As mentioned in last week's Decade by Decade--1900-1909, Theodore Roosevelt was the only president born in New York City. Roosevelt was also the youngest person (42) ever to enter the office, and the speed of his rise to power was astonishing. He published a respected history of the War of 1812 shortly after graduating Harvard and was elected to the New York State legislature. By the age of 30, he had retired from politics, moved out to the Dakota territory, failed in the cattle business and returned to New York where he built Sagamore Hill in Oyster Bay.
In 1889, he was appointed to the United States Civil Service Commission where he worked for six years. By the end of the next six years, he would be leading the country:
1895-1897--Roosevelt serves as president of the board of New York City Police Commissioners.
1897--Roosevelt is appointed Assistant Secretary of the Navy.
1898--Roosevelt leads the Rough Riders in Cuba during the Spanish American War.
1899--Roosevelt is sworn in as the governor of New York State.
1900--Roosevelt is elected vice president on McKinley's ticket.
1901--After McKinley's assassination in October, Roosevelt becomes president.
Comments