Theodore Roosevelt: Roughrider to Rushmore

Theodore Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States, a visionary statesman, naturalist, and soldier. Overcoming severe childhood asthma, he championed a life of "strenuous endeavor." He gained national fame during the Spanish-American War leading the "Rough Riders" cavalry unit. Following the 1901 assassination of William McKinley, Roosevelt took office at age 42, becoming the youngest president in U.S. history. His domestic agenda, the "Square Deal," focused on consumer protection, antitrust regulations, and busting corporate monopolies. A passionate conservationist, he established the U.S. Forest Service and protected 230 million acres of public land. Abroad, he initiated construction of the Panama Canal and won the 1906 Nobel Peace Prize for mediating the Russo-Japanese War. He survived an assassination attempt in 1912 while running under his "Bull Moose" party. He remains a symbol of American vigor.