Question

How did Theodore Roosevelt view the presidency and the place of the educated and wealthy?

A) He believed the presidency should have a limited role in society, and the educated and wealthy should not be involved in politics.
B) He saw the presidency as a powerful platform to enact social and economic reforms, and he welcomed the involvement of the educated and wealthy in public service.
C) He thought the presidency should be hereditary, passed down within wealthy families.
D) He considered the presidency as a ceremonial role with no real influence.

Answer 1

Theodore Roosevelt saw the presidency as an active and reformist institution that could affect social and economic change, with a role for the educated and wealthy in such public service. He used the presidency as a 'bully pulpit' and embraced the Progressive movement.

Step-by-step explanation:

Theodore Roosevelt viewed the presidency as a powerful platform to enact social and economic reforms, welcoming the involvement of the educated and wealthy in public service. While serving as president, he adopted the stance that the executive should not simply defer to Congress but act as a steward of the people, using the presidency as a 'bully pulpit' to advance his Progressive agenda, which included regulation of big business for the public interest. He actively sought the involvement of experts to regulate commerce and industry, despite his wealthy background, which caused some contemporaries to view him as a traitor to his class. Nevertheless, Roosevelt maintained relationships with business leaders and approached trust regulation with a nuanced perspective, differentiating between 'good' and 'bad' trusts.