There are some friendships that are made for politics. In other words, there are some friendships that are so rare in their qualities that they can stand firm even in the harshest and most cynical of environments. Laurence Jurdem, author of the new book “The Rough Rider and the Professor: Theodore Roosevelt, Henry Cabot Lodge, and the Friendship that Changed American History,” presents the friendship of Roosevelt and Lodge and how politics played its role in forging their bond.
When considering friendships in politics, it is easy to view them with cynicism. Politicians are typically seen as people who skim the surface or plunge to the depths of their political and bureaucratic oceans in search of colleagues in order to create alliances and establish self-preservation. It appears to all be part of power plays famous in the halls of capitols throughout the country, none greater than the one in Washington, D.C.
‘The Rough Rider and the Professor’
In Jurdem’s book, we read how Roosevelt and Lodge worked the political game to benefit each other, to benefit themselves, and to increase in power. These two great political figures of the early 20th century were both driven by more than political power. They were driven to benefit American citizens and bolster the country’s standing on the global stage. Both saw politics for what it could be—as an opportunity to do good. They were skeptics of human nature but were not cynics, and perhaps that is why they did so well and their relationship lasted so long.Ups and Downs
Friendships are friendships because they remain during the down periods. When the two young state legislators decided to support the nomination of James G. Blaine during the 1884 Republican National Convention in Chicago, they were lambasted with ridicule by the liberal northeast Republicans. The disdain proved so serious that Lodge lost his reelection bid. Both men were out of office after 1884, Lodge due to his political loss and Roosevelt due to his familial losses. Roosevelt’s wife and mother died on the same day in early 1884, and he subsequently moved to the Nevada Territory to become a rancher.
Separated by distance and embittered by losses, the two maintained their relationship. Jurdem provides insight into how both men encouraged each other in the face of political defeats and setbacks and personal tragedies (of which both encountered many). Their devotion to each other, demonstrated through letters and journal entries cited throughout the book, proves that their ultimate concern was the well-being of the other.
That devotion is exemplified in various moments, such as Lodge’s tireless efforts to arouse opportunities for Roosevelt to settle back into the political realm. Lodge was the man who wanted Roosevelt to succeed, seemingly above all others. As Jurdem demonstrates, it is conceivable that Roosevelt would have never reached the heights he did without Lodge’s efforts. Roosevelt, agreeing with the wisdom and political pragmatism of Lodge, fully trusted his friend and did what he could to fulfill many of Lodge’s requests once he was in a position to do so.
This may seem like a “scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours” relationship, but it was far from that, specifically because the two believed in many of the same principles and ideals. Furthermore, when they didn’t see eye to eye, which became noticeable toward the end of Roosevelt’s second term and unmistakable when he attempted a third run at the White House, they did not shirk from making their disagreements known to each other. But even when they strongly disagreed on certain principles, they retained their brotherly love for each other. It is not only a testament to their friendship but also an example for today’s hyperpolarized society.
“The Rough Rider and the Professor” is a work of history, but the author does not get caught up in the weeds of the many history-making moments of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He focuses on how Roosevelt and Lodge communicated with, encouraged, and advised each other during their individual and mutual successes and failures, and tragedies and triumphs.
This book is ultimately about the power and necessity of friendship and the ability for such a relationship to persevere at the highest levels. Although the world of politics seems like the one place where trust is at a premium and loyalty is bought and sold every election cycle, Jurdem makes the argument that, by virtue of this powerful bond, the halls of capitols may be the one place where such a friendship is most needed.
