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Lion in the White House: A Life of Theodore Roosevelt
New York State Assemblyman, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Governor of New York, Vice President and, at forty-two, the youngest President ever—in his own words, Theodore Roosevelt “rose like a rocket.” He was also a cowboy, a soldier, a historian, an intrepid explorer, and an unsurpassed environmentalist. In Lion in the White House, historian Aida Donald masterfully chronicles the life of this first modern president.TR’s accomplishments in office were immense. As President, Roosevelt redesigned the office of Chief Executive and the workings of the Republican Party to meet the challenges of the new industrial economy. Believing that the emerging aristocracy of wealth represented a genuine threat to democracy, TR broke trusts to curb the rapacity of big business. He built the Panama Canal and engaged the country in world affairs, putting a temporary end to American isolationism. And he won the Nobel Peace Prize—the only sitting president ever so honored.
Throughout his public career, TR fought valiantly to steer the GOP back to its noblest ideals as embodied by Abraham Lincoln. Alas, his hopes for his party were quashed by the GOP’s strong rightward turn in the years after he left office. But his vision for America lives on.
In lapidary prose, this concise biography recounts the courageous life of one of the greatest leaders our nation has ever known.
Throughout his public career, TR fought valiantly to steer the GOP back to its noblest ideals as embodied by Abraham Lincoln. Alas, his hopes for his party were quashed by the GOP’s strong rightward turn in the years after he left office. But his vision for America lives on.
In lapidary prose, this concise biography recounts the courageous life of one of the greatest leaders our nation has ever known.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
94 people are currently reading
1113 people want to read
About the author
Aida D. Donald
2 books3 followersDr. Aida DiPace Donald, married to the two times Pulitzer Prize winner, American Historian David Herbert Donald.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 258 reviews
October 23, 2011
Theodore Roosevelt was an original American Badass. He was an accomplished naturalist, historian, and author, but he was also a cowboy, explorer, and soldier. He won both the Medal of Honor for military valor AND the Nobel Peace Prize for almost single-handedly ending a war-- a completely absurd (and almost certainly never to be repeated again) combination. At one point, he was shot in the chest by a would-be assassin right before giving a speech, but he just went ahead and gave the speech anyway and didn't bother checking into the hospital until afterward. (I have also heard a rumor that one time he traveled forward through time and kicked Chuck Norris's ass just for fun, but this has not been substantiated.)
Oh yeah, he was a decent president too. Roosevelt devoted his time in office to castrating major corporations, improving the conditions and rights of laborers, increasing income and inheritance taxes on the rich, putting huge chunks of wilderness under federal oversight/protection, phasing out nepotism in government in favor of meritocracy, and various other progressive endeavors like that because he considered these to be fundamental and guiding values of the Republican Party. (Perform double-take here.) Despite his aristocratic background, he was far and away the closest thing this country has ever had to a socialist president (especially when one considers the era in which he lived)... and yet he's on Mount Rushmore. Zounds.
So yeah, Theodore Roosevelt was a pretty awesome dude. However, this is a not-very-awesome book about him. The author presents Roosevelt's life and accomplishments in extreme fast-forward, with no logical transitions between many of the events and themes, doubling back unexpectedly on some (frequently she does not seem to realize that she covered the same topic earlier) and leaving gaping holes in others. And rather than discussing her subject in the balanced fashion that is appropriate to a biography of such an influential historical figure, the author enthuses about Roosevelt in uncomfortably purple prose, strewing embarrassing adjectives such as "glorious," "heroic," "unmatched," and worse with reckless abandon while devoting only the occasional afterthought (i.e., no actual discussion) to the less laudable aspects of his persona (for example, his my-way-or-the-highway attitude toward political compromise, his abusiveness toward his enemies, and his bloodlust toward megafauna) that contributed just as much to the sum total of the man. The book's bias is evident not only in the author's prose; lengthy passages of many chapters consist primarily of letters from Roosevelt to his friends or vice versa that discuss his accomplishments-- not exactly objective reportage, especially considering Roosevelt's arrogance and incapacity/unwillingness for introspection. The one-sidedness of the evidence presented is of particular concern given that the author rarely makes arguments of her own or performs any analysis; she merely parrots what Roosevelt or his friends themselves said. When she does bother to put forth an argument or attempt to put a particular accomplishment into context, this often consists of no more than a single sentence. All things considered, the author's historical method and prose style are comparable to those of an intelligent but intellectual lazy and overexcitable college junior-- indeed, this read a lot like a number of term papers I wrote for my college history classes; it just happens to have been expanded to book length (and has much better cover art, I'll admit).
The point being, a litany of accomplishments puffed up with quotes from the subject himself or his friends, presented within a framework of "ain't it cool?" authorial prose but no actual analysis, does not constitute actual historical/biographical substance, and thus this book is really only appropriate as a very crude introduction to Roosevelt. I'm tempted to give it two stars, because books like this do serve a valuable role in presenting important historical figures' lives in a shorter, more easily digested, and thus more approachable format than your David McCulloughs, Doris Kearns Goodwins, etc., and most of what I know about Roosevelt beyond the historical caricature of him, I will admit that I did learn from this book. However, the second star would only for the book's function, which is a quality not of the book, but rather of its genre. And the book, considered on its own merits, is really poor.
Oh yeah, he was a decent president too. Roosevelt devoted his time in office to castrating major corporations, improving the conditions and rights of laborers, increasing income and inheritance taxes on the rich, putting huge chunks of wilderness under federal oversight/protection, phasing out nepotism in government in favor of meritocracy, and various other progressive endeavors like that because he considered these to be fundamental and guiding values of the Republican Party. (Perform double-take here.) Despite his aristocratic background, he was far and away the closest thing this country has ever had to a socialist president (especially when one considers the era in which he lived)... and yet he's on Mount Rushmore. Zounds.
So yeah, Theodore Roosevelt was a pretty awesome dude. However, this is a not-very-awesome book about him. The author presents Roosevelt's life and accomplishments in extreme fast-forward, with no logical transitions between many of the events and themes, doubling back unexpectedly on some (frequently she does not seem to realize that she covered the same topic earlier) and leaving gaping holes in others. And rather than discussing her subject in the balanced fashion that is appropriate to a biography of such an influential historical figure, the author enthuses about Roosevelt in uncomfortably purple prose, strewing embarrassing adjectives such as "glorious," "heroic," "unmatched," and worse with reckless abandon while devoting only the occasional afterthought (i.e., no actual discussion) to the less laudable aspects of his persona (for example, his my-way-or-the-highway attitude toward political compromise, his abusiveness toward his enemies, and his bloodlust toward megafauna) that contributed just as much to the sum total of the man. The book's bias is evident not only in the author's prose; lengthy passages of many chapters consist primarily of letters from Roosevelt to his friends or vice versa that discuss his accomplishments-- not exactly objective reportage, especially considering Roosevelt's arrogance and incapacity/unwillingness for introspection. The one-sidedness of the evidence presented is of particular concern given that the author rarely makes arguments of her own or performs any analysis; she merely parrots what Roosevelt or his friends themselves said. When she does bother to put forth an argument or attempt to put a particular accomplishment into context, this often consists of no more than a single sentence. All things considered, the author's historical method and prose style are comparable to those of an intelligent but intellectual lazy and overexcitable college junior-- indeed, this read a lot like a number of term papers I wrote for my college history classes; it just happens to have been expanded to book length (and has much better cover art, I'll admit).
The point being, a litany of accomplishments puffed up with quotes from the subject himself or his friends, presented within a framework of "ain't it cool?" authorial prose but no actual analysis, does not constitute actual historical/biographical substance, and thus this book is really only appropriate as a very crude introduction to Roosevelt. I'm tempted to give it two stars, because books like this do serve a valuable role in presenting important historical figures' lives in a shorter, more easily digested, and thus more approachable format than your David McCulloughs, Doris Kearns Goodwins, etc., and most of what I know about Roosevelt beyond the historical caricature of him, I will admit that I did learn from this book. However, the second star would only for the book's function, which is a quality not of the book, but rather of its genre. And the book, considered on its own merits, is really poor.
August 26, 2018
If you are looking for a short book that covers the basics, this one would suffice. Unfortunately, I felt it lacking in a number of ways. First, the author had to sacrifice a lot of detail to pack his life into such a short book. There is a reason the best bios of the man either fill multiple volumes or approach a 1000 pages in length. TR had an outsized personality and lived an extraordinary life…cramming it in to fewer than 300 pages just felt rushed. Second, I would not consider this a scholarly or objective account of his life by any stretch. The author’s political biases shine though from the very first pages as she casts TR as one of only two “good” Republicans (the other being Lincoln). For such a short book, she devotes a significant number of pages to secondary subjects, for example his attitude and treatment of African Americans. This is a subject worthy of inclusion and lengthy exploration in a larger book, but the amount of space she devotes to it in this short account leaves the impression that it was an issue more important to the author than it was of consequence in the life of her subject.
I don’t want to leave the impression that the book is all bad. I actually think she did a really good job portraying TR as a significant strategic thinker, ahead of his time in many ways. She does a decent job exploring his love of naval affairs, following a thread dating back to stories from his mother who had relatives who fought for the Confederacy. I also think she did a good, if compressed, job of explaining TR’s connection to and affinity for the working man and how that shaped a number of his major initiatives once in power. As I stated at the beginning, if you are looking for an intro to TR that covers all the key points, this one would check that box. Just don’t stop with this one. TR was a character that doesn’t fit neatly into modern partisan categories. Had the author not tried to cram him into a modern mold, I would have given this one 3 stars.
I don’t want to leave the impression that the book is all bad. I actually think she did a really good job portraying TR as a significant strategic thinker, ahead of his time in many ways. She does a decent job exploring his love of naval affairs, following a thread dating back to stories from his mother who had relatives who fought for the Confederacy. I also think she did a good, if compressed, job of explaining TR’s connection to and affinity for the working man and how that shaped a number of his major initiatives once in power. As I stated at the beginning, if you are looking for an intro to TR that covers all the key points, this one would check that box. Just don’t stop with this one. TR was a character that doesn’t fit neatly into modern partisan categories. Had the author not tried to cram him into a modern mold, I would have given this one 3 stars.
December 13, 2022
The author inserted their own politics into the story of Teddy Roosevelt. Championing everything with which they agreed (even then taking shots with those she disagrees). If I wanted a book on the political opinions of Aida Donald, I would have searched for it.
August 10, 2010
OK short bio of Theodore Roosevelt. Too uncritical and broad most of the time, but if you want a "basics" and not have to read Ted Morgan's massive bio (already at @1,500 pp, and only 2 of proposed 3 volumes done at this time), this will fill the bill.
She spends too much time showing how Teddy was progressive when it came to women and Af-Ams. Not a major emphasis ever in his career, so don't try and make it one!
And she never provides us w/ citations for the long quotes which open each chapter. To whom he is writing and date is very important, and would be helpful.
Pretty short - 265 pp of text, smaller format and larger print. So a lot less text than if this book had been published by a university press.
OK intro, too uncritical, too broad - but gives the basic outline of his career. Knowing what I do now, I am not sure I would have read this.
She spends too much time showing how Teddy was progressive when it came to women and Af-Ams. Not a major emphasis ever in his career, so don't try and make it one!
And she never provides us w/ citations for the long quotes which open each chapter. To whom he is writing and date is very important, and would be helpful.
Pretty short - 265 pp of text, smaller format and larger print. So a lot less text than if this book had been published by a university press.
OK intro, too uncritical, too broad - but gives the basic outline of his career. Knowing what I do now, I am not sure I would have read this.
May 22, 2010
To me, a mark of a "good read" is that it ignites your interest in a subject and makes you want to read more about it. I have just completed two books about Theodore Roosevelt -- Mornings on Horseback: The Story of an Extraordinary Family, a Vanished Way of Life & the Unique Child Who Became Theodore Roosevelt by David McCullough, and Lion in the White House: A Life of Theodore Roosevelt by Aida D. Donald.
Together these two books have so ignited my interest in this complex, bigger-than-life personality, that my next foray into T. Roosevelt Land will be the Pulitzer Prize winner of 1980 The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris, a book considered by many as one of the greatest biographies of our time.
So, do I think Lion in the White House was a good read? .... You bet! It introduced me to a fascinating individual whom I want to read more about.
Together these two books have so ignited my interest in this complex, bigger-than-life personality, that my next foray into T. Roosevelt Land will be the Pulitzer Prize winner of 1980 The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris, a book considered by many as one of the greatest biographies of our time.
So, do I think Lion in the White House was a good read? .... You bet! It introduced me to a fascinating individual whom I want to read more about.
January 25, 2008
This book was, frankly, awful. It began with the ludicrous assumption that Theodore Roosevelt's policies eventually "found their rightful place" in the other Roosevelt's statist New Deal policies. That alone would not have set me off the book, but the grammatical errors were frankly astounding. Consider this sentence: "That he wanted to be a scientist made college necessary." Just think of one of the ten ways you could rephrase that to make it better. This is a cheap money-making ripoff of better biographies such as "TR" and "Theodore Rex." I give it one star and do not recommend it to anyone.
October 14, 2019
I love Teddy but this...was a little blah.
January 23, 2025
It should not have taken me 6.25 years to read this book 😅, but it did. It may have even taken me longer now that I'm thinking about it, because I can't quite placed when I started. So I hope the start date I put down was correct when I did so.
When I first started this book Theodore Roosevelt was my favorite President of all time. As I write this today, I am confident that he is not my favorite President. He might still be within my top ten, maybe top 15, but I definitely see him differently. Two reasons lead me to this ranking decision, one from this book which is simply the fact that Roosevelt shaped the Executive office in ways that put the Constitution beneath his own views of what the Presidency meant. And two, not from this book but from Battle for the American Mind, which explains how the Progressive movement radically changed the public school system. And Theodore was the catalyst and champion of the Progressive movement. His standing in my eyes has dropped, but he's no where near being considered a terrible President. I still have many good things to say about Theodore Roosevelt and he's one of the Presidents I know the most about. I'd be glad to share my thoughts further on him if asked!
As for the 3 stars for this book. Well this book is alright, but not a good or even a great read. It's a good book if you are wanting to read a short book on Theodore Roosevelt's life, but there are certainly better books that could serve that purpose as well. For instance the American Presidents Series #26 is roughly 100 pages shorter than this one. Or you could easily find books on him that go in to much more detail such as Theodore Rex or the others of that trilogy. This book reads at what seemed to me like a middle school level, so this may be a good book for younger audiences than I.
When I first started this book Theodore Roosevelt was my favorite President of all time. As I write this today, I am confident that he is not my favorite President. He might still be within my top ten, maybe top 15, but I definitely see him differently. Two reasons lead me to this ranking decision, one from this book which is simply the fact that Roosevelt shaped the Executive office in ways that put the Constitution beneath his own views of what the Presidency meant. And two, not from this book but from Battle for the American Mind, which explains how the Progressive movement radically changed the public school system. And Theodore was the catalyst and champion of the Progressive movement. His standing in my eyes has dropped, but he's no where near being considered a terrible President. I still have many good things to say about Theodore Roosevelt and he's one of the Presidents I know the most about. I'd be glad to share my thoughts further on him if asked!
As for the 3 stars for this book. Well this book is alright, but not a good or even a great read. It's a good book if you are wanting to read a short book on Theodore Roosevelt's life, but there are certainly better books that could serve that purpose as well. For instance the American Presidents Series #26 is roughly 100 pages shorter than this one. Or you could easily find books on him that go in to much more detail such as Theodore Rex or the others of that trilogy. This book reads at what seemed to me like a middle school level, so this may be a good book for younger audiences than I.
February 13, 2024
An enjoyably short, easy biography. I was sad to see some of my favorite anecdotes skipped over, but such choices need to be made when condensing such a life. Still, it doesn't stand up to Joseph Ellis' far greater (short, easy) biography of Washington, "His Excellency." Donald's writing isn't the biased hackwork that many reviewers here seem to think it is--she admirably uses as many of Roosevelt's own words as she reasonably can--but it does tend to be flat and clunky, again not measuring up to the standard set by Ellis.
I *did* learn a few things about the great man from this book, and that's what matters here. Most important in that area is my newfound awareness of Roosevelt's many writings--he really *is* an American Churchill! I'll be dipping into his collected works shortly! :)
I *did* learn a few things about the great man from this book, and that's what matters here. Most important in that area is my newfound awareness of Roosevelt's many writings--he really *is* an American Churchill! I'll be dipping into his collected works shortly! :)
July 29, 2024
The book offers a broad overview of Roosevelt's life, from his sickly childhood to his robust adulthood and his ascent to the presidency.
However, the book falls short when it comes to delving deeply into Roosevelt's policies and actions during his time in the White House. While Donald touches on significant events and decisions, such as his efforts in conservation, the Square Deal, and his role in the Panama Canal project, these are often treated with a cursory glance rather than a detailed examination. Readers looking for an in-depth analysis of Roosevelt's presidential policies and their impacts may find this lack of detail disappointing.
Those seeking a thorough exploration of his administrative strategies and political maneuvers might need to look elsewhere. "Lion in the White House" serves as a solid introduction to Theodore Roosevelt's life and legacy, but it leaves the reader wanting to learn more about his substantial achievements while in the White House.
However, the book falls short when it comes to delving deeply into Roosevelt's policies and actions during his time in the White House. While Donald touches on significant events and decisions, such as his efforts in conservation, the Square Deal, and his role in the Panama Canal project, these are often treated with a cursory glance rather than a detailed examination. Readers looking for an in-depth analysis of Roosevelt's presidential policies and their impacts may find this lack of detail disappointing.
Those seeking a thorough exploration of his administrative strategies and political maneuvers might need to look elsewhere. "Lion in the White House" serves as a solid introduction to Theodore Roosevelt's life and legacy, but it leaves the reader wanting to learn more about his substantial achievements while in the White House.
April 3, 2019
This has been on my reading list, as well as on my bookshelf, for many years. Now I finally got around to reading it. It is a good survey book for those who may not have read much about our Progressive President. Having already read quite a bit about Theodore Roosevelt, much of the information was repetitive; however, I did learn about his educational and African gaming years. For a more in-depth study on Teddy, I suggest beginning with this introductory book and then moving on to heavier reading.
May 20, 2023
A good biography. But, it could have gone into more details. When I want a biography, I need to know just how many times he had the sniffles, who was his favorite Ninja Turtle? We’ll never know!!
The narrator did well enough bringing to life the life of a president of a lot of firsts. Such as; first president to ride in a submarine. First to ride in an airplane. First to throw secret ooze down a sewer in NY. (That last factoid, I may have mixed up with another story.)
The narrator did well enough bringing to life the life of a president of a lot of firsts. Such as; first president to ride in a submarine. First to ride in an airplane. First to throw secret ooze down a sewer in NY. (That last factoid, I may have mixed up with another story.)
August 25, 2023
Theodore Roosevelt led a very interesting life. This book wasn't interesting though, which is an accomplishment with a subject like this. Donald stated she wanted to write a short biography, and the problem with that is that it turned into an enumeration of facts and policies, without the depth of analysis that would have made them interesting. Skipping some facts and giving more attention to others would have been much better.
January 12, 2025
What can I say, it’s a biography about Theodore Roosevelt. If you’re looking for that, I’d recommend.
The author goes into just enough detail that you get a very high level view of the guys whole life without it being too long. I do think moving forward I would like to read more in-depth books about a particular event instead of a full overview. In this book specifically I would have really loved to read more about Roosevelt’s war stories, but instead just got a short overview of what happened.
The author goes into just enough detail that you get a very high level view of the guys whole life without it being too long. I do think moving forward I would like to read more in-depth books about a particular event instead of a full overview. In this book specifically I would have really loved to read more about Roosevelt’s war stories, but instead just got a short overview of what happened.
January 16, 2026
I’ve always admired Theodore Roosevelt as a person and as a president, but this book made him out to be a god who could do no wrong. It certainly served as a digestible, albeit rather partial, introduction to the life of such a colorful character in American history. But with so little scrutiny of his policies and executive actions, this felt more like a fluff-read than a presidential biography.
February 4, 2018
Great book! ...an even greater life!
February 28, 2018
A very good overview of the life of one of the most interesting men to ever hold the office of President of the United States.
January 15, 2022
An interesting book, especially for those of us who enjoy history and leadership. Worth the read!
November 12, 2020
Without wanting to read a thousand page biography right now, this book is a good starting place to learn more about Theodore Roosevelt. It's definitely biased in TR's favor, but since I'm inclined to like him and predisposed to be biased in his favor anyway, that wasn't a problem for me.
August 25, 2023
It was a good book on TR. but I felt like it was a too short of a book on the larger then life president. I enjoyed it, and I couldn’t put it down, but I know there was a lot of information that could be put in the book making it longer then a 260-300 page book.
March 18, 2024
Just a standard biography, very comprehensive though.
May 30, 2024
Teddy bear was a unit
January 11, 2012
Overall, Lion in the White House: A Life of Theodore Roosevelt, by Aida D. Donald, is a very informative, enjoyable read. Published on
October 23, 2007, this book focuses on the life and accomplishments of
Theodore Roosevelt. There are certainly many factors of this book
that make it worth reading. For one thing, Theodore Roosevelt’s life
is filled with action and adventure. He was certainly much more than
just the United States’ 26th president. He was a colonel and later a
commander of an elite cavalry regiment known as the Rough Riders, a
police officer, a New York State assemblyman, a Harvard graduate, and a
father of six. This novel highlights all of his many significant
roles in American History. Particularly his combat in the
Spanish-American War was vividly described, keeping a reader in
suspense, guessing what will happen next. Another reason why Lion in
the White House: A Life of Theodore Roosevelt is a book worth reading
is because it elaborates on details of Theodore’s life. For example,
nearly all of the main characters—his father Theodore Roosevelt
Senior, his mother Martha Bulloch Roosevelt, his three siblings Anna,
Corinne, and Elliot, his first wife Alice Hathaway Roosevelt, and his
second wife Edith Carow Roosevelt—are described in great detail,
giving the reader a very accurate and intricate idea of exactly what
Theodore’s life was like. The many details that are included in the
book also contribute to the abundance of historical events that are
mentioned in it. Things such as Roosevelt’s political feelings on certain laws and acts, and especially
the development of his political career, are described very
thoroughly, which only adds to the book's informative quality.
Trumping the detailed descriptions of this book would be the positive
factor of it that was the most special to me: the lack of repetition.
Aida D. Donald does an exceptional job with not dwelling on a specific
historical event or figure. This lack of repetition helps the book
flow much better, as overemphasizing a point can often detract from
it. In particular, the description of Roosevelt’s political career
was a good example of this. It entailed so much that writing about it could easily become repetitive. He spent a great amount of time in city politics before advancing to nationwide politics. Because of his prolonged involvement here, it would be easy to start repeating details of his early political career. However, Donald is sure to steer clear of repeating details and focuses on the main ideas of it, which made reading about it much easier and more enjoyable.
There are; however, two minor negative factors of Lion in the
White House: A Life of Theodore Roosevelt. One of these is the fact
that it is a biography, rather than a historical fiction novel, and so
the plot is simply the progression of Theodore Roosevelt’s life.
Although his action-packed life makes for an exciting plot, the book
lacks characteristics of a historical fiction novel, such as having
some fictional characters that are not bound by actual history. For
example, when fighting in the Spanish-American War, Roosevelt did
encounter some very thrilling events, but Aida D. Donald was limited
to writing what actually happened to Roosevelt because biographies
must focus on factual information; whereas in a historical fiction
novel, the author could have created fictional characters who
experience more exciting things that did not necessarily have to have
occurred to anyone in the Spanish-American War. The ability to be
creative with the plot would have contributed to Lion In The White
House: A Life Of Theodore Roosevelt. Another negative factor of this
novel is the often usage of unfamiliar vocabulary. Although new vocabulary is important to learn, Aida D. Donald uses many words that are unfamiliar, which occasionally breaks the flow of the book. Repeatedly having to stop and figure out what the word means detracted from the novel. Words such as, “posthumously,” and, “nonplused,”—words that are uncommon—in many cases halt the flow of the reader’s thoughts also, because you need to stop and think about them and the message being conveyed by Donald. Despite these negative features, I would still absolutely recommend reading this novel because of the many details that enhance descriptions, the action-filled depictions of historical events and figures, and the potential to gain a wealth of knowledge about Roosevelt that are all included in Lion in the White House: A Life of Theodore Roosevelt.Aida D. DonaldLion in the White House: A Life of Theodore Roosevelt
October 23, 2007, this book focuses on the life and accomplishments of
Theodore Roosevelt. There are certainly many factors of this book
that make it worth reading. For one thing, Theodore Roosevelt’s life
is filled with action and adventure. He was certainly much more than
just the United States’ 26th president. He was a colonel and later a
commander of an elite cavalry regiment known as the Rough Riders, a
police officer, a New York State assemblyman, a Harvard graduate, and a
father of six. This novel highlights all of his many significant
roles in American History. Particularly his combat in the
Spanish-American War was vividly described, keeping a reader in
suspense, guessing what will happen next. Another reason why Lion in
the White House: A Life of Theodore Roosevelt is a book worth reading
is because it elaborates on details of Theodore’s life. For example,
nearly all of the main characters—his father Theodore Roosevelt
Senior, his mother Martha Bulloch Roosevelt, his three siblings Anna,
Corinne, and Elliot, his first wife Alice Hathaway Roosevelt, and his
second wife Edith Carow Roosevelt—are described in great detail,
giving the reader a very accurate and intricate idea of exactly what
Theodore’s life was like. The many details that are included in the
book also contribute to the abundance of historical events that are
mentioned in it. Things such as Roosevelt’s political feelings on certain laws and acts, and especially
the development of his political career, are described very
thoroughly, which only adds to the book's informative quality.
Trumping the detailed descriptions of this book would be the positive
factor of it that was the most special to me: the lack of repetition.
Aida D. Donald does an exceptional job with not dwelling on a specific
historical event or figure. This lack of repetition helps the book
flow much better, as overemphasizing a point can often detract from
it. In particular, the description of Roosevelt’s political career
was a good example of this. It entailed so much that writing about it could easily become repetitive. He spent a great amount of time in city politics before advancing to nationwide politics. Because of his prolonged involvement here, it would be easy to start repeating details of his early political career. However, Donald is sure to steer clear of repeating details and focuses on the main ideas of it, which made reading about it much easier and more enjoyable.
There are; however, two minor negative factors of Lion in the
White House: A Life of Theodore Roosevelt. One of these is the fact
that it is a biography, rather than a historical fiction novel, and so
the plot is simply the progression of Theodore Roosevelt’s life.
Although his action-packed life makes for an exciting plot, the book
lacks characteristics of a historical fiction novel, such as having
some fictional characters that are not bound by actual history. For
example, when fighting in the Spanish-American War, Roosevelt did
encounter some very thrilling events, but Aida D. Donald was limited
to writing what actually happened to Roosevelt because biographies
must focus on factual information; whereas in a historical fiction
novel, the author could have created fictional characters who
experience more exciting things that did not necessarily have to have
occurred to anyone in the Spanish-American War. The ability to be
creative with the plot would have contributed to Lion In The White
House: A Life Of Theodore Roosevelt. Another negative factor of this
novel is the often usage of unfamiliar vocabulary. Although new vocabulary is important to learn, Aida D. Donald uses many words that are unfamiliar, which occasionally breaks the flow of the book. Repeatedly having to stop and figure out what the word means detracted from the novel. Words such as, “posthumously,” and, “nonplused,”—words that are uncommon—in many cases halt the flow of the reader’s thoughts also, because you need to stop and think about them and the message being conveyed by Donald. Despite these negative features, I would still absolutely recommend reading this novel because of the many details that enhance descriptions, the action-filled depictions of historical events and figures, and the potential to gain a wealth of knowledge about Roosevelt that are all included in Lion in the White House: A Life of Theodore Roosevelt.Aida D. DonaldLion in the White House: A Life of Theodore Roosevelt
February 16, 2021
A cursory biography, Lion In the White House: A Life of Theodore Roosevelt is an informative look at one the country’s most extraordinary presidents. Historian Aida D. Donald chronicles the life and achievements of Roosevelt from his childhood, to his raise through New York politics, to his military excursions in the Spanish-American War, to his presidency to his post-presidency shepherding the progressive movement. Donald shows some political bias in her emphasis and seeming fawning of Roosevelt’s progressive politics and treatment of racial and women’s issues (not that they weren’t important, she just seems to give them inordinate attention). And while she does an impressive job at covering all of the major events of Roosevelt’s life, she never provides a good sense of who he was as a person. Lion In the White House: A Life of Theodore Roosevelt has some weaknesses, but it proves to be a highly educational and illuminating retrospective on a truly legendary figure in American history.
July 19, 2020
If you want a basic understanding of TR, you might enjoy this biography. It is a bird’s eye view, more or less. For those who know more than, TR was POTUS and a few other notable aspects of his life, it may not be. I enjoyed the book, but it is not anything special. However, it may be just what the doctor ordered to whet one’s appetite for a closer look at this incredible and strenuous life.
January 8, 2018
T.R. was a remarkable man who lived a remarkable life. This book was mostly unremarkable, and feels “whitewashed” in its presentation. I suggest a longer, more complete biography, or a book that focuses on one period or aspect of his life.
April 26, 2019
This book was very well written. It told the story of Theodore Roosevelt from his birth and boyhood to becoming a man involved in politics, police, government, and military. The book opens the same as most biographies, starting out with the parents and the scene in which character grows up in. The book goes in to detail on how his parents different political views as well as Roosevelt's sickly demeanor but it also alludes to his future achievements by listing his early accomplishments. The book also goes into how Roosevelt upstanding character and morals prevented him from keeping jobs such as chief of police, or mayor of New York. This is because when Roosevelt rose he was living in the guilded age of America, a time known for industrialization and high corruption. His morals also let him become popular with the lower class and eventually allowed him to gain the Vice Presidency. Shortly after he was sworn in as president after the incumbent president died and under Theodore's presidency the nation went through major reforms that broke down monopolies and started nature conservationist movements.
I thought that the book was well written and did a good job at providing information about Theodore Roosevelt. It was a biography so it stuck to his point of view most of the book but it also did a good job at explaining the events that influenced Teddy. The book also provided context as to why Teddy did what he did while not diving into his thoughts or trying to write what he was thinking. Instead the book just gives the information and makes the audience think for themselves as to the motives of Teddy.
I thought that the book was well written and did a good job at providing information about Theodore Roosevelt. It was a biography so it stuck to his point of view most of the book but it also did a good job at explaining the events that influenced Teddy. The book also provided context as to why Teddy did what he did while not diving into his thoughts or trying to write what he was thinking. Instead the book just gives the information and makes the audience think for themselves as to the motives of Teddy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 25, 2017
This is a brief biography of Theodore Roosevelt focusing primarily on his years prior to becoming president, all he accomplished as president and finally how he spent his time in the few years remaining to him after leading his country and shaping into a world power.
Anyone born with a silver spoon in his mouth as Roosevelt did, would most likely enjoy life to the fullest, travel, hunt, marry well and pretty much make a jolly good time of his life.
That is in fact what Teddy did, but his sense of bon vivre was accompanied with a strong sense of noblesse oblige; that he must change the wrongs being committed against the impoverished and discriminated and in order to do that, he must arise into a position that empowered him to do so.
His first gubernatorial experience was in New York and leader of the Republican party, where he almost singlehandedly kicked out the corrupt crime bosses who were running much of the business, both private and public. As a member of the New York City Commission he radically restructured the New York police force.
This did not endear him to many and it woke up a cranky House and Senate who were well content to sit idly by and not rock a political boat that was already firmly entrenched, but Teddy was his father's child and he accomplished what his father so passionately believed in, but died too early to effect.
Later, he served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy under President McKinley. Others in office found Roosevelt troublesome and in an effort to neuter him they elected him to become McKinley's Vice President where they believed he could do no harm.
Roosevelt understood just exactly how much a Vice Presidency was worth so after campaigning for McKinley, he went out west to enjoy himself living the Cowboy fantasy.
But then McKinley was assassinated and Roosevelt found himself President.
There are a number of long reaching feats that Roosevelt accomplished. To name a few:
He developed a powerful navy that allowed the U.S. to acquisition the Philippians and picked up the mantle the French left in Panama and finished the Canal there. America became a world power under Roosevelt.
Roosevelt preserved great swaths of land from private ownership and established National Parks.
He culled racially discriminatory hiring practices. He scandalized the south by having Booker T Washington to the White House.
It's interesting that many of the causes and beliefs Roosevelt held have been made a part of the contemporary Democratic platform, at least rhetorically, but Roosevelt was a Republican.
When Woodrow Wilson became president and WWI loomed ahead, Teddy roared at Wilson's inaction. But Wilson had become president based on his pacifist platform, he wasn't about to jeopardize that. This drove Roosevelt almost insane and he considered running for president. He did not win and his health soon swallowed up any future in politics.
I wonder what turn history would have taken if Teddy Roosevelt had become president instead of Wilson during WWI?
We'll never know.
Anyone born with a silver spoon in his mouth as Roosevelt did, would most likely enjoy life to the fullest, travel, hunt, marry well and pretty much make a jolly good time of his life.
That is in fact what Teddy did, but his sense of bon vivre was accompanied with a strong sense of noblesse oblige; that he must change the wrongs being committed against the impoverished and discriminated and in order to do that, he must arise into a position that empowered him to do so.
His first gubernatorial experience was in New York and leader of the Republican party, where he almost singlehandedly kicked out the corrupt crime bosses who were running much of the business, both private and public. As a member of the New York City Commission he radically restructured the New York police force.
This did not endear him to many and it woke up a cranky House and Senate who were well content to sit idly by and not rock a political boat that was already firmly entrenched, but Teddy was his father's child and he accomplished what his father so passionately believed in, but died too early to effect.
Later, he served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy under President McKinley. Others in office found Roosevelt troublesome and in an effort to neuter him they elected him to become McKinley's Vice President where they believed he could do no harm.
Roosevelt understood just exactly how much a Vice Presidency was worth so after campaigning for McKinley, he went out west to enjoy himself living the Cowboy fantasy.
But then McKinley was assassinated and Roosevelt found himself President.
There are a number of long reaching feats that Roosevelt accomplished. To name a few:
He developed a powerful navy that allowed the U.S. to acquisition the Philippians and picked up the mantle the French left in Panama and finished the Canal there. America became a world power under Roosevelt.
Roosevelt preserved great swaths of land from private ownership and established National Parks.
He culled racially discriminatory hiring practices. He scandalized the south by having Booker T Washington to the White House.
It's interesting that many of the causes and beliefs Roosevelt held have been made a part of the contemporary Democratic platform, at least rhetorically, but Roosevelt was a Republican.
When Woodrow Wilson became president and WWI loomed ahead, Teddy roared at Wilson's inaction. But Wilson had become president based on his pacifist platform, he wasn't about to jeopardize that. This drove Roosevelt almost insane and he considered running for president. He did not win and his health soon swallowed up any future in politics.
I wonder what turn history would have taken if Teddy Roosevelt had become president instead of Wilson during WWI?
We'll never know.
March 30, 2013
Naturalist, zoologist, writer, politician, reformer, rancher, deputy sheriff, New York assemblyman, Police Commissioner of New York City, soldier, Governor of New York, Vice President of the United States, and President of the United States--he had all of these occupations in his lifetime. His name was Theodore Roosevelt, and in Aida D. Donald's book, "Lion in the White House: A Life of Theodore Roosevelt," his life is vividly presented.
The book presents interesting insights into Roosevelt's character, particularly his determination. For example, when Roosevelt was displeased with William Howard Taft's actions as President, he tried to get the Republican nomination in order to get Taft out of office. When the Republicans did not nominate Roosevelt, he formed his own political party, the Progressive Party, in an effort to do anything he could to win the Presidency from Taft. Further proof of Roosevelt's determination is that while Roosevelt was giving a speech, he was shot by a would-be assassin in the chest and refused to go to the hospital. He agreed to do so only after he finished his speech, which was almost twenty minutes after he was shot.
An appealing characteristic of the book is that the reader gets first-hand accounts from Roosevelt, as well as from those associated with him. In one of his letters to his second wife, Edith, he wrote, "There is nothing in the world--no possible success, military or political, which is worth weighing in the balance for one moment against the happiness that comes to those fortunate enough to make a real love match." What better way to show the tender side of the heroic man who led the Rough Riders to victory in the Spanish-American War? Additional primary documentation is presented in the form of political cartoons of Roosevelt. These documents are excellent primary sources that show what people of Roosevelt's time thought of him.
"Lion in the White House" is a good read for anyone interested in history, particularly American history. However, it has even broader appeal to those who simply want to learn about a most fascinating and multi-faceted individual. Aida D. Donald's "Lion in the White House" is a great tribute to Theodore Roosevelt, a man like no other.
The book presents interesting insights into Roosevelt's character, particularly his determination. For example, when Roosevelt was displeased with William Howard Taft's actions as President, he tried to get the Republican nomination in order to get Taft out of office. When the Republicans did not nominate Roosevelt, he formed his own political party, the Progressive Party, in an effort to do anything he could to win the Presidency from Taft. Further proof of Roosevelt's determination is that while Roosevelt was giving a speech, he was shot by a would-be assassin in the chest and refused to go to the hospital. He agreed to do so only after he finished his speech, which was almost twenty minutes after he was shot.
An appealing characteristic of the book is that the reader gets first-hand accounts from Roosevelt, as well as from those associated with him. In one of his letters to his second wife, Edith, he wrote, "There is nothing in the world--no possible success, military or political, which is worth weighing in the balance for one moment against the happiness that comes to those fortunate enough to make a real love match." What better way to show the tender side of the heroic man who led the Rough Riders to victory in the Spanish-American War? Additional primary documentation is presented in the form of political cartoons of Roosevelt. These documents are excellent primary sources that show what people of Roosevelt's time thought of him.
"Lion in the White House" is a good read for anyone interested in history, particularly American history. However, it has even broader appeal to those who simply want to learn about a most fascinating and multi-faceted individual. Aida D. Donald's "Lion in the White House" is a great tribute to Theodore Roosevelt, a man like no other.
January 28, 2009
Very imprssive man and president. He was multitalented: writer, environmentalist, soldier, politician at many levels including president. He built the Panama Canal and on the Nobel Peace prize.
A good biography of a great man. See a professional review below, that says it better.
New York State Assemblyman, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, New York City Police Commissioner, Governor of New York, Vice President and, at forty-two, the youngest President ever--in his own words, Theodore Roosevelt "rose like a rocket." He was also a cowboy, a soldier, a historian, an intrepid explorer, and an unsurpassed environmentalist--all in all, perhaps the most accomplished Chief Executive in our nation's history. In Lion in the White House: A Life of Theodore Roosevelt, historian Aida Donald masterfully chronicles the life of this first modern president.
TR's accomplishments in office were immense. As President, Roosevelt redesigned the office of Chief Executive and the workings of the Republican Party to meet the challenges of the new industrial economy. Believing that the emerging aristocracy of wealth represented a genuine threat to democracy, TR broke trusts to curb the rapacity of big business. He improved economic and social conditions for the average American. Roosevelt built the Panama Canal and engaged the country in world affairs, putting a temporary end to American isolationism. And he won the Nobel Peace Prize--the only sitting president ever so honored.
Throughout his public career, TR fought valiantly to steer the GOP back to its noblest ideals as embodied by Abraham Lincoln. Alas, his hopes for his party were quashed by the GOP's strong rightward turn in the years after he left office. But his vision for America lives on.
In lapidary prose, this concise biography recounts the courageous life of one of the greatest leaders our nation has ever known.
A good biography of a great man. See a professional review below, that says it better.
New York State Assemblyman, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, New York City Police Commissioner, Governor of New York, Vice President and, at forty-two, the youngest President ever--in his own words, Theodore Roosevelt "rose like a rocket." He was also a cowboy, a soldier, a historian, an intrepid explorer, and an unsurpassed environmentalist--all in all, perhaps the most accomplished Chief Executive in our nation's history. In Lion in the White House: A Life of Theodore Roosevelt, historian Aida Donald masterfully chronicles the life of this first modern president.
TR's accomplishments in office were immense. As President, Roosevelt redesigned the office of Chief Executive and the workings of the Republican Party to meet the challenges of the new industrial economy. Believing that the emerging aristocracy of wealth represented a genuine threat to democracy, TR broke trusts to curb the rapacity of big business. He improved economic and social conditions for the average American. Roosevelt built the Panama Canal and engaged the country in world affairs, putting a temporary end to American isolationism. And he won the Nobel Peace Prize--the only sitting president ever so honored.
Throughout his public career, TR fought valiantly to steer the GOP back to its noblest ideals as embodied by Abraham Lincoln. Alas, his hopes for his party were quashed by the GOP's strong rightward turn in the years after he left office. But his vision for America lives on.
In lapidary prose, this concise biography recounts the courageous life of one of the greatest leaders our nation has ever known.
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