How did Roosevelt's personality shape his presidency?
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diashreeAlthough Theodore Roosevelt was a member of the Republican Party for the majority of his life, he is best described as a Progressive. Progressives were politicians and activists who sought change in government and society. Roosevelt's zeal for reform was one of his defining political traits that lasted throughout his career. When he served in the New York State Assembly in 1882–1884, he became famous for fighting against the state's powerful political machines. As head of the U.S. Civil Service Commission and as Governor of New York, he angered many conservatives while attempting to reform the spoils system. As President, he had the ability to challenge the status quo to an even greater extent. Just several weeks after his inauguration, he began prosecuting big business under the 1890 Sherman Act, a task no one had successfully accomplished before. His first success came against Northern Securities, a railroad monopoly in the West. Once Northern Securities fell, others trusts began to topple. Roosevelt's two administrations filed forty-three lawsuits against the trusts, and Teddy quickly earned the nickname "the Great Trustbuster." He further angered conservatives with his conservation plans to save millions of acres of timberland and establish preserves to save wildlife. As the Progressive Party candidate for President in 1912, Roosevelt continued to pursue reform with his Square Deal policies. Roosevelt was a true Progressive and consistently fought for reform throughout his career.
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