Theodore Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States, a larger-than-life figure who transformed the presidency and American government. Born to New York aristocracy, Roosevelt overcame childhood illness through vigorous exercise, developing the cult of 'the strenuous life.' He was a rancher, police commissioner, Rough Rider, and New York governor before becoming Vice President.
When McKinley's assassination made him president at 42—the youngest ever—Roosevelt revolutionized executive power. He busted trusts, regulated railroads, created the FDA, and established the national park system. His 'Square Deal' promised fairness between capital and labor. He mediated the Russo-Japanese War, winning the Nobel Peace Prize, and sent the Great White Fleet around the world.
Roosevelt's progressivism combined reform with nationalism and imperialism. He believed in strong government directing national development while expanding American power abroad. After leaving office, he split the Republican Party in 1912 with his Bull Moose campaign. Shot while campaigning, he finished his speech with the bullet in his chest—the ultimate expression of Rooseveltian vigor.