On the 167th Birthday of Theodore Roosevelt

Explorer, adventurer, naturalist, bull moose, prolific writer, governor, vice president, and 26th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, was born on this day in 1858. Roosevelt inspired millions of Americans in his own time and in the far future – including, of course, the Bull Moose Project.

Roosevelt's legacy has inspired movements and Presidencies throughout American history. Everywhere one looks, you see the shadow of TR in President Trump’s agenda. The Trump administration’s Department of Labor is currently draped with a banner showcasing the visages of America’s 26th, 45th, and 47th presidents. Their antitrust actions, under Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater, mirror Roosevelt’s battles against monopolistic corporations: Standard Oil in his day, and Google in ours.

President Roosevelt’s belief in speaking softly but carrying a big stick when it came to our relationship with our continental neighbors likewise shines through in the Trump administration’s conduct toward Central and South America. Even the Panama Canal – a major achievement of the 26th president’s foreign policy – has played a major role in the presidency of the 47th.

Though Roosevelt passed away over 100 years ago, he has proven timeless. Americans in the 20th century, the 21st, and many centuries to come have been, are, and will continue to be inspired by his example.

Here is to the American lion.