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| From the Editor |
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The name Theodore “Teddy”
Roosevelt conjures up many images: from hunter to teddy
bear, from trust-buster to champion of capitalism, from
Republican president to Bull Moose challenger. T.R. remains
controversial, contradictory, and above all, larger than
life. In this issue, leading scholars of Roosevelt and
of the Progressive Era in which he made his mark offer
us new insights into the man, his philosophy, and his
political achievements.
Professor Kirsten Swinth begins this exploration with
The Square Deal: Theodore Roosevelt and the Themes
of Progressive Reform, an overview of progressivism,
focusing on the historical context for the rise of this
diffuse and complex movement. She shows us that the reformers
came to the movement from a variety of backgrounds and
pursued different causes from corrupt government to overly
powerful corporations. Yet, if the issues these reformers
took up were often different, their goal was the same:
finding solutions for many of the social problems caused
by industrialization and urbanization. These women and
men shared certain assumptions, including the belief that
science and technical expertise were critical tools in
solving the problems of modernity. They also shared certain
‘blind spots,’ as demonstrated by their failure
to address racial injustices. In “The Politics
of the Future are Social Politics”: Progressivism
in International Perspective, Professor Thomas Bender
broadens our perspective, reminding us that the crises
of industrialization and urbanization Americans faced
in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries were
also global in their impact. Reformers in England, France,
Italy, Latin America, and Japan wrestled with the same
problems and, together, these men and women shaped a movement
they called “social liberalism.” Teddy Roosevelt
was part of the international reform discussion that centered
on effective ways to ameliorate the injustices caused
by modern industrial production, new ways to relate to
the natural environment, and the creation of a state or
government powerful enough to regulate private industry.
The problems were the same; the solutions, however, were
different for each nation had its own unique political
circumstances, traditions, and domestic policy histories.
Together, the Swinth and Bender essays effectively evoke
the historical context for the life of Teddy Roosevelt.
Professor Kathleen Dalton brings the focus to Roosevelt
himself in her essay, Theodore Roosevelt: The Making
of a Progressive Reformer. Dalton reminds us that
Roosevelt’s personality, controversial and fascinating
as it remains, should not overshadow the factors that
lifted him into power or the issues to which he applied
his talents. Finally, Professor Patricia O’Toole
gives us an insightful look at Roosevelt’s third
party bid for the White House in her essay The Spectacles
of 1912. Her narrative reminds us of the impact of
third parties on American politics and their importance
in mobilizing new forces and pressing for the adoption
of new ideas in national politics.
This issue’s lesson plans suggest the rich possibilities
for exploring the man and the era in the classroom, from
studying the history of the teddy bear to examining the
role of charismatic men and women in shaping our past.
The interactive feature brings us back to the personal
story of Theodore Roosevelt and his family through photographs
of “Theodore Roosevelt at Home.” And, as always,
Mary-Jo Kline provides you with a host of additional sources
to use in creating your own lessons.
I feel certain that, when you have read this issue of
History Now, you will say, in true Teddy Roosevelt fashion,
“bully.”
Carol Berkin
Editor, History Now
Carol Berkin is Presidential Professor of History
at Baruch College and The Graduate Center, City University
of New York. She is the author of several books including
Jonathan Sewall: Odyssey of an American Conservative,
First Generations: Women in Colonial America, A Brilliant
Solution: Inventing the American Constitution, and
Revolutionary Mothers: Women in the Struggle for America's
Independence.
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Editor - Carol Berkin, Associate Editor - Lesley S. Herrmann,
Managing Editor - Karina Gaige, Associate Managing Editor -
Brendan Hughes, Designer - Daniel Ross, Archivist - Mary-Jo
Kline, Contributors - Thomas Bender, Kathleen Dalton, Shawn
Kaeser, Roberta McCutcheon, Patricia O'Toole, Elise Stevens,
Kirsten Swinth, Elizabeth Berlin Taylor.
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