American Maccabee: Theodore Roosevelt and the Jews

Porwancher (history, Arizona State Univ.; The Jewish World of Alexander Hamilton) weaves a unique analysis of Theodore Roosevelt’s personal and political relationship with the global Jewry, in ways that echo political considerations of today. As president, Roosevelt fatefully presided over key issues surrounding Jews both in the United States and Europe, particularly by welcoming Jewish refugees from European persecution. Porwancher also analyzes Roosevelt’s pre-presidency life and its impact on his relationship to Jews. Roosevelt was born to New York City wealth in 1858 but still saw the challenges faced by the city’s immigrants, many of whom were Jewish. In his early career, as NYC police commissioner and then as a Navy official, he pushed for religious inclusivity among his forces. During his political career (first as New York State Assemblyman, then as New York governor, and finally as U.S. president), he rallied for reform of sweatshops where many immigrant Jewish laborers worked, and he often campaigned directly to New York City Jews. Although it could be argued that as president, Roosevelt sometimes bowed to the conservative-minded and antisemitic, he generally sought to enact meaningful change for world Jewry, a viewpoint informed by his upbringing but distinctly novel for the era. The focus on personal narratives draws readers into Porwancher’s book, which avoids dry academic language. Although it’s best for informed history readers, this volume is accessible to all.