Books

To Rescue the American Spirit

Teddy Roosevelt and the Birth of a Superpower

From #1 New York Times bestselling author and Fox News Channel’s Chief Political Anchor, a revelatory biography of Teddy Roosevelt, whose bold leadership thrust America onto the world stage and changed the course of U.S. history.

There has never been a president like Theodore Roosevelt. An iconoclast shaped by fervent ideals, his early life seems ripped from the pages of an adventure novel: abandoning his place in the New York aristocracy, he was drawn to the thrill of the West, becoming an honorary cowboy who won the respect of the rough men of the plains, adopting their code of authenticity and courage. As a New York State legislator, he fought corruption and patronage. As New York City police commissioner, he walked the beat at night to hold his men accountable, and as New York governor, he butted heads with the old guard to bring fresh air to a state mired in political corruption.

He was also an obsessive naturalist, conservationist, and hunter who collected hundreds of specimens of birds and animals throughout his life. He was a soldier and commander who led a regiment of “Rough Riders” to victory in the Spanish-American War, a show of leadership and bravery that put him on the national map. As president, he brought energy, laughter, and bold ideas to the White House, pursuing a vigorous agenda that established America as a leader on the world stage. Meticulously researched and grippingly written, Bret Baier’s exquisite book reveals the storied life of a leader whose passion, daring, and prowess left an indelible mark on the fabric of our country and reimagined the possibilities of the presidency.

As Bret Baier shows in this wonderfully readable biography, Theodore Roosevelt has many lessons for today. In his New Nationalism, he combined patriotism with a sense of stewardship, both of our land and institutions. And he embraced the challenge of having the U.S. speak softly but be in service to the world. Like all of Baier’s biographies, he makes our great presidents relevant to the present.Walter Isaacson, Bestselling Author and Biographer and Professor of American History and Values

Bret Baier’s To Rescue the American Spirit is a riveting biographical portrait of Theodore Roosevelt in full. Our 26th U.S. president’s maverick instincts, multi-sided intellect and political acumen gallop across these fast-paced pages with bravado for the ages. Expertly researched and colorfully written, this is the story of true American leadership, brave, brilliant and mythic. Never pulling a punch, Baier leads readers to conclude that TR — our cowboy president — truly belongs enshrined on Mount Rushmore. Highly recommended!Douglas Brinkley is the Katherine Tsanoff Brown Chair of Humanities and Professor of History at Rice University and author of The Wilderness Warrior: Theodore Roosevelt and the Crusade for America.

With To Rescue the American Spirit: Teddy Roosevelt and the Birth of a Superpower, Bret Baier adds yet another terrific volume to his now-extraordinary series of six books written about key moments of transition in American politics and history. As with his other books, Bret Baier combines the journalist's instinct for narrative with a real flair for identifying critical passages in American history and the people who guided America through those passages. As a journalist, Baier is interested in the way America’s history illuminates the present; as an historian, Baier observes Kipling’s maxim “if history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.” The result -- this book-- is the fascinating and unforgettable portrait of one of America’s greatest presidents which is also an assessment of America’s rise to superpower status in the decades after the civil culminating with TR’s presidency. Baier stresses the story of TR’s boyhood, and his development as a politician and thinker, of his personal, military, intellectual and political exploits as TR exuberantly engaged with his times and pursued the sheer “joy .. of living.” To Rescue the American Spirit illuminates the big question of TR’s time: what was required of citizens—of leaders—to reach for and achieve national greatness? By so doing this timely book also illuminates the big question of our day: what is required today of citizens- of leaders— to recover national greatness?David Eisenhower, Author, IPS Director, Annenberg School, UPenn.

Bret Baier has done it again, bringing another giant of American history to life. Many Americans think they know “T.R.” but Teddy Roosevelt has sometimes defeated even earnest biographers because of the vast nature of his life an achievements. Bret brings the whole story to these pages, including some of the chapters about the “Bull Moose” T.R. that few know it understand: Why did Roosevelt split with his hand-picked successor, President Taft? Turns out that as T.R. watched Taft, first from far off Africa and then during a long progress through Europe, Roosevelt’s famous temper and even more famous enthusiasm grew and grew and burst back on to the American political scene. That’s just one of many examples of Bret’s deft handling of a man of indomitable will and courage. But the joy T.R. brought to life, Bret Baier brings to these pages. Enjoy the ride!Hugh Hewitt, lawyer, law professor, author and broadcast journalist whose nationally syndicated radio show is heard across the US.

In an engrossing and readable style, Bret Baier describes in To Rescue the American Spirit how Theodore Roosevelt pulled the United States--and many other parts of the world--into the 20th century of strength of his relentless energy, unrivaled creativity, and never restful intellect. A must read for those interested in learning more about one of the country's most impactful Presidents.David Rubenstein, Chairman of the Council of Foreign Relations, and host of PBS's The David Rubenstein Show

Bret Baier has done it again. With his impeccable research, vivid narrative, and eye for the telling detail, he has written the definitive book on Teddy Roosevelt, surely among the most important of our presidents. This is a magnificent book filled with magnificent spirit, and is larger than life just as Roosevelt was. The book is destined to be not just a number one bestseller, but a classic. What a triumph! Jay Winik, New York Times Best Selling Historian and Author

TR’s influence on us today is profound. This vivid and captivating book goes a long way to help us understand where we are, and what we can be - with a look towards the future.Tweed Roosevelt, Chairman of the Roosevelt School at Long Island University and great grandson of Theodore Roosevelt

Celebrity. Disruptor. Larger-than-life. New Yorker. Assassination survivor. Lawfare target. World peacemaker. Theodore Roosevelt’s story is ripe for our time as we revive the American spirit for America's 250th celebrations. Bret Baier brings his signature journalist eye and voice to paint a vivid and engaging narrative of Theodore Roosevelt, the president who rescued the American spirit. This is Baier at his very best. Jane Hampton Cook, historian, former White House staffer and author of American Phoenix

To Rescue the American Spirit is an inspiring portrait of Theodore Roosevelt and the promise of our nation at the turn of the twentieth century. Roosevelt’s vision of American leadership—that our strength is in our values—was a bold principle that shaped our nation for more than a century. Bret Baier brings that vision to life and shows how it still has tremendous relevance for today. Mark Levin, Nationally Syndicated Talk Radio Host, President of Landmark Legal Foundation, Bestselling Author, Host of Life, Liberty, & Levin

If joy in living was nature’s gift to Theodore Roosevelt then this captivating portrayal of Teddy is Bret Baier's gift to us. From Roosevelt’s resilience over tragedy to his heroism in war, from his midnight rambles as police commissioner to his dramatic fights for reform as governor and president Baier summons the irrepressible spirit of the man. What an engaging storyteller! What a joy to read!Doris Kearns Goodwin is a world-renowned, presidential historian, public speaker and Pulitzer Prize-winning, New York Times #1 best-selling author

Bret has done it again - captured exactly how President Teddy Roosevelt transformed a country not just through policy but through personality! This book is a must read on this historic American anniversary!Brian Kilmeade, host of Fox & Friends, bestselling author, and host of the nationally syndicated radio show, 'The Brian Kilmeade Show'

To Rescue the American Spirit

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