History--Book reviews

James M. Strock reviews Jon Knokey’s Theodore Roosevelt and the Making of American Leadership and praises it for its treatment of Theodore Roosevelt’s leadership of the Rough Riders during the Spanish-American War. Strock notes that the book traces the dual emergence of Roosevelt and the United States as leaders, and he commends the work for its treatment of Roosevelt’s early years. Strock concedes that much of what is covered in Knokey’s book is familiar, but he deems it worthwhile because of Knokey’s perspective as a younger scholar.

The front cover illustration of the book accompanies the text.

In his review of Theodore Roosevelt for the Defense: The Courtroom Battle to Save His Legacy, James M. Strock notes that its authors, Dan Abrams and David Fisher, are especially well-suited to tackle this subject because of Abrams’s extensive legal background and Fisher’s work on a prior courtroom drama book. Strock praises the authors for placing Theodore Roosevelt and his testimony in a 1916 libel trial at the center of the work, and he notes that Roosevelt handled himself well during the trial given his familiarity with legal issues stemming from his time as a law student at Columbia University to his friendship with the highly respected lawyer Elihu Root.

The cover illustration from Theodore Roosevelt for the Defense and a photograph of Roosevelt supplement the review.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Duane G. Jundt finds flaws and strengths in two books that chronicle Theodore Roosevelt’s time in the Dakota Badlands. Jundt notes that Michael F. Blake’s The Cowboy President: The American West and the Making of Theodore Roosevelt lacks historical objectivity and contains numerous factual errors while Christopher Knowlton’s Cattle Kingdom: The Hidden History of the Cowboy West places Roosevelt and his ranching experience in the wider context of the American West. Jundt highlights both books’ treatment of Owen Wister’s 1902 novel The Virginian. Jundt also examines certain aspects of these books against works by other Roosevelt biographers, and he asserts that both books emphasize the importance of Roosevelt’s time in Dakota to developing his conservation conscience.

The front cover illustrations for both works under review and a postcard of a cattle branding scene accompany the text.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

In his review of Theodore Roosevelt: A Literary Life, Joseph R. Ornig highlights the remarkable number of books written by and about Theodore Roosevelt, and he finds that the latest entry, a literary biography penned by Thomas Bailey and Katherine Joslin, fills a niche and reminds readers of Roosevelt’s impressive intellectual range. Ornig reviews the few other works that have addressed this topic, including his own, and he provides an overview of the careers of Bailey and Joslin. Ornig concludes his essay by reviewing the wide range of works produced by Roosevelt in the course of his writing career.

Four illustrations supplement the text, including a photograph of Roosevelt and the front cover of Theodore Roosevelt: A Literary Life.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Douglas Eden dismisses Stephen Kinzer’s The True Flag: Theodore Roosevelt, Mark Twain, and the Birth of the American Empire as a piece of polemical journalism that should not be taken seriously as a work of history. Eden asserts that the work will appeal to certain segments of the academy and media, and he highlights episodes from the early years of the Cold War to demonstrate the author’s bias and lack of understanding of key events of that era, such as the start of the Korean War. Eden also notes that despite appearing in the book’s title, Mark Twain does not figure prominently in the work. The front cover of the The True Flag and one of its photographs supplement the review.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

2018

Gregory A. Wynn writes that his criticisms of Michael Cullinane’s Theodore Roosevelt’s Ghost: The History and Memory of an American Icon amount to “merely quibbles,” and he states that it is thoroughly researched and well-written. Wynn highlights the work of Kathleen Dalton, Henry F. Pringle, and John A. Gable in his review, and he describes the wide ranging topics addressed by Cullinane, including the work of the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA) in safeguarding the memory of Theodore Roosevelt. Wynn notes that Cullinane’s work should serve as an inspiration to members of the TRA to continue the organization’s work.

Two photographs, including one of Cullinane, supplement the text.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Duane G. Jundt praises Michael R. Canfield for providing context for the development of Theodore Roosevelt as a naturalist and for a nuanced discussion of his hunting in Theodore Roosevelt in the Field. Jundt also praises Canfield for his exhaustive research and for his frequent use of examples from Roosevelt’s journals and notebooks to illustrate his work. Jundt indicates that the book plows familiar ground, and he faults Canfield for not providing maps to Roosevelt’s many outdoor adventures and for not discussing the importance of eyeglasses to Roosevelt’s development as a naturalist.

Five excerpts from Roosevelt’s natural history notebooks and journals, a photograph of Roosevelt, a letter, and the front cover of Canfield’s book populate the review. A text box with the mission statement of the Theodore Roosevelt Association appears at the end of the essay.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Mark E. Episkopos asserts that Theodore Roosevelt resides at the center of Mark Lee Gardner’s Rough Riders: Theodore Roosevelt, His Cowboy Regiment, and the Immortal Charge Up San Juan Hill to such a degree “that it doubles as a partial biography of Roosevelt.” Episkopos highlights Gardner’s treatment of the unity of the Rough Riders, despite class differences between its cowboys and eastern college graduates, Roosevelt’s advocacy on behalf of his troopers after the war, and the various voices that tried to dismiss Roosevelt’s heroism in battle. A photograph and a painting of the Rough Riders and the front cover of the book illustrate the review.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

2016

In his review of Darrin Lunde’s The Naturalist: Theodore Roosevelt, a Lifetime of Exploration, and the Triumph of American Natural History, Lowell E. Baier identifies the two theses that animate the book: that Theodore Roosevelt was a world class museum naturalist and that he was the most important conservationist of his time. Baier provides context for and discusses many of Roosevelt’s encounters with the natural world, and he lists many of the explorers, writers, conservationists, and fellow hunters who shaped his thoughts and actions. Baier praises Lunde for placing Roosevelt’s hunting in the context of his times and for acknowledging that Roosevelt hunted for both sport and science, but he faults Lunde for not recognizing the adrenaline rush of hunting and for not treating Roosevelt’s conservation record as president in greater detail.

The front cover of Lunde’s book, two photographs, and three paintings by John Seerey-Lester populate the review.

In his review of Geoffrey Cowan’s Let the People Rule: Theodore Roosevelt and the Birth of the Presidential Primary, James M. Strock highlights Cowan’s treatment of Theodore Roosevelt’s relationship with African-Americans, especially during his 1912 Progressive party campaign, and he takes issue with Cowan’s interpretation of Roosevelt’s anti-trust record. Strock also believes that Cowan places too much stock in contemporary sources, and he believes that Cowan does not see Roosevelt, or other political leaders, in a heroic light. Strock provides a brief overview of Roosevelt’s campaign and notes the consequences for himself and the Republican party.

Two photographs and the front cover of Let the People Rule accompany the review.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

John A. Gable reviews three of the five books found in the “Book Reviews” section. Gable praises Edward Renehan’s The Lion’s Pride: Theodore Roosevelt and His Family in Peace and War with its emphasis on the fate of the Roosevelt family during World War I, and he summarizes Sherwin Gluck’s study of how Oyster Bay, New York, became home to the summer White House during the Roosevelt administration with offices located above a grocery store. In reviewing Douglas Brinkley’s American Heritage History of the United States, Gable highlights Brinkley’s coverage of Theodore Roosevelt, especially his views on conservation. The section also promotes the publication of a new edition of the Theodore Roosevelt Association’s collection of Roosevelt’s speeches, The Man in the Arena, and a Modern Library version of The Naval War of 1812, both of which feature introductions by Gable.

An advertisement for Blocklyn Books of Oyster Bay, New York, appears on the last page of the section.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

In her review of Doris Kearns Goodwin’s The Bully Pulpit: Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and the Golden Age of Journalism, Alice L. George notes that the book provides biographies of both presidents, as well as pointing out their differences and similarities. In keeping with the structure of Goodwin’s work, George emphasizes the 1912 campaign and the schism between Roosevelt and Taft. Goodwin also chronicles each man’s relationship with the press, a process mastered by Roosevelt and neglected by Taft. George acknowledges Goodwin’s “writing prowess,” but asserts that the book is too long and should have been shortened by at least 100 pages. 

The front and back covers of The Bully Pulpit illustrate the essay. 

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Richard (Rick) Marschall finds much to admire in J. Lee Thompson’s Never Call Retreat: Theodore Roosevelt and the Great War, especially the book’s fairness in dealing with Germany and its allies and in pointing out the shortcomings and extremity of some of Theodore Roosevelt’s wartime positions. Marschall finds it refreshing that Thompson does not shy away from criticizing Woodrow Wilson and validating some of Roosevelt’s assertions against his opponent, and he notes that Wilson is often given preferential treatment by historians. Marschall places Thompson’s work in the context of other treatments of this time period of Roosevelt’s life, and he admonishes Thompson for failing to adequately summarize his findings and for flawed writing.

The book’s cover and three political cartoons from Marschall’s collection supplement the text.

Michael Kort opens and closes his book review essay with thoughts on the equestrian statue of Theodore Roosevelt that used to mark the entrance to the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Kort cites the statue as emblematic of the argument made in Edward P. Kohn’s Heir to the Empire City: New York and the Making of Theodore Roosevelt that New York City was more important to shaping the man and his policies than the Dakota Badlands. Kort believes that Kohn makes a persuasive case, but he does question the book’s lack of academic citations and Kohn’s use of speculative language. 

The front cover of Kohn’s book, a political cartoon, and a photograph of James Earle Fraser’s equestrian statue of Roosevelt accompany the essay.

In his review of John J. Miller’s The Big Scrum: How Teddy Roosevelt Saved Football, Duane G. Jundt notes that Theodore Roosevelt does not figure prominently in its discussion of the problems facing college football in the early twentieth century until relatively late in the book. Jundt praises Miller for providing a well-written examination of the place football occupied in American culture, but he contends that Miller relies too much on speculative language in describing a football summit organized by Roosevelt, and he also asserts that Miller overstates Roosevelt’s role in saving football from those who would have banned it. 

Photographs of the football coaches of Yale and Harvard and the front cover illustration from The Big Scrum supplement the text.

Robert Wexelblatt praises Philip McFarland for his even-handed approach in his dual biography Mark Twain and the Colonel: Samuel L. Clemens, Theodore Roosevelt, and the Arrival of a New Century. Wexelblatt notes that the disagreements between the writer and the politician will interest most readers, and he highlights Twain’s anti-imperialism as the foremost of these issues. Wexelblatt commends McFarland for explaining the views of Twain, Roosevelt, and their contemporaries in the context of their time. He notes that McFarland also covers the similarities between “the two most famous and celebrated Americans,” and he credits McFarland for his research and his lively prose. 

Photographs of Twain and Roosevelt, and the front cover illustration of Mark Twain and the Colonel, accompany the review.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Stacey A. Cordery reviews the final volume of Edmund Morris’s trilogy of the life of Theodore Roosevelt, Colonel Roosevelt. Cordery contends that with his final volumes on Roosevelt, Morris has restored his reputation as a biographer which had been damaged by his inventive biography of Ronald Reagan, Dutch. Cordery praises Morris for his “marvelous prose” and his ability to set a scene, but she balks at some of the language he employs, especially references to sexuality and race. Cordery asserts that Morris handles politics poorly, and that he pays insufficient attention to the women in Roosevelt’s life, especially his wife Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt. Cordery believes that Morris has not adequately incorporated the latest in Roosevelt scholarship, but she recognizes that his work has made Roosevelt known to legions of readers and elevated his place in American culture. 

The front cover illustrations for all three volumes of Morris’s trilogy appear in the review.

In the first of two essays in the “Book Review” section, Duane G. Jundt dismisses Arthur G. Sharp’s The Everything Theodore Roosevelt Book as unworthy of serious consideration because of its juvenile language, numerous factual errors, and plagiarism. James F. Vivian recalls the work of Hermann Hagedorn in his review of Roger L. Di Silvestro’s Theodore Roosevelt in the Badlands. Vivian believes that Di Silvestro’s work does not supplant Hagedorn’s Roosevelt in the Badlands, but rather adds to the story of the young Roosevelt because of Di Silvestro’s mining of the evidence made available since Hagedorn’s book was published in 1921.

The front covers of the Sharp and Di Silvestro books appear in the section along with a text box containing the vision statement of the Theodore Roosevelt Association. 

Robert Wexelblatt describes Rick Marschall’s Bully! The Life and Times of Theodore Roosevelt as a picture book illustrated with a biography, and he asserts that the scores of political cartoons found within it are “the real glory of the book.” Wexelblatt believes that Marschall has produced an illustrated biography that is both fun and useful, and he provides background on Marschall’s expertise as both a historian and as a political cartoonist which makes him uniquely qualified to pen such a work. Two cartoons found in Bully! accompany the review. 

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

2011

Mark W.T. Harvey begins his review of Douglas Brinkley’s The Wilderness Warrior by noting that it is a very large book with much to say, but Harvey asserts that in his zeal to convey the story of Theodore Roosevelt as a conservation crusader, Brinkley tries to cover too much, provides too many details, and overwhelms the reader with his accumulation of facts and anecdotes. Harvey also argues that this barrage of knowledge comes at the expense of analysis and interpretation, and he believes that Brinkley lets his enthusiasm for his subject overtake the need for a critical perspective. Harvey contends that Brinkley does not adequately explore what terms like conservation, preservation, and wilderness meant in Roosevelt’s time and how Roosevelt acted to fulfill the meaning of these designations. Although he faults Brinkley for making Roosevelt too much of “a conservation hero,” Harvey concludes his review with praise for Brinkley for raising the profile of Roosevelt as an unrestrained lover of nature and a bold leader in the fight to conserve the nation’s natural resources.

The front cover illustration of The Wilderness Warrior, one of Roosevelt’s bird lists, two photographs of the Elkhorn Ranch, and seven photographs of Roosevelt accompany the essay.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal