Theodore Roosevelt's Reform Thought And The Reform Tradition In American Politics

Theodore Roosevelt, who was often remembered by Chinese public as the "bigstick" diplomat, was also a political reformer at the turn of the 20th century. From about1890 to the beginning of World War I, almost all the classes and groups in Americaactively elicited social criticism and proposed their remedies for the problems in thetransition of the agrarian America to the modern industrial America, which was calledProgressive Movement in history. Theodore Roosevelt, who had the opportunity to leadthe country at the beginning of 20th century, had been pushing Progressive reformsalmost throughout his political life, which covered the span of Progressive era. Hisstrong rhetoric to forge a more regulative and just government for the public welfare,firm belief in the basic American political ideals, and paradoxical political actionsbrought both praise and criticism. Compared with his strong personality, his reformaccomplishment was limited. From the perspective of reforming to preserve the capitalistorder of America, his reform thought was conservative. Generally he was remembered inAmerica as a Progressive president, while the nature of the reform was to preserve thefundamental institutions and values.The thesis examines the nature of Theodore Roosevelt's reform thought in the lightof the spiral cycle theory in American history of Arthur Schlesinger Sr. and SchlesingerJr., who found the American government had a tendency of shifting orientation betweenpublic purpose and private interests after a period of about 16 years. The stronger, moreregulative federal government and square-deal-for-all ideas in Theodore Roosevelt'sreform thought could be traced back to the beginning of the republic and could be seen aspart of the tide of public purpose. There is a piecemeal reform political tradition inAmerica in face of problems. This tradition is in accordance with the spiral cycle theory,through piecemeal reforms — adjusting between the public and private orientations —to make a better America. Roosevelt's reform thought and the Progressive movement heparticipated in both demonstrated this reform tradition. Such kind of reform was stable,progressive as well as conservative. Roosevelt's reform thought was typical of thistradition, which was also part of the features of American political culture.