Theodore Roosevelt: In the Arena of the West took a new look at Roosevelt’s time in the Dakota badlands and his fascination with the American West.
Theodore Roosevelt: The President in the Arena, examined Theodore Roosevelt's actions as president and his impact on the post.
The symposium examined TR's contributions to the American conservation movement by considering his life and work in the American West, his reading in conservation literature, and the friendships he forged that influenced his conservation ethic and legislative program.
This year’s symposium focused on the years 1880-1919, a period in which the United States increased the size of its armed forces, particularly the Navy, acquired its first off-shore colonies, and challenged the great powers of Europe in the world’s arena.
The theme “Theodore Roosevelt: The Adventurer,” was chosen to take advantage of the release of Candice Millard’s “River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt’s Darkest Journey,” an account of Roosevelt’s 1914 exploration of the River of Doubt in South America.
Theodore Roosevelt: The Progressive in the Arena reviewed TR's progressivism and his relationship to other figures and movements that represented progressive ideals.