The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris

Senator Hill’s complaint is that I honestly enforce the law which he and Tammany put on the statute books … assault upon that honest enforcement is the admission, in the first place, that it never has been honestly enforced before, and, in the next place, that he never expected it to be … It is but natural that he and Tammany should grow wild with anger at the honest enforcement of the law, for it was a law which was intended to be the most potent weapon in keeping the saloons subservient allies to Tammany Hall. “Senator Hill has done me the honor to take me as the antitype of his political methods and political views, and has singled me out for attack in connection with the Excise Law. “Go on away, now,” he said, “and don’t you ever mention the-don’t you ever mention that to me again.”141” See?” Again he looked at us as if we were enemies then he threw us away from him and went back to his desk. But I won’t let myself think of it I must not, because if I do, I will begin to work for it, I’ll be careful, calculating, cautious in word and act, and so-I’ll beat myself. I, for instance, I am going to do great things here, hard things that require all the courage, ability, work that I am capable of … But if I get to thinking of what it might lead to-” He stopped, held us off, and looked into our faces with his face screwed up into a knot, as with lowered voice he said slowly: “I must be wanting to be President. He loses his nerve he can’t do his work he gives up the very traits that are making him a possibility. “Never, never, you must never either of you remind a man at work on a political job that he may be President. Then he beckoned me close and in an awed tone of voice explained. He backed away, came up again to Riis, and put his arm over his shoulder. No friend of mine would ever say a thing like that, you-you-” Riis’s shocked face or TR’s recollection that he had few friends as devoted as Jake Riis halted him.

“Don’t you dare ask me that,” TR yelled at Riis. Was he working to be President? The effect, wrote Steffens, “was frightening.” TR leaped to his feet, ran around his desk, and fists clenched, teeth bared, he seemed about to throttle Riis, who cowered away, amazed. The two men dashed across to headquarters and burst into Roosevelt’s office.

“Let’s ask him,” Lincoln Steffens suggested.

The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris