Theodore Roosevelt: The First Modern President

Pilot - Homework

Speech

“It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better.  The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.”

Theodore Roosevelt, “Citizen in a Republic,” Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910

Questions

1. Using the quote, and your knowledge of Theodore Roosevelt, explain two reasons why T.R. admires the “man in the arena.”

2. What is T.R.’s view of “critics?” Explain:

3. Make a list of three people in the “arena” that you admire.  Explain why:

            a.

            b.

            c.

II. Video Clip

Log on to the website:

http//www.c-span.org/classroom/pov.asp

And click on Stu Palczak’s Lesson and then click on video clip American Presidents #9. 

After viewing the clip list examples of:

·         Ways T.R. impacted American life beyond politics and government.

·         Ways T.R. really enjoyed what he referred to as the “strenuous life.”