Bzzzt. TR was a shameless self-promoter and we would call him a RINO today based on his policies - universal health care and highly regulated markets to name two. For example, as much as I like pure food and drugs, the FDA (a TR creation) is unconstitutional. Would I vote for an amendment to allow one? Yep. TR set prices for railroad shipping - again unconstitutional. And so on. For a parallel, my take is that all of CFR (aka McCain-Feingold) is unconstitutional, too.
One only need read Upton Sinclair’s “The Jungle” to understand why TR might have been spurred to provide federal oversight of the nation’s food and drug supplies.
In fact Upton Sinclair lobbied TR.
Health care and bargaining for the coal miners was a god-send for improvements in qualitry of life for the miners.
Setting aside BILLIONS of acres for future generations was not only thought out carefully, but showed his vision of the future.
Teddy thought BIG as far as America. The Panama Canal was not 'Teddy's Ditch' as the yellow journalism of the day put it, it was a cognizant understanding of the strategic value of movement of ships from one ocean to the other.
Self-promoter? Teddy didn't need any self promotion. His deeds spoke for him. He will forever be the ONLY US President to be awarded the CMH for valor in battle.