Theodore Roosevelt: Progressive Conservatism and Public Image

Childhood Influences

Asthma and bad eyesight drove competitive spirit.

Psychological Compensation

Acting fearless to alleviate personal anxiety.

Rough Rider Ideology

Emphasis on manliness and national self-assertion.

Spanish-American War

Conflict for Cuban freedom and American pride.

Path to Presidency

Progressive reforms through various political roles.

Civil Service Commission

Oversaw nonpartisan appointments in government.

Conservative as Progressive

Roosevelt's blend of conservatism with progressive reforms.

Post Civil War Generation

Homeless intellectuals avoiding dirty politics.

Scholar-in-Politics

Practical men with ambition and flexible ethics.

The Fighting Edge

Revival of military virtues post-industrialization.

Labor Legislation

Passed laws improving worker conditions and hours.

Opposition to Labor Strikes

Used military against mass independent power displays.

Status Quo Stabilizer

Roosevelt's cautious approach to reform.

Muckrakers

Journalists exposing corruption and institutional failures.

Hepburn Bill

Initiated railroad rate control by government.

Regulation vs. Dissolution

Preferred regulating big business over breaking it up.

New Nationalism Speech

Roosevelt's call for stronger government intervention.

Hamiltonian Means

Advocated for a strong centralized state.

Graduated Income Tax

Tax system based on income levels.

Direct Primaries

Elections allowing voters to select candidates.

World War I Stance

Struggled between realism and interventionism.

Coronary Embolism

Cause of Roosevelt's death in 1919.

Robert M. La Follette

Progressive leader seeking Roosevelt's support.

Compensation Laws

Legislation to protect workers' rights.

Social Legislation

Efforts to improve living conditions for citizens.

Military Readiness

Roosevelt's belief in preparedness for foreign conflicts.

Fear of Radicalism

Concerns over socialism and militant reformers.

Legacy of Contradictions

Roosevelt balanced progressive ideals with conservative actions.

William McKinley

U.S. President who declared war on Spain in 1898.

Theodore Roosevelt

Youngest U.S. president, known for his dynamic personality.

Lieutenant Colonel

Military rank TR secured during the Spanish-American War.

Publicity

Efforts to gain public attention for political purposes.

Mass Media

Newspapers and magazines that amplified TR's public image.

Self-Confidence

Core trait of TR, influencing his leadership style.

Impatience

TR's intolerance for those he perceived as weak.

Public Relations

Profession aimed at managing public perception.

Stewardship Theory

Presidential duty to act for the public good.

Corporate Capitalism

Economic system TR sought to regulate for fairness.

Antitrust Laws

• Regulations aimed at preventing monopolistic practices

• Roosevelt's 54 acts contrasted with Taft's 90.to promote competition and protect consumers.

Square Deal

TR's domestic program focused on fairness and equality.

Three C's

Conservation, control of corporations, consumer protection.

Political Machines

Organizations that controlled voter support through patronage.

Candidate-Centered Politics

Shift from party dominance to individual candidate focus.

National Symbol

Role of the president in representing citizen values.

Spin

Techniques of persuasion and image crafting in politics.

Public Opinion Leadership

President's role in shaping and guiding public sentiment.

Social Reform

Efforts to improve societal conditions and policies.

Transparency

Openness in government actions to build public trust.

Political Agenda

Set of priorities the president aims to address.

Media Age

Period characterized by the rise of mass communication.

Public Fascination

Endless interest in TR's personality and actions.

1896 Election

Remade political landscape with new campaigning methods.

William Jennings Bryan

Economically radical candidate, fused democracy and Populism.

Sound Money

McKinley's defense of gold-backed currency policy.

Front Porch Campaign

McKinley's method of delivering speeches from home.

Literary Bureau

Distributed campaign materials like posters and cartoons.

First Campaign Film

McKinley's film showcased in theaters, generated excitement.

Rise of Factual News

Increased journalism independence, focused on impartial reporting.

New York Times

Proclaimed independence from political parties in 1896.

John Addison Porter

McKinley's secretary, managed press relations and information.

George Bruce Cortelyou

Redefined White House press secretary role, efficient organizer.

Progressive Ideal

Efficiency and influence behind the scenes in governance.

Public Opinion

Shifted from elite views to national consensus.

Edward Alsworth Ross

Sociologist advocating for government legitimacy via public opinion.

Social Control

Mechanisms to maintain order in modern society.

Race Suicide

Term coined by Ross, warning against immigration.

Class Strife

Conflict arising from economic inequalities in society.

Public Opinion Legitimacy

Government reforms require validation by public sentiment.

Mass Media Savvy

Political culture demanding charisma and self-promotion.

Partisan Journalism

Newspapers with identities independent of political funding.

Empirical Evidence

Facts used to persuade public opinion and political views.

Presidential Communication

Cortelyou streamlined interactions between McKinley and press.

Press Access

Reporters accepted restrictions for access to McKinley.

Political Insurgency

Movement characterized by radical economic reform demands.

Campaign Strategies

Candidates began engaging directly with voters physically.

Publicity Coup

Generating significant media attention for political advantage.

Presidential Image

McKinley's lack of effort in shaping public perception.

Historical Context

McKinley represented the transition from old to modern politics.

Sensationalism

Exaggerated reporting to capture public attention.

Public Interests

Actual needs and welfare of the community.

TR's Leadership

Guiding public sentiment rather than following it.

Bully Pulpit

Using presidency to advocate and influence public opinion.

Mass Democracy

Engagement of the public in democratic processes.

Rhetoric

Art of persuasive speaking or writing.

Interstate Commerce Act

Law regulating railroad rates and practices.

Press Relations

Managing media to shape public perception.

Public Speaking Tours

Traveling to engage directly with citizens.

News Management

Controlling information release to influence narratives.

Cortelyou's Role

Supervised press communications for TR's administration.

William Loeb

TR's successor in managing press operations.

Photography Usage

Utilizing images to enhance public engagement.

Informal News Conferences

Casual meetings to engage with reporters.

Media Strategy

Tactics to control how information is presented.

Charm and Arrogance

TR's personality traits in dealing with the press.

Government Transparency

Openness about governmental actions and policies.

Contradictions in Leadership

Tension between publicity desires and control.

Public Relations Firms

Agencies managing public image and perception.

Radical Contempt

Disdain for those inciting violence or resentment.

Social Improvement

Efforts aimed at enhancing community welfare.

Manipulative Actions

Deceptive tactics used for political gain.