Theodore Roosevelt was hearty, frank, friendly and bold - a president so popular that many Americans believed they knew him personally. Through the force of his personality and excitement of his adventuring, he wove the presidency into the fabric of daily life as no other president had done. Nearly a century later he is remembered as America"s most colourful chief executive. In this study, the author uses primary sources and the most recent scholarship in an attempt to capture the excitement and controversy of Theodore Roosevelt"s White House years. Theodore Roosevelt was the first to personalise the modern presidency, Gould argues. He then used his popular appeal to address fundamental, controversial issues including the role of government in regulating the economy. The author brings the picture into focus with his examination of the successes and failures of Roosevelt"s administration and his analysis of Roosevelt"s influence on national politics. In addition to the politician, he looks at the private man as well.