"'I put myself through in the way of things happening,' he (Roosevelt) once told Jacob Riis,' and they happened'" (Kraft 163). Roosevelt was always involved in something and fighting for the betterment of everyone. In 1906, Roosevelt set off to stop evil through the form of muckrakers; he did this in his speech, "The Man with the Muck-rake." He used this speech to influence Americans opinions about the muckraker journalists and inform of there negative influences on society. Roosevelt's impassioned speech changed the average Americans views and put emphasis on the fight between good and evil.
Background of Theodore Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt was born October 27, 1858, in Manhattan, New York City. His father was Theodore Roosevelt Sr. and his mother was Martha Bulloch Roosevelt. His mother was from Georgia and she, along with her mother and sister Anna, had a deep love for the south, while his father was loyal to the north. Theodore also had three siblings, Anna, the oldest, Elliot, and the youngest, Corinne. He lived close to rest of his family, Aunts, uncles, grandparents, as well as numerous cousins. Theodore was born into a wealthy family, his grandfather and
…show more content…
Many muckrakers of the time greatly upset Roosevelt however the one that influenced him and his "Man with the Muckrake" speech was David Graham Philips. He had published articles in Cosmopolitan called "The Treason of the Senate," attacking and accusing some senators of corruption. Roosevelt had a great relationship with the press prior to this instance, however, now he was outraged by the irresponsible and inaccurate reporting and concerned that investigative reporting was becoming a destructive force. Roosevelt gave his speech for the first time at the prestigious Gridiron Club in Washington during an off the record white-tie dinner attended by the important officials of