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Title details for The Rough Rider and the Professor by Laurence Jurdem - Available

The Rough Rider and the Professor

Theodore Roosevelt, Henry Cabot Lodge, and the Friendship that Changed American History

by Laurence Jurdem
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Evoking the political intrigue of the Gilded Age, The Rough Rider and the Professor chronicles the extraordinary thirty-five-year friendship between President Theodore Roosevelt and Senator Henry Cabot Lodge of Massachusetts.
Theodore Roosevelt was a uniquely gifted figure. A man of great intellect and physicality, the New York patrician captured the imagination of the American people with his engaging personality and determination to give all citizens regardless of race, color, or creed the opportunity to achieve the American dream.

While Roosevelt employed his abilities to rise from unknown New York legislator to become the youngest man ever to assume the presidency in 1901, that rapid success would not have occurred without the assistance of the powerful New Englander, Henry Cabot Lodge.

Eight years older than Roosevelt, from a prominent Massachusetts family, Lodge, was one of the most calculating, combative politicians of his age. From 1884 to 1919 Lodge and Roosevelt encouraged one another to mine the greatness that lay within each of them. As both men climbed the ladders of power, Lodge, focused on dominating the political landscape of Massachusetts, served as the future president's confidant and mentor, advising him on political strategy while helping him obtain positions in government that would eventually lead to the White House.

Despite the love and respect that existed between the two men, their relationship eventually came under strain. Following Roosevelt's ascension to the presidency, T. R.'s desire to expand the social safety net—while attempting to broaden the appeal of the Republican Party—clashed with his older friend's more conservative, partisan point of view. Those tensions finally culminated in 1912. Lodge's refusal to support the former president's independent bid for a third presidential term led to a political break-up that was only repaired by each man's hatred for the policies of Woodrow Wilson.

Despite their political disagreements, Theodore Roosevelt and Henry Cabot Lodge remained devoted friends until the Rough Rider took his final breath on January 6, 1919.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    July 4, 2023

  • Formats

    • Kindle Book

    • OverDrive Read

      • ISBN: 9781639364428

    • EPUB ebook

      • ISBN: 9781639364428
      • File size: 45938 KB

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      May 22, 2023
      This detailed dual portrait from historian Jurdem (Paving the Way for Reagan) examines the extensive correspondence between Theodore Roosevelt and Henry Cabot Lodge to describe how their friendship and influence on each other helped shape American history. The two men met in 1884, when they both served as delegates to the Republican national convention. The pair were among the more liberal “independents” opposed the nomination of James G. Blaine, who nonetheless won. Lodge, the more pragmatic of the two, threw his support behind Blaine and gained respect within the party; Roosevelt, afraid that his political career was over, took a train to the Dakota territory to heal his wounds. Lodge went on to become a U.S. senator, while Roosevelt won the presidency in 1901; both inspired and supported one another, such as when Lodge rushed to Roosevelt’s side after a failed 1886 New York City mayoral bid left Roosevelt feeling despondent. Jurdem ably navigates the huge cache of letters exchanged between the two—some 2,500 in all—to tell a story rich with personal detail. This fascinating study reveals a new perspective on both Roosevelt and Lodge, and the impact of friendships on the course of events.

Formats

  • Kindle Book
  • OverDrive Read
  • EPUB ebook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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