Faith of our Fathers: The Theologies of the American Presidency

President Theodore Roosevelt

The Twenty-Sixth President of the United States of America

Served from 1901-1909

Lived 1858-1919

Party: Republican

Denomination: Dutch Reformed

President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt is probably the most well-known president of his era. He was committed to foreign policy, so much so that his endeavors to end global conflict made him the first United States to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 1906.*

Equally impressive was his Administration’s commitment to America’s environmental prosperity—with his crowning achievement of the United States Forest Service in 1905. Much like President Benjamin Harrison, this commitment to the Created order defined his presidency far more than the notable foreign achievements.

Teddy Roosevelt considered himself part of the Dutch Reformed denomination, one of two presidents to do so**. That said his wife, Edith Roosevelt was far more Episcopalian than he was Dutch Reformed. She dictated his funeral be held at Christ Episcopal Church in Oyster Bay, New York in 1919.

*Roosevelt won the award for his efforts in ending the war between Japan and Russia. Other United States Presidents to win the Nobel Peace Prize include Presidents Woodrow Wilson, Jimmy Carter, and most recently Barack Obama.

**The other Dutch Reformed President was Martin Van Buren.