(1858-1919)
"A nation’s greatness lies in its possibility of achievement in the present, and nothing helps it more than the consciousness of achievement in the past." – President Theodore Roosevelt
In 1901, Theodore Roosevelt became our nation’s youngest president, one who built a reputation as an honest broker capable of balancing the needs of workers and industry. Roosevelt recognized that labor and business thrive together and used his reputation to settle the 1902 Anthracite Coal Strike. This trailblazing work was the first time a president personally mediated between business and labor.
In 1903, Roosevelt oversaw the creation of the Department of Commerce and Labor – a predecessor to today’s Department of Labor tasked with investigating corporate practices, industrial conditions, and labor-management disputes. Its functions helped shine a light on the complexities of the modern economy, prevent abuses, and foster a climate of trust between businesses and the American public without strangling economic growth.
His legacy endures today as a president who delivered a square deal for unions, businesses, and American workers.
