Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Opens
On July 4, the iconic Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library was inaugurated, boasting a hefty price tag of $450 million. An exhibit includes a letter from President Roosevelt, which reflects his controversial views on society and reproduction.
In a personal note to Charles Davenport from Cold Spring Harbor, Roosevelt expressed a metaphor likening society to livestock. He argued that “society need not permit degenerates to reproduce their kind,” suggesting a clear disdain for certain individuals. Furthermore, he pushed back against the idea of applying agricultural knowledge to human beings, calling it “insanity.”
He also mentioned that farmers who continue breeding from inferior stock could face severe consequences, implying that society had a duty to control which types of people should propagate.
Roosevelt emphasized that every responsible citizen must contribute positively, stating, “the inescapable duty of every good citizen of the right type is to leave his blood upon the world.” His intention was to prevent “the wrong type of people from perpetuating.” This notion paints him as a figure who believed in categorizing individuals based on perceived societal value.
A commentator noted that Roosevelt saw issues through the lens of collective categories rather than individual merits, reflecting a broader progressive ideology. “This was the cutting edge of scientific thought at the time,” he says, indicating that Roosevelt placed faith in experts and the government to make the right decisions based on their knowledge. In this way, he embodies a certain strain of progressivism.
While Roosevelt is often celebrated for his achievements in conservation, such as establishing national parks, he was also seen as a bold personality who engaged deeply with literature and public life. His resilience was evident when he delivered a speech despite being shot, and he managed to secure vast tracts of land for preservation.
Believing in a regulatory role for property within a community context, Roosevelt viewed government officials as “custodians of the public welfare.” In the “Charter of Democracy,” he argued for a system where citizens could vote to overturn judicial decisions deemed regressive, suggesting he had a somewhat radical approach to governance—an idea not aligned with constitutional norms, as one observer pointed out.
Ultimately, Roosevelt’s legacy is seen as complex. While he was not regarded as malevolent like his contemporary Woodrow Wilson, he may not have fully grasped the consequences of his ideas. The library opened is sure to kindle discussions about his views and how they resonate today.
