Theodore Roosevelt’s ambivalence towards the railroads: Morality, speculation, and masculinity
Subject(s): Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen (U.S.), Depew, Chauncey M. (Chauncey Mitchell), 1834-1928, Harriman, Edward Henry, 1848-1909, Hill, James J. (James Jerome), 1838-1916, Knox, Philander C. (Philander Chase), 1853-1921, McCumber, Porter J. (Porter James), 1856-1933, McKinley, William, 1843-1901, Morgan, J. Pierpont (John Pierpont), 1837-1913, Northern Securities Company, Perkins, C. E. (Charles Elliott), 1840-1907, Presidents--Transportation, Railroads and state--Law and legislation, Railroads--Employees, Railroads--Mergers--Government policy, Railroads--Political aspects, Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919, Sherman, J. S. (James Schoolcraft), 1855-1912, Stereoscopic views
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Simon Cordery examines the relationship between Theodore Roosevelt and the nation’s railroads. Cordery highlights some of the significant episodes in Roosevelt’s life made possible by train travel like his trip to the Dakota Badlands in 1883, his exhausting campaign tour as a vice-presidential candidate in 1900, and his “Great Western Tour” as president in 1903. Cordery notes Roosevelt’s affection for the railroad workers and his disdain for their employers. Roosevelt saw the employees, with their difficult and dangerous jobs, as embodying the strenuous life while he wanted to curb the economic and political powers of their bosses. Cordery highlights the Northern Securities Case which dismantled a combination of railroads on the northern Great Plains and the debate over whether the railroads should provide free travel to the president.
The article features nine photographs, including three of Roosevelt and trains, and two political cartoons.
Collection
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal
Creation Date
2011-10-28
Creator(s)
Language
English
Period
Theodore Roosevelt and Public Memory (1919-present)
Page Count
13
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’s ambivalence towards the railroads: Morality, speculation, and masculinity. [October 28, 2011]. Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o308462. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Cordery, Simon. Theodore Roosevelt’s ambivalence towards the railroads: Morality, speculation, and masculinity. [28 Oct. 2011]. Image.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. May 15, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o308462.
APA:
Cordery, Simon., [2011, October 28]. Theodore Roosevelt’s ambivalence towards the railroads: Morality, speculation, and masculinity.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o308462.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/theodore-roosevelt-association-journal. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. May 15, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/theodore-roosevelt-association-journal.
APA:
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/theodore-roosevelt-association-journal.
