As president, Theodore Roosevelt used presidential powers to break from traditional Republican ideals and helped the middle class and subdue big businesses (Cooper 76). Roosevelt created regulations on corporations and implemented anti-trust actions because he believed governments should not follow the lead of businesses (Cooper 77 and Irwin). Roosevelt fought for the middle class by intervening on behalf of Americans in the coal industry strike in 1902, railroad strikes, and when foods and drugs were being processed poorly (Cooper 77-79). Although Roosevelt did use his power to advocate, he also demonstrated his weaknesses by assuming his legacy. Roosevelt’s confidence and popularity before and during his time in office influenced him into assuming a legacy of his policies to fight for the average Americans and against big business (Cooper 79). Roosevelt’s strong sense of confidence, American nationalism, and American exceptionalism which at times blinded him from passing long lasting legislation rather than being a hero and getting involved in single situations of intervention (Cooper 85 and Irwin). For the 1908 presidential election, Roosevelt supported the candidacy of William Howard Taft with the expectation that Taft would carry on Roosevelt’s policies when he won (Cooper 109 and …show more content…
John Milton Cooper Jr. describes both presidents in The Warrior and the Priest: Woodrow Wilson and Theodore Roosevelt and their role in the changing time of U.S. history. The U.S. had become a global power and now became involved internationally while controlling the expansion of industry and businesses domestically. Roosevelt and Wilson can both be interpreted to control the power the U.S. had through the strengths and weaknesses in their personalities, use of domestic policy, and use of foreign policy. Roosevelt worked continuously against big business and worked to expand the power of the U.S. by looking beyond the U.S.’s borders and had influence after his term ended while Wilson focused inward on the nation at a time he should have been focusing outward on WWI. Although both men controlled the U.S., the power the U.S. was better demonstrated by Theodore Roosevelt with his use of his personality and policies and the weaknesses of Wilson’s actions in regards to