Almost anyone can be a leader, but not every leader can go down in history and be remembered as someone special, like someone who had the skills and strength to do the right thing. to achieve their goals. The founding fathers are considered great leaders because they inspired people in ways that enabled a new government by combining ideas and politics to gain the trust of the people. The founders were willing to risk their assets and status to form an egalitarian system of government. Teddy Roosevelt possessed and demonstrated the same characteristics that Gordon Wood said also made the Founding Fathers great leaders. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay “Speak softly and carry a big stick,” said the 26th President of the United States of America, Theodore Roosevelt. What he meant by this was “start slowly, but keep a decisive weapon in reserve” (Martin). Teddy was an admirable man with a legendary story. He made this nation an international force. He was a man of action, a recognized environmental defender. Theodore was not only focused on establishing big government but also on giving back to the land, he eagerly created national parks and forests. Because of his passion for helping the Earth, he became known as the "conservationist president." In six years, six national parks were created by Teddy Roosevelt. Returning to Gordon Wood's thesis, the founders all worked to create an egalitarian government, a government where all men are created equal, Theodore also helped seed the idea in the United States. Roosevelt designated several African Americans for federal positions and “advocated treating all people on their merits rather than their race or religion” (Dan). Realizing that monopolies were beginning to dominate the country, Roosevelt launched a crusade to divide these monopolies, thereby encouraging competition. Gordon Wood describes the founders as “different”. Teddy was no ordinary man either. He was truly aware of the needs of all his men and took care of them. He “made serious efforts to look after the well-being of the average American” (Dan). To be a leader, one must demonstrate uniqueness in inspiring the groups he or she is trying to lead. The revolutionary figures, the founding fathers, were all ready to sacrifice a lot for their people and their country. One of the great sacrifices is to inspire people, the other is to show strength. Roosevelt was shot in the chest in 1912 during a campaign speech. His injuries aside, President Teddy Roosevelt stood up and continued to deliver his speech for another ninety minutes. He told the crowd that he had been shot and that "it takes more to kill a Bull Moose." The bullet passed through Teddy's glasses holder, a copy of his speech, and embedded itself three inches deep in his chest. For the rest of his life, that bullet remained in his chest. Even though the bullet could have been removed, keeping it inside showed that it would take more than one killer to bring him down. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized paper now from our expert writers. .Get a Custom Essay The full quote was “Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far. Teddy approached his problems gently, cautiously, but was not afraid to come out.