Chapter 9, Theodore Roosevelt: The Conservative as Progressive Summary and Analysis

Hofstadter characterizes American culture in the late nineteenth century as rough, individualistic and obsessed with material gain. The cultural elites had no place to go - they couldn't compete with self-made entrepreneurs and politics was considered a corrupt career path. Theodore Roosevelt entered politics to restore virtue to political office, the martial virtues in particular. Roosevelt was disgusted by commercial spirit and wanted to imbue the United States' people with a 'fighting edge'. However, he hated the mob, along with hating business interests.

Roosevelt had an unusual, unstable and obsessive personality. He was never relaxed, and was always on the move. He was obsessed with hunting, politics, oratory, and war. He wrote copiously. He believed that the Spanish-American War would produce a martial spirit in the country and give...