Kent Robins was the
winner in the middle school age group of the first TR essay contest,
sponsored by the newly formed Oregon
Chapter of the Theodore Roosevelt Association, an outgrowth of
the Rough Rider Restoration 2000 Committee*.
Theodore
on Rushmore
Kent Robins
Portland Lutheran Middle School
Portland, OR
I have often wondered about the design on
Mt. Rushmore. It is obvious why the other three major presidents of
the US' formation and Civil War are present: Washington as the Father
of the US; Jefferson as the author of the Declaration of Independence
and Lincoln as emancipator of the slaves and leader of the Union States
while the country was being torn apart by Civil War. But, there is
no obvious, single deed that compares Roosevelt to the other great
men on that piece of art work. Perhaps the answer lies not in one
single outstanding accomplishment during his presidency, but in many
achievements during his lifetime.
First, there is the obvious chapter in TR's
life as a war hero. Even before the hostilities broke out Roosevelt
played an instrumental part in his position as assistant secretary
of he Navy. While there, he played a key role in building the Navy
and preparing it for action. As tensions mounted, his impatience climbed
and his dissatisfaction with administrative duties for which he was
responsible grew. He helped raise a contingent of mounted friends
from the badlands and socialite dandies form the big Eastern cities.
These became the core of the Rough Riders. It was the success of his
cavalry in Cuba and his own gallantry on the battlefield that sky
rocketed him into politics.
In 1899 Roosevelt complained to Congress about
the quality of the food, and especially the meat, which had been served
to his men in Cuba. While little happened at that time, the publication
in 1906 of Upton Sinclair novel The Jungle raised public awareness
sufficiently that Roosevelt sent a second commission to investigate
the Chicago meat packing plants. This made it possible for the Pure
Food and Drug Act to be passed through Congress. He was forever striving
for safer labor practice and better working conditions for those performing
manual tasks for a living. He fought against monopolies and big trusts
which unfairly controlled the financial markets, and cost the common
man more of his wages. Throughout Roosevelt's life there were contradictions
between his personal beliefs and what he believed was best for the
country. Roosevelt was a wealthy man with a large family who was concerned
with the plight of working man.
Additionally we must not forget his dedication
to wildlife and conservation. He hunted extensively and especially
in the West where he had a Ranch. In Hunting Trips of a Ranchman
he records the number of animals which he kills and how to kill them.
Then he worked diligently as an adult to establish the park system
which protected the landscape and the animals he had hunted. This
is another Roosevelt contradiction.
One distinction where he potentially outclassed
all of the Presidents before and after him was his winning, in 1906,
a Nobel Peace prize. The sound defeat of Russian Imperial Navy by
the Japanese during the Russo-Japanese War left the Czar's country
in disgrace and the victor's in financial ruined. By craftily initiating
negotiations on his yacht outside his home in Oyster Bay, he helped
pave a settlement between the warring nations and helped hammer out
an acceptable resolution. This made TR appear a master world diplomat.
Perhaps most of all, TR's popularity may have
arisen due to incredible wave of prosperity and world prominence that
the man helped represent as America strove into the new Century. The
Unites States, at the beginning of the 20th century, enjoyed
economic growth, technological prowess and political power. Although
perhaps trailing older European societies, the US standard of living
was quickly catching-up, or even passing, that of other countries.
We had proven that no feat of engineering and construction was too
difficult or impossible for our collective reach. This incredible
energy, abundance of resources and richness of free thought and inbred
potential to excel was no better revealed by the personal energy,
physical prowess, and keen intellect that stood for Theodore Roosevelt.
As we enter a new century and millennium,
can we turn to a single leader so capable, competent and virtuous
as to represent the still burgeoning ability that is our nation and
can stand, like TR, equally tall among the other statues features
on Mt. Rushmore's mighty cliffs?
Back to the children's corner
