Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt Character Analysis

Teddy Roosevelt was the 26th president of the United States, serving from 1901 to 1909. Carnegie uses Roosevelt in several case studies: first, he points out that Teddy Roosevelt knew all the White House servants by name, and whenever a guest was visiting the White House, he would make an effort to read up on the subjects that interested that person. As a result, he was well-loved by the staff and impressed those he met, illustrating Carnegie’s principles that using people’s names and talking in terms of other people’s interests are keys to winning them over. However, Carnegie is also critical of Roosevelt’s decision to condemn President Taft’s conservatism. Taft didn’t change his ideals, and this clash only led to a split within the Republican Party, demonstrating the futility of Roosevelt’s criticism.