“Not really.”
Sure he was. His studies at Harvard were focused on America’s role as a sea power and resulted in a book he authored at 24. His writing influenced the great Admiral Alfred Thayer Mahan who went on to write the seminal Influence of Sea Power Upon History.
TR became Asst Sec of the Navy under McKinley and resigned to lead the Rough Riders in the Spanish American War. The most bitter fighting of the Philippine-American War and the resulting occupation occurred during his Presidency. He’s the father of the modern Navy, building the Great White Fleet to establish America as a major sea power. He built the Panama Canal so that the Navy could cover both oceans. He was the first President who saw America having a major role in world affairs. Wilson’s decision to enter WWI had its roots in TR’s administration.
But I do agree with you that TR was a progressive, something that the ridiculous Glenn Beck hasn’t discovered. “Trust busting” was a major project of Teddy’s administration. Agencies like the Food and Drug Administration were created by him. The national government began intervening in business, trade, and consumer safety.
And of course in 1912 he ran for President under the Bull Moose Party, the actual name of which was the Progressive Party, which Teddy Roosevelt founded.
TR was a visionary on foriegn relations. Although I dont disagree with you that he tended to walk softly and carry a big stick, he saw that the US needed to get into foreign relations in the modern age.
As you know, in the Philippines, we fought a particular group of religious zealots during and after his term in office. We were largely sucessful after they sent the right commander to do the fight.
But, TR was a progressive, and although I do not think Trump is a progressive in that respect, I beleive Trump is a mix of Jackson and TR. A type of nationalist. I favor a nationalist at this stage in this countries history. Hopefully, he will follow TR and bust up the cabals. If he survives, which I do not believe he will if elected. JFK signed the EO to print treasury notes to break the FED and very soon after, he was killed.
JFK was a fiscal conservative, Ronald Reagn basically the same, both were shot.