Statement

Today, we mark the birth of a true American original—President Theodore Roosevelt—and celebrate his tremendous legacy of strength, honor, and vitality.

Born on this day in 1858, Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. exemplified American exceptionalism throughout his colorful life. Tough and gritty, Roosevelt was a New Yorker through and through. He was also an outdoorsman at heart. Adopting “the strenuous life” at a young age, he became famous for hunting, boxing, and horseback riding. Most of all, Roosevelt was an American hero whose leadership and valor during the Battle of San Juan Hill became the stuff of military legend—and he remains the only president to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for battlefield bravery. Roosevelt served as a state legislator, New York City Police Commissioner, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Governor of New York, and Vice President of the United States—all before he reached the age of 45.

When a radical leftist assassinated President William McKinley in 1901, Vice President Roosevelt was unexpectedly sworn into office as the 26th President of the United States. He remains the youngest Commander in Chief in history.

As President, Roosevelt quickly established a foreign policy famously rooted in his commonsense motto: speak softly and carry a big stick. He understood that when America is strong, prosperous, and free at home, threats from beyond our shores can be deterred and the world can be at peace. President Roosevelt brought vitality to Washington—constantly working for the common good and fighting for a “square deal” for the forgotten men and women of America. He built the Panama Canal, prosecuted public and private corruption, removed toxins from our food and pharmaceuticals, settled labor disputes, and conserved our Nation’s abundant natural resources to ensure future generations of Americans could enjoy the fruits of God’s bountiful blessings. Through his leadership and negotiation skills, President Roosevelt ended conflicts across the globe—winning the Nobel Peace Prize for brokering peace between Imperial Japan and the Russian Empire.

Today, my Administration is proudly reasserting the principles that drove President Roosevelt’s historic success. We are holding corrupt government officials accountable, making America healthy again, protecting our lands and making our national parks more beautiful than ever, unleashing our Nation’s energy dominance, and restoring a foreign policy of peace through strength. We are reestablishing our leadership in the Western Hemisphere, restoring our military’s warrior ethos, and ending centuries-old conflicts in every corner of the world. And we are doing all this while putting the American people first.