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Power and Responsibility: The Life and Times of Theodore Roosevelt
This is a positive and controversial book--one that restores much of the luster to Theodore Roosevelt's reputation as a man, as President, and as a reformer and Progressive. Interpreting TR's career from the point of view of what was politically possible rather than theoretically desirable, the author shows how Roosevelt--as a young assemblyman n the New York Legislature, as an uncorruptible commissioner of the civil service and later of the police, and finally as governor and President--repeatedly forced the leaders of the Republican Old Guard to compromise their opposition to his social and economic views.
He tells how TR, following his return from Africa in 1910, fretted for a year and a half over the ineffectiveness of his chosen successor before submitting to his overwhelming urge to be President again. And he reveals how TR, having lost his bid for he Republican nomination in 1912, found himself in an insoluble ideological and political dilemma.
In three final chapters based on hereto unused sources, the author relates the dramatic story of TR's last great cause--the campaign to force Woodrow Wilson to take the United States into World War I and to prosecute the war with vigor once we were in it.
This is also a critical book--Roosevelt is portrayed in full dimension--as a high-minded statesman and as an ambitious politician, as a noble patriot and a flaming chauvinist, as a scientific minded intellectual and a glorifier of war, as an advance agent of reform and a sometimes partisan critic of reformers.
And it is an interesting book. The author treats not only of TR's political battles, epochal causes, and remarkably constructive achievements, but also of his private life and inner tensions--his love for Alice Lee and Edith Carow, his affection for his father, his early dependence on religion, his relations with Elihu Root, Ray Stannard Baker, Robert La Follette, Oliver Wendell Holmes, and many other notable men, and with his personal tragedies, first as a young husband and then as a mature father.
It is a many-faceted book as TR was a many-faceted man. Mr. Harbaugh writes with energy and understanding to make this unusually complete picture of a man's character and deeds.
He tells how TR, following his return from Africa in 1910, fretted for a year and a half over the ineffectiveness of his chosen successor before submitting to his overwhelming urge to be President again. And he reveals how TR, having lost his bid for he Republican nomination in 1912, found himself in an insoluble ideological and political dilemma.
In three final chapters based on hereto unused sources, the author relates the dramatic story of TR's last great cause--the campaign to force Woodrow Wilson to take the United States into World War I and to prosecute the war with vigor once we were in it.
This is also a critical book--Roosevelt is portrayed in full dimension--as a high-minded statesman and as an ambitious politician, as a noble patriot and a flaming chauvinist, as a scientific minded intellectual and a glorifier of war, as an advance agent of reform and a sometimes partisan critic of reformers.
And it is an interesting book. The author treats not only of TR's political battles, epochal causes, and remarkably constructive achievements, but also of his private life and inner tensions--his love for Alice Lee and Edith Carow, his affection for his father, his early dependence on religion, his relations with Elihu Root, Ray Stannard Baker, Robert La Follette, Oliver Wendell Holmes, and many other notable men, and with his personal tragedies, first as a young husband and then as a mature father.
It is a many-faceted book as TR was a many-faceted man. Mr. Harbaugh writes with energy and understanding to make this unusually complete picture of a man's character and deeds.
540 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1961
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306 people want to read
About the author
William Henry Harbaugh
4 books1 followerWilliam Henry Harbaugh received his A.B. degree at the University of Alabama, his A.M. at Columbia University, and his Ph.D. at Northwestern University. A veteran of World War II, he taught at the University of Maryland, the University of Connecticut, and the University of Virginia. His biography of John W. Davis was a finalist for the National Book Award for Biography and a runner-up for a Pulitzer Prize.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 28, 2015
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“Power and Responsibility: The Life and Times of Theodore Roosevelt” is William Harbaugh’s 1961 biography of the twenty-sixth president. For at least three decades it was considered the single best biography of Roosevelt, and it remains a favorite of many historians. Harbaugh was an avid scholar of TR and a professor for several decades. He died in 2005 at the age of eight-five.
The reason for this biography’s sterling reputation is quickly clear. It is sober, thoughtful, penetrating and often quite interesting. And while it serves to rehabilitate TR’s legacy (which was mixed in the decades after his death) contemporary readers will find it uniquely balanced in its coverage.
Enhancing its early sense of balance, Harbaugh is rarely shy about noting the perspectives of earlier biographers – including Henry Pringle (who was notoriously critical of TR) and John Blum (who authored a brief but exquisitely insightful study of Roosevelt). These references sometimes underscore a point Harbaugh is making, but equally often serve to highlight a difference in opinion.
Among Harbaugh’s key strengths is his ability to observe, analyze and astutely describe characters to the reader. Not only is Roosevelt himself insightfully examined, but key figures of his era are also incredibly well-conveyed. Almost unique among biographers, Harbaugh is able to perfectly capture a person’s essence in a few decisively penetrating sentences – giving the reader a sense he could well be a former FBI profiler or forensic psychologist.
While most of the book was praiseworthy in one way or another, the best chapters were those on the coal strike of 1902, Roosevelt’s perspective on foreign affairs and diplomacy and his efforts to initiate construction of the Panama Canal.
But while comprehensive in scope, much of Roosevelt’s life is covered too quickly – or hardly covered at all. Theodore’s interesting and formative early years are reviewed so expeditiously that he is already a New York State Assemblyman by the book’s twenty-fourth page.
And the next decade-plus of his life (including his time in the Dakotas, as a Civil Service Commissioner and as a NYC Police Commissioner) is covered with only slightly less efficiency. Consequently, the reader also misses much of his early adulthood – a time when his character was evolving, and maturing, rapidly.
Other fascinating periods of Roosevelt’s life also receive just brief examination: his campaign for mayor of New York, the circumstances surrounding his second marriage, his post-presidential African safari and his seminal South American adventure. Most critically, there is never much focus on his family or personal relationships.
But Harbaugh does not set out to provide a dramatic, day-to-day account of every element of Roosevelt’s life; that is left to future biographers. Instead, he is focused on providing a careful, serious and thoughtful review of the most important aspects of TR’s public career. There is, to be sure, an intriguing mix of drama and suspense in this biography – but principally in the sphere of politics and not in Roosevelt’s personal life.
Overall, William Harbaugh’s biography of Theodore Roosevelt is an excellent early examination of this fascinating president. It covers the most important elements of his career with great skill and care but moves quickly past the periods which provide the most texture and the richest hues. For most readers, Harbaugh’s biography will make a better second biography of Roosevelt than first – but it is abundantly clear why this was the standard TR biography for decades.
Overall rating: 4 stars
“Power and Responsibility: The Life and Times of Theodore Roosevelt” is William Harbaugh’s 1961 biography of the twenty-sixth president. For at least three decades it was considered the single best biography of Roosevelt, and it remains a favorite of many historians. Harbaugh was an avid scholar of TR and a professor for several decades. He died in 2005 at the age of eight-five.
The reason for this biography’s sterling reputation is quickly clear. It is sober, thoughtful, penetrating and often quite interesting. And while it serves to rehabilitate TR’s legacy (which was mixed in the decades after his death) contemporary readers will find it uniquely balanced in its coverage.
Enhancing its early sense of balance, Harbaugh is rarely shy about noting the perspectives of earlier biographers – including Henry Pringle (who was notoriously critical of TR) and John Blum (who authored a brief but exquisitely insightful study of Roosevelt). These references sometimes underscore a point Harbaugh is making, but equally often serve to highlight a difference in opinion.
Among Harbaugh’s key strengths is his ability to observe, analyze and astutely describe characters to the reader. Not only is Roosevelt himself insightfully examined, but key figures of his era are also incredibly well-conveyed. Almost unique among biographers, Harbaugh is able to perfectly capture a person’s essence in a few decisively penetrating sentences – giving the reader a sense he could well be a former FBI profiler or forensic psychologist.
While most of the book was praiseworthy in one way or another, the best chapters were those on the coal strike of 1902, Roosevelt’s perspective on foreign affairs and diplomacy and his efforts to initiate construction of the Panama Canal.
But while comprehensive in scope, much of Roosevelt’s life is covered too quickly – or hardly covered at all. Theodore’s interesting and formative early years are reviewed so expeditiously that he is already a New York State Assemblyman by the book’s twenty-fourth page.
And the next decade-plus of his life (including his time in the Dakotas, as a Civil Service Commissioner and as a NYC Police Commissioner) is covered with only slightly less efficiency. Consequently, the reader also misses much of his early adulthood – a time when his character was evolving, and maturing, rapidly.
Other fascinating periods of Roosevelt’s life also receive just brief examination: his campaign for mayor of New York, the circumstances surrounding his second marriage, his post-presidential African safari and his seminal South American adventure. Most critically, there is never much focus on his family or personal relationships.
But Harbaugh does not set out to provide a dramatic, day-to-day account of every element of Roosevelt’s life; that is left to future biographers. Instead, he is focused on providing a careful, serious and thoughtful review of the most important aspects of TR’s public career. There is, to be sure, an intriguing mix of drama and suspense in this biography – but principally in the sphere of politics and not in Roosevelt’s personal life.
Overall, William Harbaugh’s biography of Theodore Roosevelt is an excellent early examination of this fascinating president. It covers the most important elements of his career with great skill and care but moves quickly past the periods which provide the most texture and the richest hues. For most readers, Harbaugh’s biography will make a better second biography of Roosevelt than first – but it is abundantly clear why this was the standard TR biography for decades.
Overall rating: 4 stars
April 28, 2025
I forewent a few days of studying for finals to finish this book and am really glad I was able to before April ended. Theodore Roosevelt is one of the most unique characters in American History and this book encapsulates a lot of that through a political lens. Harbaugh wrote this book in 1975 so the language is 50 years old and a man of his academia is bound to have some difficult chapters, and there were, but overall, he kept it readable and I enjoyed learning new words and concepts throughout this book, readability 7.5/10. This book had me very engaged in the latter half of the book, but the first half was a bit slow for me. Although Harbaugh covered a lot I feel as if he really dug deep into certain aspects of Roosevelt’s life that caused the chapters to drag a bit and be hard to follow. The 2nd half, when he covered Roosevelt’s presidency, the passing of the torch, and his reemergence was fabulous, and really had me speeding through pages, 7.75/10. For depth, I knew going into this that I would be left unsatisfied with Roosevelt, and I would say that I am on his personal life and adventures, but feel that I got a heavy helping of his political life. Harbaugh really dug deep into every single political move that TR made and it was evident. Although, I would’ve loved to read more about his adventures and his relationship with his family, that will have to be fulfilled with another book, 8.5/10. Overall, this is definitely a book that will stand out in this journey and it is partially due to the writing but mainly due to its subject. Harbaugh had a very analytical view of Roosevelt which was very interesting to read, but doesn’t stand out as the best in any capacity in this series. Overall Rating: 8/10. Well, Theodore Roosevelt. I mean, what an absolute mystery of a man. There is so much I want to understand and comprehend about him that I just can’t. He is truly the greatest reformer president up until the 30s probably, and he had one of the most exciting lives out of anyone I’ve read about. He fought in the Spanish-American War, he was Governor, Vice President, President for almost 2 terms, and then a 3rd party candidate. There are so many aspects of his career that I am missing too. He was a made that paved the way for a lot of changes in American and our nation should be forever grateful, 9.25/10. I’m not going to list out all of his accomplishments but please look them up. For greatness, I mean, I’m not sure anyone compares. Just pure grit and determination, TR is on a whole different planet and it’s hard to understand where it came from. Again, there is so much that I want to write, but I’ll just say that his zeal for life and his passion for what he did is truly inspiring, 9.25/10. Crazy that I was reading about WWI in this book, just wild to see how far we’ve come. This book seems like a page to a completely new era of American history that I can’t wait for. Like I said, Theodore Roosevelt is someone I will 100% be coming back to. Till Next Time Bull Moose.
June 17, 2018
A series of adventures from start to finish, William Harbaugh's work is a thorough, detailed look at the life of the 26th president. What David McCullough calls, "much the best one-volume biography of TR," it sadly seems to rush through the story of a man whose every decade of life could be its own book. I missed the absent photographs in this edition, that I've come to expect in presidential biographies, as they help enormously in revealing the whole story. I also missed periods, as this is reprinted from a previous edition, and the copying left a lot to be desired. As for the work itself, I was distracted at times by the author's excessive use of "salutary," as well as the President's constant use of "peculiar" in his speeches and writings, but really I encountered nothing detrimental. A great read, but I want more TR, and I'm hoping McCullough will follow his Mornings on Horseback with another on the Colonel.
December 24, 2023
A non-biased in-depth look at a popular and for good reason game-changing president of the United States.
His uncontrolled ego may have cost him some followers in his later years but they were much needed to end the deadly poison that was the guilded age. He needed his ego and his personality for fighting to fight back against his own party and business to break the big trust and businesses. To make the government work for the people instead of the people working for the government.
TR is easily top 5 presidents of all time. The only reason I wouldn't put him at the very top would be his foreign policy. I believe his Nobel Peace prize for ending the Russo-Japaneese war has been over exchagerated. The Japaneese should have gotten more for their win but TR talked Japan out of this and kept Czar Nicholas in power longer thus setting up the communist take over.
He also boxed himself in as well with Japan with the China Open Door policy which other presidents would continue. This would eventually lead to WWII and the current state of China.
The dollar diplomacy was awful for South America and other countries and put US on a low moral ground.
Also, it's crazy to think just how much this man had influenced the country when majority of his policies from the 1912 election were implemented by the opposing party. Not to mention his attack on the courts to stop ruling from a pure business perspective.
A+ president
5/5 star book. There are so many books out there about certain times during TRs life but the author does a great job trying to sum up all of this into a 1 volume. Sure some details could of been expanded but there are books that cover that detail if needed.
His uncontrolled ego may have cost him some followers in his later years but they were much needed to end the deadly poison that was the guilded age. He needed his ego and his personality for fighting to fight back against his own party and business to break the big trust and businesses. To make the government work for the people instead of the people working for the government.
TR is easily top 5 presidents of all time. The only reason I wouldn't put him at the very top would be his foreign policy. I believe his Nobel Peace prize for ending the Russo-Japaneese war has been over exchagerated. The Japaneese should have gotten more for their win but TR talked Japan out of this and kept Czar Nicholas in power longer thus setting up the communist take over.
He also boxed himself in as well with Japan with the China Open Door policy which other presidents would continue. This would eventually lead to WWII and the current state of China.
The dollar diplomacy was awful for South America and other countries and put US on a low moral ground.
Also, it's crazy to think just how much this man had influenced the country when majority of his policies from the 1912 election were implemented by the opposing party. Not to mention his attack on the courts to stop ruling from a pure business perspective.
A+ president
5/5 star book. There are so many books out there about certain times during TRs life but the author does a great job trying to sum up all of this into a 1 volume. Sure some details could of been expanded but there are books that cover that detail if needed.
May 19, 2012
Old becomes new again, politically etc. (Outrage over political corruption etc). Tough thinker and a pivotal person for the time.
July 23, 2021
TR is a really complicated person as is his legacy and this book by William Henry Harbaugh does a wonderful job in presenting him in all his complicated glory. There is a lot to love about Roosevelt regardless of where you happen to fall on the political spectrum. More conservative people will like his pro-Americanism and commitment to rule of order in the vein of Burke. People on the left will like his emphasis on labor and the breaking up of powerful capitalist interests. Both can appreciate his witticisms and commitment to the environment. He also just has a larger than life personality that transcends time. It still speaks to his power that he is one of the most loved president's in America today despite the fact that perhaps a handful of people who were contemporary with him are still alive (but of course they would have just been toddlers at the time.)
All the defining and memorable things of Roosevelt's life and legacy are given space in this book. From San Juan Hill, to the Amazon, to his presidency were discussed at length. Although to me it still felt like it wasn't enough. This probably has just more do to with Roosevelt and his very full life than any deficiency on Harbaugh's part. I especially liked the time that was given to Roosevelt's relationship with his vice president and successor Taft. The note at the end of the book about Taft silently standing over Roosevelt's grave was described quite movingly. It is really interesting and it made me want to follow up and read Doris Kearns Goodwin's book that discusses that relationship more in depth.
Harbaugh's writing is precise and flows well. The only negative thing I can offer is that the language is somewhat erudite and dated so it isn't the most accessible to modern day audiences. This was a great single volume read on Roosevelt's life and I think it just might be the tip of the TR iceberg for me as Edmund Morris' three volume biography is on my to-read list.
All the defining and memorable things of Roosevelt's life and legacy are given space in this book. From San Juan Hill, to the Amazon, to his presidency were discussed at length. Although to me it still felt like it wasn't enough. This probably has just more do to with Roosevelt and his very full life than any deficiency on Harbaugh's part. I especially liked the time that was given to Roosevelt's relationship with his vice president and successor Taft. The note at the end of the book about Taft silently standing over Roosevelt's grave was described quite movingly. It is really interesting and it made me want to follow up and read Doris Kearns Goodwin's book that discusses that relationship more in depth.
Harbaugh's writing is precise and flows well. The only negative thing I can offer is that the language is somewhat erudite and dated so it isn't the most accessible to modern day audiences. This was a great single volume read on Roosevelt's life and I think it just might be the tip of the TR iceberg for me as Edmund Morris' three volume biography is on my to-read list.
July 14, 2020
This book provided an interesting picture and analysis of his presidency. However, it did not provide much personal information or facts on his early life. Fortunately, I had already read Mornings on Horseback, so that provided what I missed. Still, it was a good one-volume bio on TR.
October 2, 2024
This is supposed to be one of the better biographies of TR. While it certainly covers all the events, the bias of the author rings through clearly compromising it to some degree.
December 12, 2015
This was a long slog of a read, but it is a very comprehensive view of Roosevelt's life in a single volume (as David McCullough mentions in Mornings on Horseback. In general, Harbaugh does a good job of remaining passionate and positive about his subject, without failing to point out his flaws.
The book does flounder a bit after Roosevelt's presidency -- jumping back and forth a bit and assuming too solid of a foundation (for me) in the events of the times.
This was my favorite bit:
The book does flounder a bit after Roosevelt's presidency -- jumping back and forth a bit and assuming too solid of a foundation (for me) in the events of the times.
This was my favorite bit:
For two hours the President argued with Morgan’s emissaries, who kept an open line to the financier and the uncompromising Baer in New York. The operators were anxious to settle — they had undoubtedly learned that drastic action was in the offing — and they were willing to accept a Catholic prelate, even a liberal one. But they would not agree to the naming of a labor leader, for they continued to regard union recognition as the pre-eminent issue.
Such, then, was the state of affairs when the President suddenly conceived a solution. He would appoint a union man to the sociologist’s post, but would call him a sociologist. “I at last grasped the fact,” Roosevelt explained to Lodge, “that the mighty brains of these captains of industry had formulated the theory that they would rather have anarchy than tweedledum, but if I would use the word tweedledee they would hail it as meaning peace.”
February 25, 2019
Somehow found a way to make TR seem boring.
Want to read
December 27, 2016At 285 WPM the estimated time to read is 8.04 hours
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews