Essay: Theodore Roosevelt

Few leaders in the history of America can stand independently alongside the nation’s founding fathers. However, Theodore Roosevelt is one of those men. The “Bull Moose” stands in our minds as both a legend and a historical figure. He was a warrior, a statesman, and a President of the United States of America. President Roosevelt was the embodiment of our Nation’s goals and dreams and still stands as an example of leadership in the United States Army. In the next few pages I will demonstrate how President Roosevelt continues to represent the Army’s leadership attributes of character, presence, and intellect along with the leadership competencies of leads, develops, and achieves almost one hundred years after his death (Department of the Army, 2012). Finally, I will reflect on how President Roosevelt has impacted me as a leader, my leadership philosophy, and the legacy I hope to leave with the Army and the NCO Corps.
Attributes
To be an effective leader, one needs to inspire confidence, trust, and discipline in his subordinates and peers. Theodore Roosevelt did this through navigating the world via what are now known as the Army’s leader’s attributes of character, presence, and intellect.
Character
Few people in history have embodied and believed in the elements and endurance of character more than Theodore Roosevelt. His address to Sorbonne in 1910 continues to inspire men to strive for greater character over the generations. In the speech, he tells us that, “who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat” (Roosevelt, 1910). This passage from the speech exemplifies what it is to have a warrior’s heart and to live by the warrior’s ethos. That is never to quit or accept defeat (Department of the Army, 2012).
Another element of Theodore Roosevelt’s character was his discipline, specifically his self-discipline. He believed that “With self-discipline most anything is possible” (Roosevelt, n.d.).  He demonstrated that belief no only through his leadership but also expected he also the same self-disciple and effort from those around him, whether it was on the battlefield or in the Oval Office. A leader cannot just expect their subordinates to have discipline and respect, but they have to be a living example for them to follow and aspire to be.
Presence
Hand in hand with self-discipline and being an example comes presence. How a leader is perceived, their presence is an essential part of leadership and ties all the other attributes together. Most importantly a military leader must have both confidence in themselves and their troop while being resilient enough to handle any challenge without losing that confidence (Department of the Army, 2012).
Again, Theodore Roosevelt serves an example. Most importantly he was self-confident enough to enable those under him to lead in their own right. While still surrounding himself with outspoken experts who would not be afraid to disagree (Strock, 2003). A leader must have confidence not only in themselves but in everyone one that surrounds them.
Roosevelt believed that leaders were not born, but were formed over time by the compilation of life experiences and lessons. For him, his lessons in resilience began at a young age. He was born with asthma and poor eyesight. However, neither he nor his father allowed him to become a victim of circumstance. However, they used his adolescent frailty as a catalyst for lifelong physical fitness and an unbeatable constitution (Roosevelt, 2018).
Intellect
Intelligence is not only about being able to perform analysis, recall data, and conceptualize abstract ideas but also being able to maneuver interpersonal issues and the inevitable cultural landmine. However, intellect also has to encompass the ability for a leader to have the sound judgment to know when to walk away from the front and take a knee, which something that many leaders struggle with today (Department of the Army, 2012). However, Roosevelt knew when to step back and merely be a man and a father, not a military leader or a President. One of his best quotes about family is, “But for unflagging interest and enjoyment, a household of children, if things go reasonably well, certainly makes all other forms of success and achievement lose their importance by comparison” (Strock, 2003). Today’s military is fraught with too many divorces due to service and family separation, so a leader needs to be able to make the time for families to recharge and be together, because what is winning a war aboard to losing one at home.
Competencies
Like the attributes above, the Army prescribes three core competencies to provide purpose, direction, and motivation for both leaders and subordinates. A leader must be able to lead and develop while still achieving success effectively, or abilities and attributes are wasted (Department of the Army, 2012).
Leads
To lead one must be able to build trust, influence others, be an example, and communicate effectively. One of Roosevelt’s greatest abilities was that he was not only able to communicate through directives and correspondence, but he communicated through example and lifestyle (Strock, 2003). He set the standard for his subordinates from being the first to lead a charge in the Spanish-American War and to be being the first to say enough, go home and be with your family. He understood the nuance between dedication to one’s nation and one’s family. This ability to lead by example and communicate his ideas and directives built a bond of trust first with his Rough Riders and then with a nation.
Develops
It is not enough to lead for a day; a truly effective leader is one that will build a legacy for tomorrow. Roosevelt believed in his mission, his family, and a positive outlook for the nation. Because of his confidence and belief in America, America coalesced around him more securely than any other man outside of George Washington. He also knew the importance of selfless service, especially in military service and among leadership. In Roosevelt opinion, an army leader was expected to live among their subordinates and to be a leader among the men, never aside or above them (Strock, 2003). That being the case, he also believed to effectively develop future leaders and to foster esprit de corps amongst the unit or nation a leader should never ask for something that they have not already given up or are willing to do.