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WW1 from Theodore Roosevelt’s perspective was cosmic levels of cruelty.
WW1 from Theodore Roosevelt’s perspective was cosmic levels of cruelty.
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This wasnt just a personal grudge, it was the death of the Rough Rider era. TR wanted to lead a volunteer charge while Wilson was busy inventing the modern, bureaucratic draft.
Early in April, Wilson asked Congress for the war declaration Roosevelt thought was long overdue. Congress granted the president his request. Finally, Roosevelt thought, America was doing the heroic thing. And he would do the same—if only that wretched creature in the White House would let him. Up to this point his discussions with the administration about a volunteer division had been essentially hypothetical; now that the country was actually at war, a different set of calculations would come into play. With the nations honor committed, the public would rally to the flag and would support all who were willing to serve. Wilson wouldnt dare stand in the way of a popular outpouring of patriotism. Such were Roosevelts hopes on the train to Washington a few days after the war declaration. Nothing besides sheer desperation to fight could have compelled him to make a personal appeal to the man he so hated and despised. He had long ago learned that political effectiveness required tactical trimming; he had appeased Platt and Hanna and others of their ilk when necessary to achieve his goals. But Wilson was another matter. Platt and Hanna he had come to respect, in a grudging way; they were principled, after their own lights. Not Wilson-that hypocrite, liar, coward. It took all of Roosevelts moral self-discipline to propel himself through the door of the White House on the morning of April 10. His return to the seat of power could only have intensified the feeling he had had ever since the war broke out in Europe: that at this moment of world peril, he should be the one leading the nation, not Wilson. He knew the [kaiser](https://www.reddit.com/r/HistoryMemes/s/7pLSCVk0vc); he understood what power was for. On this same visit to the capital he conferred with the French and British ambassadors: [Jusserand](https://www.reddit.com/r/HistoryMemes/s/OGKtDemko0), his old friend, and [Spring Rice](https://www.reddit.com/r/HistoryMemes/s/B9h6Y4eHbB), his best man and onetime [housemate](https://www.reddit.com/r/HistoryMemes/s/Ugn1l2ieqt). He knew these people, and they knew him. Who was this impostor, this pretender to the throne? He was, of course, the president of the United States, the commander in chief and, consequently, the one who would determine whether Roosevelt fulfilled his desire for a return to battle. So the old colonel swallowed his pride and with hat in hand went calling to ask for what only Wilson could give. Source: T.R., The Last Romantic, pages 779-781
I think the true tragedy was him losing his son in a war he eagerly called for the US to join. I’ll say this for him, while most politicians clamor for war while saving themselves and their kin from its horrors Roosevelt dove into the fray himself. Warmongering is never good, but it’s at least more palatable when the war mongerer gets in the fight themselves.
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Early in April, Wilson asked Congress for the war declaration Roosevelt thought was long overdue. Congress granted the president his request. Finally, Roosevelt thought, America was doing the heroic thing. And he would do the same—if only that wretched creature in the White House would let him. Up to this point his discussions with the administration about a volunteer division had been essentially hypothetical; now that the country was actually at war, a different set of calculations would come into play. With the nations honor committed, the public would rally to the flag and would support all who were willing to serve. Wilson wouldnt dare stand in the way of a popular outpouring of patriotism. Such were Roosevelts hopes on the train to Washington a few days after the war declaration. Nothing besides sheer desperation to fight could have compelled him to make a personal appeal to the man he so hated and despised. He had long ago learned that political effectiveness required tactical trimming; he had appeased Platt and Hanna and others of their ilk when necessary to achieve his goals. But Wilson was another matter. Platt and Hanna he had come to respect, in a grudging way; they were principled, after their own lights. Not Wilson-that hypocrite, liar, coward. It took all of Roosevelts moral self-discipline to propel himself through the door of the White House on the morning of April 10. His return to the seat of power could only have intensified the feeling he had had ever since the war broke out in Europe: that at this moment of world peril, he should be the one leading the nation, not Wilson. He knew the [kaiser](https://www.reddit.com/r/HistoryMemes/s/7pLSCVk0vc); he understood what power was for. On this same visit to the capital he conferred with the French and British ambassadors: [Jusserand](https://www.reddit.com/r/HistoryMemes/s/OGKtDemko0), his old friend, and [Spring Rice](https://www.reddit.com/r/HistoryMemes/s/B9h6Y4eHbB), his best man and onetime [housemate](https://www.reddit.com/r/HistoryMemes/s/Ugn1l2ieqt). He knew these people, and they knew him. Who was this impostor, this pretender to the throne? He was, of course, the president of the United States, the commander in chief and, consequently, the one who would determine whether Roosevelt fulfilled his desire for a return to battle. So the old colonel swallowed his pride and with hat in hand went calling to ask for what only Wilson could give. Source: T.R., The Last Romantic, pages 779-781
I think the true tragedy was him losing his son in a war he eagerly called for the US to join. I’ll say this for him, while most politicians clamor for war while saving themselves and their kin from its horrors Roosevelt dove into the fray himself. Warmongering is never good, but it’s at least more palatable when the war mongerer gets in the fight themselves.
Printed on demand by Printify. Ships from the US or UK depending on location.
This shirt is made from responsibly sourced materials and printed using sustainable practices. To care for your shirt, machine wash cold inside-out with like colors and tumble dry low. Do not iron directly on the print.
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