6. Sept. 24, 1905-Jan. 2, 1907: Progressive President

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President Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) was a prolific writer of books, articles, and especially letters, and received as much mail as he sent. His correspondents ranged from heads of states to average Americans, and covered a wide range of topics. Discover what Roosevelt and his correspondents had to say about the issues of their day. 

In 1906, Roosevelt moved forward with a progressive political agenda. He sought to curb the excesses of industries he considered as not operating in the public interest through legislation such as the Hepburn Act regulating railroad rates, and the Pure Food and Drug Act prohibiting the mislabeling and adulteration of these products. In February, his daughter Alice married Congressman Nicholas Longworth in an elaborate White House ceremony. At the end of the year, T. R. traveled to Panama to see the canal under construction, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for mediating the end of the Russo-Japanese War, and lost support among African Americans for ordering the discharge without honor of 167 Black soldiers in the 25th Infantry Regiment supposedly involved in a racially-charged incident in Brownsville, Texas.