Theodore Roosevelt and New York: Retrospect and Prospect
Subject(s): Blum, John Morton, 1921-2011, Cordingley, Nora E. (Nora Evelyn), 1888-, George, Henry, 1862-1916, Hagedorn, Hermann, 1882-1964, Hewitt, Abram S. (Abram Stevens), 1822-1903, Hofstadter, Richard, 1916-1970, Hurwitz, Howard L. (Howard Lawrence), 1916-, Morison, Elting Elmore, Mowry, George E. (George Edwin), 1909-1984, Platt, Thomas Collier, 1833-1910, Pringle, Henry F. (Henry Fowles), 1897-1958, Reid, Whitelaw, 1837-1912, Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
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G. Wallace Chessman looks at the evolving historiography of the study of Theodore Roosevelt and places his own work on Roosevelt’s time as Governor of New York within that framework. He asserts that Roosevelt’s reputation suffered in the 1930s with the publication of Henry Pringle’s biography (Theodore Roosevelt: A Biography), but the work of historians such as George Mowry and John Blum served as a correction to Pringle’s work. Chessman argues that the 1930s, with its isolationism in foreign affairs and its hostility to big business, further undermined Roosevelt’s standing.
Chessman argues that as Governor of New York, Roosevelt mostly took stands that should be viewed as “progressive,” and that he successfully navigated a course between obedience to the New York political machine led by Thomas Platt and his own reform agenda. He says that Roosevelt’s time as governor prepared him for the presidency, and he concludes his essay by contending that Roosevelt, however much he loved the American West, should primarily be seen as a man of New York City: “T.R. was surely an urban man.”
Collection
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal
Creation Date
1975
Creator(s)
Publication Date
2022-12-08
Language
English
Period
Theodore Roosevelt and Public Memory (1919-present)
Page Count
4
Production Method
Record Type
Image
Resource Type
Rights
No permission is required from the Theodore Roosevelt Association to use items in the Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal collection for educational purposes. For permissions, contact William Tilchin at (516) 921-6319 or by email at wnt@bu.edu.
Citation
Cite this Record
Chicago:
Theodore Roosevelt and New York: Retrospect and Prospect. [October 29, 1975?]. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o305732. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Chessman, G. Wallace. Theodore Roosevelt and New York: Retrospect and Prospect. [29 Oct. 1975?]. Image. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. October 29, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o305732.
APA:
Chessman, G. Wallace.: , [1975, October 29?]. Theodore Roosevelt and New York: Retrospect and Prospect. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o305732.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/theodore-roosevelt-association-journal. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. October 29, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/theodore-roosevelt-association-journal.
APA:
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/theodore-roosevelt-association-journal.
