The Triumphant Life of Theodore Roosevelt edited by J. Martin Miller

CHAPTER X
HOW ROOSEVELT BECAME PRESIDENT
The Cause of His Leadership—Attitude toward the Panama Republic—Self-
confidence— The Spanish War— Kis First Chance-A Flesh and Blood
Candidate— Roosevelt's domination as Vice-President— Seconds the
Nomination of President McKinley— A Memorable Campaign Tour
A National Tragedy—Grasps the Reins of Power—A Hazardous Ride
—Roosevelt's Proclamation.
The story of how Theodore Roosevelt became President is
a subject that will interest young Americans—and old Americans—
to the remotest generations. So long as constitutional
government lasts on this hemisphere, his unique, and, in many
respects, his picturesque career will be the subject of daily dis-
cussion, his code of political ethics the theme of many a writ-
ten thesis.
A NATURAL SELECTION
It is but fair to say that, although the American people
have called a few mediocrities to the Presidency, generally
speaking, that high honor has been conferred as a result of a
natural selection. As has been intimated, none other than
Mr. Roosevelt, with the probable exception of John Quincy
Adams and the possible exception of Martin Van Buren, has
been the result of particular and individual selection. Take a
recent example, for instance, Grover Cleveland, now dubbed
by many the most distinguished private citizen of the world,
was content to be sheriff of his county in middle age. The
Presidency a few years later came to him certainly as a sur-
129