The Rough Rider and the Professor: Theodore Roosevelt, Henry Cabot Lodge, and the Friendship That Changed American History

This detailed dual portrait from historian Jurdem (Paving the Way for Reagan) examines the extensive correspondence between Theodore Roosevelt and Henry Cabot Lodge to describe how their friendship and influence on each other helped shape American history. The two men met in 1884, when they both served as delegates to the Republican national convention. The pair were among the more liberal “independents” opposed the nomination of James G. Blaine, who nonetheless won. Lodge, the more pragmatic of the two, threw his support behind Blaine and gained respect within the party; Roosevelt, afraid that his political career was over, took a train to the Dakota territory to heal his wounds. Lodge went on to become a U.S. senator, while Roosevelt won the presidency in 1901; both inspired and supported one another, such as when Lodge rushed to Roosevelt’s side after a failed 1886 New York City mayoral bid left Roosevelt feeling despondent. Jurdem ably navigates the huge cache of letters exchanged between the two—some 2,500 in all—to tell a story rich with personal detail. This fascinating study reveals a new perspective on both Roosevelt and Lodge, and the impact of friendships on the course of events. (July)