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NEW YORK -- With the millennium upon us, there's the natural temptation to quote some notable lines from past presidents as to advise America on the road ahead. Given our renewed interest in President Teddy Roosevelt, a genuine turn-of-the-century role model, I've chosen some classic TR lines which illustrate the case brilliantly.
Gracing the entrance of New York's Museum of Natural History -- a world renown repository for dinosaurs, fossils and fauna--are a living legacy which exuberantly extols America into the new century. The quotations are spaced amid murals of the American Century -- the Building of the Panama Canal, the Challenge of Nature, and the Portsmouth Peace Treaty.
On Nature: "The Nation behaves well if it treats the natural resources as assets, which it must turn over to the next generation increased, and not impaired in value." TR added, "Conservation means development as much as it does protection." Both quotes come from TR's volume, The New Nationalism.
In his famous book, African Game Trails, written whilst on Safari in East Africa TR wrote, "There are no words that can tell the hidden spirit of the wilderness that can reveal its mystery, its melancholy, and its charm."
Besides being an ardent conservationist and naturalist, TR a Republican in office between 1901 and 1909, established the U.S. National Parks and was instrumental in setting up New York's Natural History Museum.
On Manhood: "It is hard to fail, but worse never to have tried to succeed." Likewise in The Strenuous Life he wrote, "All daring and courage, all iron endurance of misfortune--make for a finer, nobler type of manhood." Recall that despite his childhood sickness, Teddy Roosevelt was able to overcome such handicaps through will power and perseverance and went on to an illustrious military career.
On Youth: "Be practical as well as generous in your ideals. Keep your eyes on the stars and keep your feet on the ground." These classic words spoken at the Groton School in 1904 are among his must famous testimony. Likewise in his book American Ideals TR advised, "Character, in the long run, is the decisive factor in the life of an individual and of nations alike." This quote should ring loud and clear in Washington for all our politicians.
On the State: "Ours is a government by, through, and under the law." TR also said "In popular government results worth while can only be achieved by men who combine worthy ideals with practical good sense."
Though the perception of TR, that of the Rough Rider who conquered San Juan Hill, is enhanced by quotes, "Aggressive fighting for the right is the noblest sport the world affords," TR's record remains equally impressive as a peacemaker. Gracing a wall of the Museum is a mural depicting the Peace of Portsmouth New Hampshire (1905), which ended the bitter but decisive Russo/Japanese war. TR who brokered the peace between the powers, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts.
The book Velvet on Iron -- the Diplomacy of Theodore Roosevelt by Frederick Marks presents a classic compendium of TR's diplomatic endeavors.
Shrinking from duty was never a TR trait. "If I must choose between righteousness and peace, I choose righteousness." These thoughts penned in America and the World War brilliantly illustrate the complex character of this Rough Rider who craved peace through righteousness, and was able to enforce peace not by bravado, but through genuine diplomacy and military strength.
John J. Metzler is a U.N. correspondent covering diplomatic and defense issues who writes weekly for World Tribune.com.
