Roosevelt King (Volume 1 and 2)

Author: Edmund Morris
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-04-01
Features: The new work "Theodore Rex" by the renowned American biographer Edmund Morris is one of the most important historical books recently read by President Bush. It is reported that during Christmas 2000, Bush finished reading this book given to him by his senior strategic advisor Karl Rove at his Crawford Ranch in Texas. He said, "I just finished reading 'Theodore Rex' by Edmund Morris, and I recommend everyone read it." Bush read this book to learn from the experience of his predecessors and to face the challenges of the war on terror. Bush liked this book because it vividly recreates his "rekindled romance" with the former President Roosevelt. The new work "Theodore Rex" by the renowned biographer Edmund Morris is one of the most important historical books recently read by President Bush. It is reported that during Christmas 2000, Bush finished reading this book given to him by his senior strategic advisor Karl Rove at his Crawford Ranch in Texas. He said, "I just finished reading 'Theodore Rex' by Edmund Morris, and I recommend everyone read it." Bush read this historical book to learn from the experience of his predecessors and to face the challenges of the war on terror. Bush liked this book because it vividly recreates his "rekindled romance" with this former President. On September 14, 1901, Theodore Roosevelt, the 42-year-old Vice President of the United States, became President after the assassination of President McKinley, exactly 100 years before Bush's election as President in 2001. Both presidents who ushered in a new century faced formidable tasks and challenges: the former had to handle the complex situation following the assassination of his predecessor, while the latter had to deal with the new realities after the September 11th terrorist attacks. When Theodore Roosevelt took office as President, a senator said resentfully, "That awful cowboy actually became President!" And young Bush was also often jokingly called a "cowboy" at first. But within days of Theodore Roosevelt moving into the White House, the political elite and the press came to respect his authority and wit, ultimately making him one of the greatest presidents in American history. Meanwhile, the current President Bush is also full of ambition, striving to be remembered in history. This book portrays Theodore Roosevelt as a heroic figure who achieved success at a young age and possessed strong leadership charisma. He published book after book, had child after child, defeated political rivals one after another, and expanded his "territory" continuously. He loved his children more than the empire, and loved America more than power. Theodore Roosevelt was famous for opposing isolationism. During his first cabinet meeting, he demanded that plans for expanding the navy, reciprocal tariff agreements, and a timetable for Cuban independence be formulated as soon as possible. During his presidency from 1901 to 1909, he stabilized and expanded America's backyard in Latin America while leading the United States out of the North American continent and ushering in a new era of true American global strategy. He vigorously expanded the navy; twice intervened in Cuba to seize the right to dig the Panama Canal; expanded into Asia and the Pacific, returned the Boxer Indemnity, and engaged in a struggle with Russia and Japan for dominance in the East. Theodore Roosevelt, who embraced martial values and was ahead of his time, was adept at adopting cutting-edge scientific and technological advancements and social science research findings for his own purposes. He was deeply influenced by Darwin's theory of evolution and believed in the "superiority of the white race," advocating the use of military force to conquer backward and weak nations. He coveted vast regions, from Pacific islands to the "Horn of Africa." He put Mahan's "theory of sea power" into practice, propelling the United States to become a naval power and laying the foundation for establishing world hegemony. The "Theodore Rex" era marked the beginning of America's journey toward becoming the "American Empire," and Theodore Roosevelt was a hero in the eyes of prominent American figures such as President Bush and Senator McCain. Through this book, a glimpse of Bush's political ambitions and his dedication to reading can be seen. What lessons might he draw from his "predecessors"? Perhaps it is the "" of Theodore Roosevelt in expanding power and national strength.