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Program Summary
An assassin's bullet ended the life of William McKinley in 1901, making his vice president, Theodore Roosevelt, an "accidental" president at the age of 42. Young and exuberant, the living symbol of the "strenuous life," TR embodied America at the turn of the century. A reformer who used the power of the government to improve the lives of ordinary Americans, TR extended the powers of the president and the role of the U.S. in international affairs. He used the increasing influence of mass media to enlarge his own image and manipulate public opinion. Roosevelt's legacy is still evident today in such areas as government regulations, foreign policy, and the national park system. Yet, behind the vigor and optimism was a man shadowed by tragedy.
Program Segments: The entire program has been produced for home video use in two video cassettes. The total viewing time is 4 hours. For your convenience, we have described the program in segments. You may want to use specific segments to focus classroom discussion and activities.
Tape One, Part One -- The Long Campaign
Segment 1 (begins at: David McCullough appears on screen)
Length: 7 minutes, 18 seconds
Starting image: David McCullough
David McCullough introduces the program; overview of TR's life and personality
Segment 2 (begins at: 7 minutes, 18 seconds)
Length: 12 minutes, 32 seconds
Starting image: TR's childhood home
TR's early childhood struggle with asthma and his efforts to overcome illness and physical weakness; his strong relationship with his father; his father's influence on his life
Segment 3 (begins at: approximately 19 minutes)
Length: 11 minutes, 30 seconds
Starting image: sketch of an animal.
TR's love of natural history; the development of his active pursuit of the "strenuous life"; the conclusion of his childhood and adolescence; college years at Harvard; courtship of Alice Lee and their marriage
Segment 4 (begins at: approximately 31 minutes)
Length: 16 minutes, 30 seconds
Starting image: photograph of two women walking down stairs
Development of TR's political career as an assemblyman in New York; the birth of his first child, daughter Alice; the deaths of both his wife and mother; TR's subsequent adventures in the Badlands of North Dakota seeking relief from his grief
Segment 5 (begins at: approximately 47 minutes, 30 seconds)
Length: 6 minutes, 42 seconds
Starting image: Edith Derby Williams
TR's return from North Dakota; his courtship and life with second wife Edith Carow
Segment 6 (begins at: 54 minutes, 12 seconds)
Length: 21 minutes, 30 seconds
Starting image: photograph of TR holding daughter Alice
Return to politics and appointment as Assistant Secretary of the Navy; leadership of the famous Rough Riders regiment during the Spanish-American War; TR's growing image as a political "star"
Segment 7 (begins at: 1 hour, 15 minutes, 42 seconds)
Length: approximately 5 minutes
Starting image: TR on the cover of Harper's Weekly
Elected Governor of New York; angers the Republican party bosses; nominated for Vice President under McKinley to remove him from the New York political scene
Tape One, Part Two--The Bully Pulpit
Segment 8 (begins at: 1 hour, 20 minutes)
Length: 3 minutes
Starting image: film of McKinley's funeral
Introduction to TR's "accidental" presidency after McKinley's assassination in 1901
Segment 9 (begins at: 1 hour, 23 minutes)
Length: 25 minutes
Starting image: photograph of the White House
TR's domestic policies; the industrialization of America; J. P. Morgan; TR's trust-busting activities; his intervention in the coal miners' strike; the birth of the Square Deal; TR's savvy use of the media; creation of the Teddy bear; TR's expansion of the powers of the presidency
Segment 10 (begins at: 1 hour, 48 minutes)
Length: 12 minutes
Starting image: film of battleship firing
TR's foreign policy: growth of the navy to support expansionist policies; "Speak softly and carry a big stick" philosophy; the Panama Canal; the development of the "imperial presidency"
Segment 11 (begins at: 2 hours)
Length: 7 minutes
Starting image: photograph of a White House event
Life in the White House; the glamour of TR's presidential style; the renovation of the White House; the Roosevelt children
Segment 12 (begins at: 2 hours, 7 minutes)
Length: approximately 5 minutes
Starting image: photograph of TR doffing hat
TR wins by an unprecedented landslide; TR blunders by telling a reporter he won't run for a third term, weakening his presidential power
Tape Two, Part Three--The Good Fight
Segment 1 (begins at: David McCullough appears)
Length: 6 minutes, 13 seconds
Starting image: David McCullough
David McCullough introduces the second half of the program; TR's joy in his family and in the presidency; his struggle to hold on to the "child within"
Segment 2 (begins at: 6 minutes, 13 seconds)
Length: approximately 16 minutes
Starting image: opening title "TR"
TR as a reformer president; efforts in industry, commerce, and conservation; struggles with Congress over the power of the presidency; expansion of executive power; rise of the "muckrakers"; creation of national parks and other federally protected lands
Segment 3 (begins at: 21 minutes)
Length: 3 minutes
Starting image: photograph of the Roosevelt family
Continued national fascination with the Roosevelt family; portrait of youngest child, Quentin, his parents' favorite
Segment 4 (begins at: 24 minutes)
Length: 7 minutes, 30 seconds
Starting image: film of guns fired in woods
TR's involvement in Asia; secret deal to turn Korea over to Japan; TR negotiates to end the Russo-Japanese War; wins the Nobel Prize for Peace
Segment 5 (begins at: 31 minutes, 30 seconds)
Length: 4 minutes, 30 seconds
Starting image: newspaper headlines of Alice's wedding
TR's manipulation of the media to enhance his image and increase his popularity; extensive press coverage of his daughter Alice's wedding
Segment 6 (begins at: 36 minutes)
Length: 14 minutes, 30 seconds
Starting image: photograph of factory
TR's response to the Panic of 1907; unsuccessful reform initiatives; "lame duck" status; TR's choice of William Taft as his successor
Segment 7 (begins at: 50 minutes, 30 seconds)
Length: 5 minutes
Starting image: political cartoon of reporters weeping
Recap of TR's accomplishments as president; the Taft inauguration
Tape Two, Part Four--Black Care
Segment 8 (begins at: 1 hour)
Length: 10 minutes, 43 seconds
Starting image: film of TR by a stream
TR once again seeks solace in the wilderness, on a safari to Africa; triumphant tour of Europe; returns to the U.S.
Segment 9 (begins at: 1 hour, 10 minutes)
Length: 29 minutes
Starting image: film of ship returning TR to the U.S.
TR decides to try and regain the presidency; friendship with Taft deteriorates; TR fails to receive the 1912 Republican nomination; leads the new Progressive Party; loses to Woodrow Wilson
Segment 10 (begins at: 1 hour, 40 minutes)
Length: 8 minutes
Starting image: film of a houseboat
TR retreats again to the wilderness on a hazardous exploration of the River of Doubt in Brazil, which nearly kills him; river is later named "Theodoro" in his honor
Segment 11 (begins at: 1 hour, 8 minutes)
Length: 31 minutes
Starting image: photograph of TR in white, holding a rifle
TR disagrees with Wilson's policy of isolationism, advocates "preparedness"; TR volunteers (but is not permitted) to fight in World War I; works vigorously despite poor health to support the war effort; tragedy strikes once again when Quentin is killed in the war
Segment 12 (begins at: 2 hours, 19 minutes)
Length: 3 minutes
Starting image: film of Sagamore Hill
Deeply affected by Quentin's death, TR dies at age 60 in 1919
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