Who Were the Rough Riders? | Explorer

A century has passed since Washington wrote, "To be prepared for war is the most effectual means of promoting the peace." In 1897, as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, TR finds a cause that can help him redeem his family's honor in Cuba. A long-simmering insurgency against the Spanish colonial empire is coming to a head. TR clamors for military intervention, arguing that it's America's duty to liberate its oppressed neighbors.

It was Theodore Roosevelt that was the first one to say, "We have a responsibility to go over and bring people freedom." Our freedom and mess in their affairs, and quite honestly, that's the trouble that we have now in the Middle East. That's the trouble that we have everywhere in the world is that we were saying, "We're so great; we're gonna bring this to you." That was an invention of Theodore Roosevelt.

What Teddy needs is a persuasive cause for attacking Cuba, a weapons of mass destruction argument, and he's about to get one. Remember the Maine? Probably not; most Americans don't, but that's the US warship that exploded in Havana Harbor in February 1898, taking 254 American sailors to their watery graves. Like 9/11 a century later, the tragedy roused America into vengeful fury and gave Teddy the cause for war he so desperately sought, even though it wasn't clear who was to blame.

Created tremendous war fever in the country and outrage on the part of TR. What this hideous act against us was needed to be dealt with immediately. Theodore Roosevelt simply quits being Assistant Secretary of the Navy and says, "I'm going to war!" TR uses every bit of his political influence to get a commission as lieutenant colonel in the First United States Volunteer Cavalry Regiment.

That's cool! He assembled a combination, and only Teddy Roosevelt could have done this—a combination of Ivy League graduates and cowboys that he had met in the West. And of course, they were called the Rough Riders.