CHAPTER IX

GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK


When the Rough Riders were disbanded at Montauk Point in September
1898, Theodore Roosevelt was the most popular man in America. This
is the judgment of his best historian, Mr. Thayer, and it is
undoubtedly correct. The war had made known to the country a
number of professional soldiers or sailors--especially Admiral
Dewey and Admiral Sampson, whose conduct had been splendid. It had
also created some popular "heroes," whose fame was brief. But
Colonel Roosevelt was first and foremost a CITIZEN, his career as
a soldier was for a few months only. Behind that was a solid
foundation of service in civil office. Ahead of it were still
finer achievements, also in civil life. He felt the pride which
all men feel--despite much pretense and humbug--to have had the
chance to lead men in battle for a just cause, to have put his
life in danger when his country needed such offer of sacrifice.

But the Santiago campaign, the charge up San Juan hill, did not
"make" Roosevelt. It was a dramatic episode in his history; it
attracted attention to him. Such are the peculiar conditions of
politics, it proved a short cut to the White House. He said,
frankly, that he would never have been President if the Rough
Riders had not gone to Cuba. In this he underestimated himself, as
he often did. He had too much ability in politics, too much