohio.

In Congress, became an expert on protective tariffs, designed to bring economic prosperity.

Elected as Governor of Ohio.

Won election for president in 1896 against Democrat William Jennings Bryan, campaigning on a platform of "sound money" during a time of economic depression.

Achievements as President

Led the country to a quick victory in the Spanish-American War. Victory in that war resulted in the annexation of Puerto Rico, Guam, The Philippines, and Hawaii.

Fought pressure to remove the country from the gold standard, which would have increased inflation.

Led a shift in the Republican party that made them dominant in industrial states and across the country, an influence that lasted decades. This shift was called the Fourth Party System, and was also called the Progressive Era, moving the country past what had been a political stalemate after the Civil War.

While McKinley's use of tariffs led to him losing his seat in Congress, they led to him being elected President, and resulted in the company returning to economic prosperity after a period of depression.

Reelected in the election of 1900, campaigning on a platform of economic prosperity and imperialism against the staunchly anti-imperialist, anti-expansionist William Jennings Bryan, his opponent in the previous election.

Established an "open door policy" with China, in which countries were encouraged to trade with China as long as they respected China's national integrity.

Due to trade with China and other Asian territories, it became necessary to have naval protection in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, but the Pacific could only be reached by sailing around the southern tip of South America. Thus a canal in Panama was discussed, and planned, with treaties and negotiations led by McKinley.

Spoke out in favor of civil rights, and against lynching of blacks in the South. Also appointed some African-Americans to low level government positions.

Failures

When Cuba and other territories under Spanish rule asked the U.S. for help, McKinley negotiated with the Spanish to peacefully allow those territories, particularly Cuba, to be independent. Negotiations broke down and the U.S. declared war.

McKinley was assassinated by an anarchist before treaties on the Panama Canal could be signed. These were completed by his vice president and successor, Theodore Roosevelt.

Controversies

As a Congressman, pushed for what became known as the McKinley Tariff of 1890. The Democratic pushback against the tariff, coupled with gerrymandering of Ohio districts, led to him and other Republicans losing the election that year.

Made two controversial cabinet choices. With one, his appointment was 73 years old and feared to be feeble and plagued by dementia, yet he proved to be capable. The other, his Secretary of War, proved to be ineffective when war broke out with Spain, and McKinley forced him to resign.

While McKinley was supportive of the black community, the support he gave was deemed to be not substantial enough, and he gradually lost their support. This was epitomized by his refusal to send in federal marshalls when white supremacists took control of Wilmington, North Carolina.

26. Theodore Roosevelt (in office September 14, 1901 – March 4, 1909 )

He was a sickly child, plagued particularly with severe asthma. He improved his health through a strenuous regiment of exercise, eventually excelling in boxing, football, and wrestling.

Homeschooled, eventually getting degrees from Harvard and Columbia University.

Had a lifelong interest in and skill for writing, becoming a bestselling author. His first book was "The Naval War of 1812".

Lifelong naturalist, developing a keen interest in zoology and the environment.

Taught Sunday School for three years as a tribute to his father, after his father's death.

When his first wife and mother died on the same night, he was emotionally devastated, recovering by buying and working a cattle ranch in the Dakotas. While there he served as Deputy Sherriff of Billings, North Dakota.

Elected to New York State Assembly.

Served as Police Commissioner of New York City, appointed to fight crime and end corruption.

Elected President of the New York City Board of Police Commissioners.

Served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy under President McKinley (McKinley's first term).

As Naval Secretary, planned the naval portion of the Spanish-American War.

Resigned as Naval Secretary to personally fight in the Spanish-American War. He pulled together the Rough Riders, an Army cavalry unit comprised of athletes, cowboys, and Native Americans, focused on grit and horsemanship, winning numerous victories, notably the Battle of San Juan Hill.

Elected governor of New York.

Served as Vice President under President McKinley (McKinley's second term).

Formed the Boone and Crockett Club, with the primary goal of preserving big game animals and their habitats.

After his presidency, co-led a nature expedition in South America, confirming the path of what had been called "the river of doubt", and documenting many news species of animals and insects.

Formed a third party, "The Progressive Party" aka "The Bull Moose Party" when he disapproved of the actions of his successor, William Howard Taft. While campaigning as the Bull Moose candidate, Roosevelt survived an assassination attempt in Milwaukee. An assassin shot him when Roosevelt was making a speech. The bullet struck the thick speech folded in his breast pocket, which limited the depth of the wound. Visibly bleeding, he continued to give the full speech before seeking medical attention and carried the bullet in his chest for the rest of his life.

One of four presidents honored on Mount Rushmore, alongside Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln.

Achievements as President

Became President when McKinley was assassinated, making Roosevelt the youngest president to date, age 42 when he took office.

Gained a reputation as a "trust buster", making greater use of the Sherman Antitrust Act to break up oppressive, predatory businesses than the three previous presidents combined. While Roosevelt was in favor of the positive effect of big businesses on the economy, he was strongly opposed to businesses that hurt consumers with unfair pricing and other practices.

Created the U.S. Department of Commerce and Labor to further combat unfair business practices.

Moved quickly and decisively to prosecute federal employees when fraud and abuse was uncovered among postal workers and employees of the Indian Service and U.S. General Land Office.

When he found railroad rates to be too high, he worked with a Democratic Senator to give the Interstate Commerce Commission the ability to regulate railroad rates if they were too high, while giving railroads the ability to appeal.

After publication of Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle" provoked public outrage over the condition of slaughterhouses and impurities in meats and other foods, worked with Congress to pass the Pure Food and Drug Act. As part of an overall vision to protect America's natural resources, established the U.S. Forest Service, created the National Park System, signed the Antiquities Act that created national monuments, and created bird reserves, game reserves, and national forests.

Issued 1,081 executive orders, notably in the areas of natural resources, but also in other areas. This is almost much as the first 25 presidents combined, who had a total of 1,262.

Spoke out against the ultra-wealthy and their effect on the economy, politics, and the lives of normal citizens, stating, "It may well be that the determination of the government...to punish certain malefactors of great wealth, has been responsible for something of the trouble; at least to the extent of having caused these men to combine to bring about as much financial stress as possible, in order to discredit the policy of the government and thereby secure a reversal of that policy, so that they may enjoy unmolested the fruits of their own evil-doing."

Negotiated the end of the Russo-Japanese War. For this he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Officially ended the Filipino-American War, also known as the Philippine Insurrection. When the U.S. acquired the Philippines at the end of the Spanish-American War, the options were to either hand control of them to another country, notably Germany, or managed the territory ourselves, as the Philippines was unable to self-govern at the time. Then-President McKinley opted to take control, but attacks on U.S. forces by insurgents prompted a massacre, then prolonged combat, with the conflict ended early in Roosevelt's term as president.

Spoke out against anti-Japanese discrimination in the United States, particularly California. In turn, Japan agreed not to send unskilled immigrants to the United States.

Opened trade with Japan.

After the Boxer Rebellion in China, started a scholarship program that provided scholarships for Chinese students to study in the United States, benefitting students for 40 years.

Held a conference that averted war between France and Germany.

Ended potential disputes between the U.S. and Great Britain by finally defining the borders of U.S.-owned Alaska and British-controlled Canada, while Britain also opted to not patrol the Caribbean, due to rising threats from the German navy.

Led the development of the Panama Canal.

Strengthened the U.S. Navy until it was the second only to the British navy.

Avoided armed conflict again when Germany, Italy, and Great Britain blockaded Venezuelan ports in an attempt to force Venezuela to pay them owed debts. Roosevelt negotiated peaceful resolutions.

His foreign and domestic policy was summarized by his famous quote, "speak softly and carry a big stick.

When news spread in 1902 that he encountered an orphaned bear cub and spared its life, stuffed bears become a popular toy, nicknamed "Teddy bears" after the president.

Visited Panama and Puerto Rico, becoming the first president to leave the continental United States on a diplomatic mission.

Used the media to his advantage, making the White House the center of news every day. As part of this, he invited members of the press inside the White House so they wouldn't have to stand out in the rain, effectively creating the modern press conference.

In dealing with the press, coined the modern term "muckraker" to describe members of the media who dredge up or create unsavory news stories for their own benefit.

Won a second term in the election of 1904.

Failures

In his second term, tried to pass increasingly progressive legislation, most of which was blocked by Congress. These items included things such as an income tax and an 8-hour work day for federal employees.

In promising to not run for a third term, was considered a lame duck, and lost considerable influence in the Republican party.

Controversies

While Roosevelt actually was an accomplished hunter and explorer, he crafted a public image for himself well before his years as president, making use of his popular books. One famous picture of him dressed in buckskins, implying he was a frontiersman like Daniel Boone or "Buffalo Bill" Body, was actually staged.

Invited black leader Booker T. Washington to dinner at the White House shortly after becoming president, infuriating proponents of segregation in the South.

While officially staying out of the Russo-Japanese War, Roosevelt favored Japan as a partner in the Pacific, and feared other nations, such as Germany, Spain, or Russia, becoming more of an influence in Eastern Europe and Asia. So he advised Japan in ways that helped them achieve victory in Russia, including showing them how to launch a surprise attack on Russian ports, crippling their naval operations early and limiting their ability to respond. Japan duplicated this tactic in the Attack on Pearl Harbor 40 years later.

Sent his daughter Alice, the only child of his first marriage, to visit Guam, Hawaii, the Philippines, and Japan to report on what these areas were like, and address any concerns. While it was a successful trip, it led to imperialistic policies that resonate today. It was also no secret that he sent Alice because he didn't know how to curb her rebellious tendencies or her frequent conflicts with his wife.

Formed an agreement with Japan, maintaining American control of the Philippines and Japanese control of Korea.

In negotiating solutions to situations such as the conflict in Venezuela, created what became known as the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, which states that while the United States asserts the right to protect the area around it as part of the effort to defend itself, it may also need to root out wrongdoing and political impotence in and around nations in those areas.

Two newspapers claimed Roosevelt's selection of companies to help with the Panama Canal project was evidence of corruption. Roosevelt sued the newspapers for libel, but the cases were dismissed, and those dismissals upheld by the Supreme Court. Corruption was never proven, nor disproved.

When an armed uprising occurred in American-controlled Cuba, Roosevelt sent the Secretary of War to the area to monitor the situation, granting authority to call in the Marines if necessary. This was the first time a president considered deploying troops in a foreign territory without Congressional approval.

As part of his commitment to fitness and his love of sports, often challenged visitors to the White House to things such as wrestling, arm-wrestling, or boxing matches, an eccentric behavior that today would be described as toxic masculinity.

Despite his stated love of nature and his track record of protecting the environment, two newspapers alleged that in the election of 1904, oil companies, donating heavily to Republicans, asked for permission to build a pipeline that ran through Native American territory. Roosevelt at first denied the request, then granted it. Roosevelt claimed these allegations were a complete lie.

Next: William Howard Taft and Woodrow Wilson