Despite the fact that Theodore Roosevelt's successor to the office of President of the United States, William Howard Taft, was elected handily in the 1908 elections, the former President soon realized that he had not exactly shaped the party into his own mold as much as he surely hoped.
As Taft began to replace Roosevelt's cabinet members with his own, Roosevelt realized that the new President would not be willingly controled by the former party leader. This would eventually result in Roosevelt's decision to remove himself from the Republican party, but this would come later.
Trips Abroad
Very soon after leaving office, Theodore Roosevelt, along with his son Kermit, embarked upon a year-long trip to Africa, where they hunted thousands of animals and toured this wild region in such a way that no President ever had before.
His journeys then took him to Europe, where he and his wife Edith traveled about, meeting heads of state and serving in an informal dimplomatic capacity.
It was July of 1910 when Roosevelt and his family finally returned home to New York - to one of the grandest welcomes the great city had ever seen. Clearly, the formerly great President was still just as popular as ever.
Re-entry into Politics
Realizing that he was still popular, and knowing that a future career in politics (Roosevelt was only fifty three years old by this point), Roosevelt watched the situation with Taft carefully.
The current President was considerably more conservative than his predecessor, and not nearly as "in tune" with the progressive policies of larger government and public welfare that had dominated Roosevelt's administration.
On the strength of the growing progressive faction of the Republican party, Roosevelt conceded, after two years of deliberation and remaining quiet on the issue, to challenge Taft for the party's nomination in the 1912 election.
Things did not necessarily go Roosevelt's way, however, as Taft supporters barred Roosevelt's from the deadlocked party convention, paving the way for the incumbent's victory.
Furious at his own party, Roosevelt took this as his cue to split with the Grand Old Party, along with his many supporters, and to form his own - the Progressive Party, which is often known as the "Bull Moose" party, due to a famous quote by Roosevelt, who claimed that he felt as strong as one of these animals.
In fact, in one of the most endearing stories of Roosevelt's life - he gave a speech in Milwaukee during this campaign, before which he was shot in the chest by a would-be assassin. Realizing that the wound was not fatal (though he was bleeding through his shirt), Roosevelt continued on with his speech, claiming that, "it takes more than that to kill a Bull Moose!"
The Election of 1912
The Progressive party's nomination of Roosevelt in 1912 amounted to little more than a more-than-usually successful third-party run, however.
If it had not been for the Bull Moose party, Taft very well could have won this election over Democrat Woodrow Wilson. With the party split between the Republicans and the Progressives, however, this is not what happened.
While Roosevelt narrowly squeaked by Taft in the general election (27.4% to 23.1%), Wilson soundly defeated the both of them with 41.9% of the popular vote and an electoral margin of more than 350 votes. Roosevelt's attempt at reignigting his political career was thus ended in miserable failure.
Final Years
After losing the election, Roosevelt embarked on a year-long expedition through the Brazilian rainforest, which left him in a weakened state, though he eventually recovered enough to oppose Woodrow Wilson's failure to show strength at the beginning of World War I.
Despite his failing health during these final years, Roosevelt continued to support various organizations and other activities which befit his personality.
He died in January of 1919 at the age of only 61, of a coronary embolism at his home in Oyster Bay, Long Island.
For more information:
The Presidency of Teddy Roosevelt
References:
"Theodore Roosevelt." American Presidents: An Online Reference Resource.
The Theodore Roosevelt Association.
 |
