Roosevelt TeddyHe first tried the legal profession by enrolling at Columbia University. This did not please him and he quickly left the school. He published his first book in 1882, entitled “The Naval War of 1812”. He had started working there while he was still at Harvard. Then Teddy decided to try a political career. His first position was in the New York State Assembly. He ran as a Republican and won the position easily. In this position, he did two main things: first, he exposed a corrupt judge and second, he learned to work with men from both parties. Instead of running for a second legislative term, he decided to go to the Republican National Convention in Chicago. He went there as chairman of the New York delegation. While Roosevelt's professional life was flourishing, his personal life was not very good. In 1884 his wife and mother died. His wife died giving birth to their daughter, Alice. Roosevelt would take a break from politics and establish the Elkhorn Ranch on the Little Missouri River in Dakota Territory. On his ranch he lived the life of a cowboy. He rounded up cattle and rode horses all day. It was a good break for Roosevelt. One story has it that Roosevelt captured three thieves and held them at gunpoint for 6 days until they reached the proper authorities. Also during this period, Roosevelt wrote two more books (Hunting Trips of a Ranch Man and Thomas Hart Benton) and fell in love with Edith Kermit Carow. On December 2, 1886, Roosevelt and Carow traveled to London to get married. Upon their return to the United States, Roosevelt turned his attention to politics again. He was very active in the 1888 presidential campaign when Benjamin Harrison defeated Grover Cleveland. Roosevelt believed in hiring public officials based on their skills, not on their party affiliation. Back then, the winner of the race hired everyone who helped him win the race, even if they weren't qualified for the job. Harrison would reward his efforts by appointing him as U.S. Civil Service Commissioner. As commissioner, he would continue to challenge “favoritism.” He did such a good job that when Cleveland beat Harrison for re-election, he kept him as civil service commissioner. In 1895, Roosevelt returned to New York to