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

CHAPTER I
ROOSEVELT THE PRESIDENT
Gigantic Responsibility^Newcomer Closely Watched—The Prejudice Wears
Away—A Democratic President—A Hard Worker—Kind and Thought-
ful at All Times— Cabinet Days—A Splendid Horseman—Gives All His
Time to His Country's Business.
President Roosevelt came into office under the most
adverse circumstances, so far as his own political fortuiict.
were concerned. He succeeded the most popular Presidcnl
the country has had for many years—a man beloved by poli-
ticians and the people alike—and while President Roosevelt
assumed the duties of his office with the confidence of the
people who knew him, it cannot be truthfully said that at first
the politicians were with him. The remarkable popularity of
McKinley, his tactfulness with the Senators and Represent-
atives in Washington which had established him in a position
unusually different from factionism or dislike, were really
stumbling-blocks in the way of the young President just
taking upon his shoulders the gigantic responsibilities
which McKinley had carried with such success.
CLOSELY WATCHED BY POLITICIANS
Consequently, the politicians in Washington watched the
new man very carefully. Some of them heartily hoped that
he would make mistakes sufficient in a short time to prevent
any possibility that he would have any show for the Presi-
dential nomination in 1904. He said little and did little which
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