“and obviously genius (sorry Glenn Beck)”
I don’t know about a genius. He certainly was smart, and his intellectual—let alone physical—prodigiousness puts most recent politicians to shame. Just think of it, between serving in various legislative and executive capacities, endlessly campaigning and promoting causes (above all, himself), taking extended hunting trips, and fighting in a war, he managed to write something like 20 books. None of the were masterpieces, but at least one, “The Winning of the West,” is occasionally still read.
Still, genius is a bit much. He is more notable as a political dynamo than a writer. I put him somewhere in the middle of your “genius” and Henry Adams’ “pure act”. He was a lot more than pure act, but definitely not as conscientious as Adams.
As for Beck, it’s not that TR’s a moron, it’s that he’s wrong. Or maybe Beck has called him a moron, I don’t know. But most importantly, he’s wrong.
My own IQ has consistently tested genius, and from my extensive reading on TR I recognize him as easily my intellectual superior (and, certainly there are many in that category - I didn't mean to imply that genius was particularly remarkable).
TR's intellectual capacity was breathtaking.
BTW, TR may have been wrong. But if so, it is because he attributed to man a greater measure of inherent decency than is actually realized in practice.