Primary sourceBook1913
Theodore Roosevelt: An Autobiography
Theodore Roosevelt · 1913
Roosevelt's own 1913 memoir of his life and career, including his theory of presidential power.
Roosevelt's own memoir explaining his life, career, and theory of presidential power in his words.
About this source
What it is
This is Theodore Roosevelt's autobiography, published in 1913 by The MacMillan Company. In it he tells the story of his own life, from boyhood through the presidency, in his own words.
Why it matters
The book is a primary account of how Roosevelt wanted to be remembered. It lays out his 'stewardship' theory of the presidency, the idea that a president could act for the public good even without explicit legal authority. It reveals how Roosevelt saw himself as a historian, naturalist, soldier, and reformer.
Look closer
- Why might a memoir leave out certain events, as the foreword admits?
- How does Roosevelt describe his own use of presidential power?
- What does his choice of topics tell you about what he valued most?
This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Theodore Roosevelt on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.
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