Roosevelt Interpretations and Mis-interpretations

Dakota has an affinity for Teddy. How can we sort through the muddle of two seemingly contradictory interpretations?

Thomas Sowell says Teddy didn't know his trust-busting economic policy. For those of us who live in Dakota, we fully understand the impact (both good and bad) that magnum Rail Roads had in our early statehood (see James J. Hill of St. Paul for example).

Clay Jenkinson thinks otherwise of Sowell's interpretation: "Sowell claims that Roosevelt "fiercely applied" anti-trust laws. This is simply not true. By all accounts, T.R. was a cautious trust-buster, who preferred a few symbolic initiatives, in the hope that they would chasten the great corporations without depressing the economy or punishing capitalists for their success."

Teddy was said to consume almost a gallon of coffee -- per day. Another excerpt: "It is a grave mistake to belittle T.R.'s mind. He read a book a day all of his life. Try it for a week. He wrote more books than any other president. He lectured to German intellectuals on German literature at German universities, in German! And his academic audiences acknowledged that he knew their culture as well as they did."

Imagine this type of presidential candidate today, running for any party. I doubt the people would vote him or her into office on the grounds that he or she "uses big words and foreign languages to make him- or her-self feel important."

(Note: I want to comment more, but mom just called: she locked her keys in her car. Sorry gentlemen: Mothers trump blogger.com anyday of the week. I think you all understand. If you're looking to brushen up on your Rough Rider history, Edmund Morris remains one of the leading authorities on Teddy.)