The first great act of President Roosevelt’s third term came before he was even inaugurate. On February 3rd, 1913, the sixteenth amendment was ratified allowing Congress to levy an income tax. This gave President Roosevelt much greater freedom in the way of his economic plans. It was also Roosevelt who garnered enough support from Congress to create the Federal Reserve, which was the concept of a federal bank issuing the currency and deciding interest rates.
Also before he assumed office for the second time, the Mexican general Victoriano Huerta, in an organized coup, became President of Mexico. President Roosevelt, before and upon taking office, denounced the actions of Huerta claiming that as a President, he should step aside so as to make way for federal elections. However, Huerta was unwilling to step away and, with Roosevelt friend Henry Cabot Lodge helping in Congress, President Roosevelt received his declaration of war against Mexico. “The time has now come for freedom” he proclaimed. While the President’s instincts were to have himself ride into battle, upon the advice of a number of his friends, he chose to stay home.
During what came to be known as the “Second Mexican-American War”, United States troops rode across the Mexican border, throwing Huerta from the reigns of power. Instead of following the constitution and having Foreign Minister Francisco S Carvajal become President, instead under Roosevelt’s direction, former interim President Francisco Leon de la Barra became President. This violation of the constitution would always remain a controversial issue among politicians when talking about Mexican-American relations. The Second Mexican-American War lasted a total of thirty one days.
With foreign affairs having been settled as of the moment, the President’s eyes one again turned toward domestic affairs.
A man highly interested in nature and in land preservation, President Roosevelt had been one of the people to work towards the creation of National Parks, though the process had started in the 1870’s. In early 1914, President Roosevelt signed into law the creation of the NPS, or the National Park Service, which was given stewardship over national parks. Also, around that time, President Roosevelt appointed businessman and conservationist Stephen Mather to be Secretary of the Interior, replacing Jane Addams.
Despite his attempt to return to domestic affairs and continue the reforms he felt were needed, his sights would not stay there for long as in Europe, a new conflict was brewing and TR, the Bull Moose, felt that the United States was needed.
-The American President, by Kathryn Moore
