Final Answer:
Theodore Roosevelt clashed with the powerful businessmen
c) Roosevelt opposed monopolies and sought to protect the public interest.
Step-by-step explanation:
Unlike most politicians of his time, Theodore Roosevelt clashed with powerful businessmen because he opposed monopolies and sought to protect the public interest. Option (c) accurately reflects Roosevelt's stance during his presidency. Roosevelt was a proponent of trust-busting and antitrust legislation to curb the power of monopolistic corporations and ensure fair competition.
Roosevelt's approach, often referred to as the "Square Deal," aimed to strike a balance between the interests of big business, the government, and the public. He believed that breaking up monopolies and regulating business practices were necessary to prevent abuses of power and promote a more equitable society.