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Theodore Roosevelt is born
On October 27, 1858, future President Theodore Roosevelt is born in New York City to a wealthy family. Roosevelt was home-schooled and then attended Harvard University, graduating in 1880. He served in the New York state legislature from 1881 to 1884. -
Named President when McKinley is assassinated
McKinley’s final scheduled appearance at the Expo began the following day, September 6, when he attended a public meet-and-greet at a theater called the Temple of Music. The affable commander in chief rarely missed an opportunity to meet his constituents, but this particular event had worried his staff members, some of whom feared that an assassin might take the opportunity to strike. The president’s personal secretary, George B. Cortelyou, had even tried to cancel the reception. -
Elkins Act passed
The Elkins Act is a 1903 United States federal law that amended the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887. The Act authorized the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) to impose heavy fines on railroads that offered rebates, and upon the shippers that accepted these rebates. -
Wins first full term as President
Incumbent Republican President Theodore Roosevelt defeated the Democratic nominee, Alton B. Parker. Roosevelt's victory made him the first president to win a term in his own right after having ascended to the presidency upon the death of his predecessor, William McKinley. -
Devil’s Tower, Wyoming, named first national monument
Devils Tower was the first United States national monument, established on September 24, 1906, by President Theodore Roosevelt. -
Yosemite under Federal Control
On October 1 of the following year, Congress set aside over 1,500 square miles of land (about the size of Rhode Island) for what would become Yosemite National Park, America's third national park. In 1906, the state-controlled Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove came under federal jurisdiction with the rest of the park. -
Passage of Pure Food And Drug Act
The Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 prohibited the sale of misbranded or adulterated food and drugs in interstate commerce and laid a foundation for the nation's first consumer protection agency, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Pure Food and Drug Act regulated such items shipped through interstate commerce. -
Leaves presidency, visits Africa
In April 1909, he landed in Mambasa with his son Kermit. Roosevelt, at the head of a safari including 250 porters and guides, trekked across British East Africa, into the Belgian Congo and back to the Nile ending in Khartoum. The ex-president thoroughly enjoyed himself. The expedition collected 1,100 specimens, including 500 big games. "The most noteworthy collection of big animals that has ever come out of Africa" he exclaimed. -
Runs for presidency, unsuccessfully for Bull-Moose Party
Bull Moose Party, formally Progressive Party, a U.S. dissident political faction that nominated former president Theodore Roosevelt as its candidate in the presidential election of 1912; the formal name and general objectives of the party were revived 12 years later. -
Energy crisis
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Pelican Island, Florida named first national wildlife refuge
On March 14, 2003, the National Wildlife Refuge System will celebrate 100 years since President Theodore Roosevelt established the first national wildlife refuge at Pelican Island, Florida. Today, the National Wildlife Refuge System is the only network of federal lands dedicated specifically to wildlife conservation.
