“The duty of Congress is to provide a method by which the interest of the whole people shall be all that receives consideration.” — Theodore Roosevelt, 1910
An article by Chuck Collins and Sam Pizzigati at Common Dreams reminded me that one hundred years ago today Theodore Roosevelt delivered his New Nationalism speech in Osawatomie, Kansas, to an audience of Civil War veterans. Weirdly, Collins and Pizzigati do not provide a link to the speech. So here it is: “The New Nationalism,” Theodore Roosevelt.
It’s sad to realize that much of what TR said in that speech would get him branded as a far-left Marxist extremist today, including the rather mild quote at the top of this post. Indeed, this speech makes our current president look downright conservative.
I once heard someone call the “New Nationalism” speech the foundation of modern liberalism, and I have to agree. That’s not to say that TR was completely liberal by our standards today. As a man of his day, he harbored some racist and sexist views. But then, so did Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson. We are all creatures of our cultural conditioning.
But this speech lays out the broad principles of liberalism well, better than anything that came before it. And better that most stuff that came after it, for that matter. A shame nobody read this speech to the tea partiers this weekend. Many heads would have exploded.
Elsewhere — I’m a bit tired of doom and gloom, so I’m posting a couple of links to cheerful stories.
Not your ordinary horseshoe — the story of Molly the pony, with adorable pictures.
Shocker — a Christian minister who is actually, um, Christian.
Update: Yes! I knew it! Here is Glenn Beck from this past February at CPAC, calling Theodore Roosevelt a socialist. Beck pointed to this section of the New Nationalism speech —
We grudge no man a fortune in civil life if it is honorably obtained and well used. It is not even enough that it should have been gained without doing damage to the community. We should permit it to be gained only so long as the gaining represents benefit to the community. This, I know, implies a policy of a far more active governmental interference with social and economic conditions in this country than we have yet had, but I think we have got to face the fact that such an increase in governmental control is now necessary.
Dana Milbank describes what happened next:
“Is this what the Republican Party stands for?” Beck demanded. He was answered with boos and cries of “no!” “It’s big government, it’s a socialist utopia and we need to address it as if it is a cancer.”
Obama, no doubt, will be delighted to learn that he has been joined in the conservatives’ ire by the Hero of San Juan Hill.
Jonah Goldberg agreed with Beck, utterly mangling what Roosevelt was saying in the process.
TR wouldn’t get nominated, let alone elected, dogcatcher running as a Democrat in Madison, WI, San Fransico, CA, or Woodstock and New Paltz, NY. He’d be way too Liberal.
I don’t know why they need all of this eliminationist talk about Liberals and
Liberalism. It seems like we’re all dying off just fine on our own.
I still can’t for the life of me understand how fear and xenophobia beat our messages. I think we chose a really bad PR firm in the Democratic Party. I mean, how bad are they when, for the life of them, they can’t even explain how Health Care for everyone isn’t a ‘Death Panel” for Gramps and Grandma?
Assholes. Worthless assholes. Worthless, greedy assholes. Worthless, greedy, stupid assholes. I’d continue, but I’m way past repeating myself.
I saw something on the Ovation channel a few weeks ago about Andalusia. It turns out that Cordova was a major Moorish capital in Spain, and so the region has a long history of both Christian and Islamic presence. I suspect the Christian minister in question is simply reflecting the “let’s get along” attitude that’s prevalent among the general population in the area. We obviously need more of that here.
I read/skimmed/saved TR’s New Nationalism speech – thank you so much for posting it. The only thing I can say to the mean-spirited, small minded people who would spit on what TR said, is “why do you hate America?”
The ‘old’ Republicans – certainly applies to T. Roosevelt – not necessarily conservative, practiced and preached self-reliance. Through the years, probably starting with Reagan, Republicans have given themselves permission to include shitting on others to achieve their self-reliance, and that’s made them ugly.
The Republican mantra-ad-nauseam, lower (or no according to Norquist) taxes, translated, means don’t tax me, tax someone else. Even a Republican must understand that he must rely on the federal government to do for him what he can’t do for himself and that someone has to pay for it but rather than admitting same he has chosen to pass the buck to the other guy freeing him to practice his coveted self-reliance – at the other guy’s expense.
Felicity,
Whoreporate Welfare is fine!
But if people need help, they’re useless leaches sucking the goverment tits dry of the money stolen from their fellow hard working citizens.
And that money could be so much better used for Whoreporate Welfare.
Wow, that last article was in the Memphis newspaper? Awesome. (“Commercial Appeal” is a bit of a misnomer!)
It’s a truly excellent speech, and one that I can’t recall ever having read in full before.
Later restated in JFK’s inaugural address as “ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Harsh. I wonder if there are any politicians in office who would pass this test. Hell, would Roosevelt himself have passed it…? That said, the sentiment is good: the people should hold each and every politician strictly to their claims and promises.
This is in such stark contrast to the modern Republican party. Now, “healthy liberty” is regarded as power for its own sake, regardless of whether it was earned honestly or fairly.
The destruction of privilege is now considered to be an infringement on dedicated, even sacred, property rights. Expanding opportunity is “socialism”.
Changing regulations? Enforcing regulations? Why, that’s communism! You can’t interfere with the invisible hand of the free market. Hell, that’s why it’s invisible.
I would also like to note that a century later we still don’t have equal pay for equal work, and the bias cuts largely against women and brown people. All the more-so for those living in “lesser” countries.
One of the best sections of the whole speech. Certainly, we must drive the special interests out of politics. Now, not a century ago. We also need to drive them out of the media and our centers of information and learning.
It might not have needed to be said, but Teddy also makes clear that the means to accomplish such changes are not by the formation of mobs or by violence. These aren’t problems that will be solved by demonizing and slaughtering each other.
Talk about the understatement of the century.
Disclose Act? Citizens United? How little things change.
Regulation and oversight of essential commodities? What a radical. Let’s just let food and energy prices spiral out of control and small groups of already rich bastards suck up all of the benefits.
Oh, there is justice due for the robber barons and the bankers of our age. But it’s awfully slow coming at this pace.
Emphasis mine. It is truly amazing, and furthermore commendable, that a man with views like this was actually elected president of the United States. I’ve had my doubts about Teddy in the past, but speeches like this truly make clear why his likeness is on Mt. Rushmore. His clarity of purpose, dedication to the truth, understanding of justice and opportunity, and courage to press sound and intelligent policy was stunning.
The efforts he and his allies made towards establishing the income and estate taxes, trust-busting and business regulation, fighting corruption and unearned privilege generally, expanding democratic control, as well as conservation and good stewardship of national resources undoubtedly had a big impact on the history of this country.
kagerato — I’m glad you liked the speech. Truly, it should be required reading for all Americans. And consider that your standard conservative believes Theodore Roosevelt was a conservative. During the 2008 campaign John McCain was going around comparing himself to Theodore Roosevelt. The only thing they know about TR is that he said “carry a big stick.”
“And consider that your standard conservative believes Theodore Roosevelt was a conservative”
I would argue that with the purposeful dwindling IQ of the republicant party combined with the inter-mixing of the dimwitted teabaggers most republicants / teabaggers would think Teddy Roosevelt was the great Satan who authored the “new deal” and created that ponzi scheme “social security”. History is for libruls!
I will say this for Beck, he certainly draws a line in the sand, going after TR and his New Nationalism, and repudiating the teachings of Jesus Christ, going after “social justice” (see well known verses from Matthew 25).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmlYe2KS0-Y&feature=related
Why are people talking so much about Glenn Beck? Why don’t you let this stuff just die of its own stupidity? It’s not even interesting.
Over the past 20 years ago, can you think of any issue in American politics that actually died of its own stupidity?
I’m so glad to see this speech getting wider coverage. It’s been a favorite of mine for a long time. I am a big TR fan. He was one of our country’s first environmentalists too.
My favorite part of the speech is so spot on to me that I use it as a sig line in my email. It is noted above but worth repeating:
At many stages in the advance of humanity, this conflict between the men who possess more than they have earned and the men who have earned more than they possess is the central condition of progress. ….At every stage, and under all circumstances, the essence of the struggle is to equalize opportunity, destroy privilege, and give to the life and citizenship of every individual the highest possible value both to himself and to the commonwealth.
Thank you!!!!! I think Teddy would and his buddies on Mount Rushmore would have serious issues with today’s politocal atmosphere.
Good comments! I haven’t read this speech, thanks for bringing it to my attention. That Cargo Cult clip is something really cool too. Look at the comments…
Of course, when it comes to immigration and the assimilation of new arrivals (i.e. cutting all ties with the culture that nurtured you), TR is a hero. I have seen his remarks on what a real American is quoted repeatedly by those who get themselves into a rage over such indignities as public school bulletins rinted in Somali, or a Cinco de Mayo festival getting news coverage.
Adulation truly is a fickle thing.
As I said in the post, TR was a racist by today’s standards. His stands on some non-domestic issues were appalling to the liberals of his time, never mind liberals today. But he “got” social and economic justice brilliantly.
Yep, what she said.