Theodore Roosevelt

 A sickly kid with asthma debilitating, he fought his health issues as he grew up by adopting the strenuous life. Roosevelt brought his exuberant personality, as well as his wide array of achievements and interests into a "cowboy" persona characterized by a strong masculinity. Roosevelt was home-educated and pursued an extended, exhausting career as a naturalist before he attended Harvard College. His publication The Naval War of 1812 (1882) established his reputation as a learned writer and historian. Roosevelt was elected leader of the reform group of Republicans in New York's State Legislature after he entered politics. He was psychologically devastated by the death of his first wife and mother. He recovered by purchasing and running an animal ranch in the Dakotas. Roosevelt served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy under President McKinley and in 1898 helped plan the very successful war in the naval against Spain. He resigned in order to help organize and manage the Rough Riders, a unit which fought against the Spanish army in Cuba with great success and a lot of publicity. Roosevelt was an American war hero who returned to New York, was elected governor in 1898. The New York state party leadership opposed his bold agenda and was able to convince McKinley to pick Roosevelt to be his running mate for the 1900 election. Roosevelt was a fervent campaigner