MyopponentsduringthecampaignhadlaidmuchstressuponmysupposedpersonalambitionandintentiontousetheofficeofPresidenttoperpetuatemyselfinpower。Ididnotsayanythingonthesubjectpriortotheelection，asIdidnotwishtosayanythingthatcouldbeconstruedintoapromiseofferedasaconsiderationinordertosecurevotes。Butonelectionnight，afterthereturnswereinIissuedthefollowingstatement：“ThewisecustomwhichlimitsthePresidenttotwotermsregardsthesubstanceandnottheform，andundernocircumstanceswillIbeacandidatefororacceptanothernomination。”
Thereasonformychoiceoftheexactphraseologyusedwastwofold。Inthefirstplace，manyofmysupporterswereinsistingthat，asIhadservedonlythreeandahalfyearsofmyfirstterm，cominginfromtheVice-PresidencywhenPresidentMcKinleywaskilled，Ihadreallyhadonlyoneelectiveterm，sothatthethirdtermcustomdidnotapplytome；andIwishedtorepudiatethissuggestion。Ibelievedthen(andIbelievenow)thethirdtermcustomortraditiontobewholesome，and，therefore，Iwasdeterminedtoregarditssubstance，refusingtoquibbleoverthewordsusuallyemployedtoexpressit。Ontheotherhand，IdidnotwishsimplyandspecificallytosaythatI
wouldnotbeacandidateforthenominationin1908，becauseifIhadspecifiedtheyearwhenIwouldnotbeacandidate，itwouldhavebeenwidelyacceptedasmeaningthatIintendedtobeacandidatesomeotheryear；andIhadnosuchintention，andhadnoideathatIwouldeverbeacandidateagain。CertainnewspapermendidaskmeifI
intendedtoapplymyprohibitionto1912，andIansweredthatIwasnotthinkingof1912，norof1920，norof1940，andthatImustdeclinetosayanythingwhateverexceptwhatappearedinmystatement。
ThePresidencyisagreatoffice，andthepowerofthePresidentcanbeeffectivelyusedtosecurearenomination，especiallyifthePresidenthasthesupportofcertaingreatpoliticalandfinancialinterests。Itisforthisreason，andthisreasonalone，thatthewholesomeprincipleofcontinuinginoffice，solongasheiswillingtoserve，anincumbentwhohasprovedcapable，isnotapplicabletothePresidency。Therefore，theAmericanpeoplehavewiselyestablishedacustomagainstallowinganymantoholdthatofficeformorethantwoconsecutiveterms。ButeveryshredofpowerwhichaPresidentexerciseswhileinofficevanishesabsolutelywhenhehasonceleftoffice。Anex-Presidentstandspreciselyinthepositionofanyotherprivatecitizen，andhasnotoneparticlemorepowertosecureanominationorelectionthanifhehadneverheldtheofficeatall——
indeed，heprobablyhaslessbecauseoftheveryfactthathehasheldtheoffice。Thereforethereasoningonwhichtheanti-thirdtermcustomisbasedhasnoapplicationwhatevertoanex-President，andnoapplicationwhatevertoanythingexceptconsecutiveterms。Asabarrierofprecautionagainstmorethantwoconsecutivetermsthecustomembodiesavaluableprinciple。Appliedinanyotherwayitbecomesamereformula，andlikeallformulasapotentialsourceofmischievousconfusion。Havingthisinmind，Iregardedthecustomasapplyingpractically，ifnotjustasmuch，toaPresidentwhohadbeensevenandahalfyearsinofficeastoonewhohadbeeneightyearsinoffice，andtherefore，intheteethofapracticallyunanimousdemandfrommyownpartythatIacceptanothernomination，andthereasonablecertaintythatthenominationwouldberatifiedatthepolls，Ifeltthatthesubstanceofthecustomappliedtomein1908。Ontheotherhand，ithadnoapplicationwhatevertoanyhumanbeingsavewhereitwasinvokedinthecaseofamandesiringathirdconsecutiveterm。
Havinggivensuchsubstantialproofofmyownregardforthecustom，I
deemitadutytoaddthiscommentonit。Ibelievethatitiswelltohaveacustomofthiskind，tobegenerallyobserved，butthatitwouldbeveryunwisetohaveitdefinitelyhardenedintoaConstitutionalprohibition。ItisnotdesirableordinarilythatamanshouldstayinofficetwelveconsecutiveyearsasPresident；butmostcertainlytheAmericanpeoplearefittotakecareofthemselves，andstandinnoneedofanirrevocableself-denyingordinance。Theyshouldnotbindthemselvesnevertotakeactionwhichundersomequiteconceivablecircumstancesitmightbetotheirgreatinteresttotake。
Itisobviouslyofthelastimportancetothesafetyofademocracythatintimeofrealperilitshouldbeabletocommandtheserviceofeveryoneamongitscitizensintheprecisepositionwheretheservicerenderedwillbemostvaluable。Itwouldbeabenightedpolicyinsucheventtodisqualifyabsolutelyfromthehighestofficeamanwhowhileholdingithadactuallyshownthehighestcapacitytoexerciseitspowerswiththeutmosteffectforthepublicdefense。If，forinstance，atremendouscrisisoccurredattheendofthesecondtermofamanlikeLincoln，assuchacrisisoccurredattheendofhisfirstterm，itwouldbeaveritablecalamityiftheAmericanpeoplewereforbiddentocontinuetousetheservicesoftheonemanwhomtheyknew，anddidnotmerelyguess，couldcarrythemthroughthecrisis。Thethirdtermtraditionhasnovaluewhateverexceptasitappliestoathirdconsecutiveterm。Whileitiswelltokeepitasacustom，itwouldbeamarkbothofweaknessandunwisdomfortheAmericanpeopletoembodyitintoaConstitutionalprovisionwhichcouldnotdothemgoodandonsomegivenoccasionmightworkrealharm。
TherewasonecartoonmadewhileIwasPresident，inwhichIappearedincidentally，thatwasalwaysagreatfavoriteofmine。Itpicturedanoldfellowwithchinwhiskers，afarmer，inhisshirt-sleeves，withhisbootsoff，sittingbeforethefire，readingthePresident’sMessage。OnhisfeetwerestockingsofthekindIhaveseenhungupbythedozeninJoeFerris’sstoreatMedora，inthedayswhenIusedtocomeintotownandsleepinoneoftheroomsoverthestore。Thetitleofthepicturewas“HisFavoriteAuthor。”ThiswastheoldfellowwhomIalwaysusedtokeepinmind。HehadprobablybeenintheCivilWarinhisyouth；hehadworkedhardeversinceheleftthearmy；hehadbeenagoodhusbandandfather；hehadbroughtuphisboysandgirlstowork；hedidnotwishtodoinjusticetoanyoneelse，buthewantedjusticedonetohimselfandtootherslikehim；
andIwasboundtosecurethatjusticeforhimifitlayinmypowertodoso。[*]
[*]IbelieveIrealizedfairlywellthisambition。Ishallturntomyenemiestoattestthetruthofthisstatement。TheNewYork/Sun/，shortlybeforetheNationalConventionof1904，spokeofmeasfollows：
“PresidentRooseveltholdsthathisnominationbytheNationalRepublicanConventionof1904isanassuredthing。Hemakesnoconcealmentofhisconviction，anditisunreservedlysharedbyhisfriends。WethinkPresidentRooseveltisright。
“TherearestrongandconvincingreasonswhythePresidentshouldfeelthatsuccessiswithinhisgrasp。Hehasusedtheopportunitiesthathefoundorcreated，andhehasusedthemwithconsummateskillandundeniablesuccess。
“ThePresidenthasdisarmedallhisenemies。Everyweapontheyhad，neworold，hasbeentakenfromthemandaddedtothenowunassailableRooseveltarsenal。WhyshouldpeoplewonderthatMr。
Bryanclingstosilver？HasnotMr。RooseveltabsorbedandsequesteredeveryvestigeoftheKansasCityplatformthathadashredofpracticalvalue？SupposethatMr。BryanhadbeenelectedPresident。WhatcouldhehaveaccomplishedcomparedwithwhatMr。
Roosevelthasaccomplished？WillhismostpassionatefollowerspretendforonemomentthatMr。Bryancouldhaveconceived，muchlessenforced，anysuchpursuitofthetrustsasthatwhichMr。
Roosevelthasjustbroughttoatriumphantissue？WillMr。BryanhimselfintimatethattheFederalcourtswouldhaveturnedtohisprojectsthefriendlycountenancewhichtheyhavelenttothoseofMr。Roosevelt？
“Whereis’governmentbyinjunction’goneto？Theveryemptinessofthatoncepotentphraseisbeyonddescription！AregimentofBryanscouldnotcompetewithMr。Rooseveltinharryingthetrusts，inbringingwealthtoitsknees，andinconvertingintothepalpableactualitiesofactionthewildestdreamsofBryan’scampaignorators。Hehasoutdonethemall。
“AndhowutterlythePresidenthasroutedthepretensionsofBryan，andofthewholeDemocratichordeinrespecttoorganizedlabor！
Howemptywerealltheirprofessions，theirmouthingsandtheirhowlingsinthefaceofthesimpleandunpretentiousachievementsofthePresident！InhisownstraightforwardfashionheinflicteduponcapitalinoneshorthourofthecoalstrikeagreaterhumiliationthanBryancouldhavevisiteduponitinacentury。HeistheleaderofthelaborunionsoftheUnitedStates。Mr。
RoosevelthasputthemabovethelawandabovetheConstitution，becauseforhimtheyaretheAmericanpeople。”[Thislast，Ineedhardlysay，ismerelyarhetoricalmethodofsayingthatIgavethelaborunionpreciselythesametreatmentasthecorporation。]
SenatorLaFollette，intheissueofhismagazineimmediatelyfollowingmyleavingthePresidencyinMarch，1909，wroteasfollows：
“Rooseveltstepsfromthestagegracefully。Hehasruledhispartytoalargeextentagainstitswill。Hehasplayedalargepartintheworld’swork，forthepastsevenyears。Theactivitiesofhisremarkablyforcefulpersonalityhavebeensomanifoldthatitwillbelongbeforehistrueratingwillbefixedintheopinionoftherace。HeissaidtothinkthatthethreegreatthingsdonebyhimaretheundertakingoftheconstructionofthePanamaCanalanditsrapidandsuccessfulcarryingforward，themakingofpeacebetweenRussiaandJapan，andthesendingaroundtheworldofthefleet。
“Theseareimportantthings，butmanywillbeslowtothinkthemhisgreatestservices。ThePanamaCanalwillsurelyservemankindwheninoperation；andthemanneroforganizingthisworkseemstobefine。Butnoonecansaywhetherthisprojectwillbeagiganticsuccessoragiganticfailure；andthetaskisonewhichmust，inthenatureofthings，havebeenundertakenandcarriedthroughsometimesoon，ashistoricperiodsgo，anyhow。ThePeaceofPortsmouthwasagreatthingtoberesponsiblefor，andRoosevelt’sgoodofficesundoubtedlysavedagreatandbloodybattleinManchuria。Butthewarwasfoughtout，andthepartiesreadytoquit，andthereisreasontothinkthatitwasonlywhenthissituationwasarrivedatthatthegoodofficesofthePresidentoftheUnitedStateswere，moreorlessindirectly，invited。Thefleet’scruisewasastrongpieceofdiplomacy，bywhichweinformedJapanthatwewillsendourfleetwhereverwepleaseandwheneverweplease。Itworkedoutwell。
“Butnoneofthesethings，itwillseemtomany，cancomparewithsomeofRoosevelt’sotherachievements。Perhapsheisloathtotakecreditasareformer，forheispronetospellthewordwithquestionmarks，andtospeakdisparaginglyof’reform。’
“Butforallthat，thiscontemnerof’reformers’madereformrespectableintheUnitedStates，andthisrebukerof’muck-
rakers’hasbeenthechiefagentinmakingthehistoryof’muck-
raking’intheUnitedStatesaNationalone，concededtobeuseful。HehaspreachedfromtheWhiteHousemanydoctrines；butamongthemhehasleftimpressedontheAmericanmindtheonegreattruthofeconomicjusticecouchedinthepithyandstingingphrase’thesquaredeal。’Thetaskofmakingreformrespectableinacommercializedworld，andofgivingtheNationasloganinaphrase，isgreaterthanthemanwhoperformeditislikelytothink。
“And，then，thereisthegreatandstatesmanlikemovementfortheconservationofourNationalresources，intowhichRooseveltsoenergeticallythrewhimselfatatimewhentheNationasawholeknewnotthatweareruiningandbankruptingourselvesasfastaswecan。ThisisprobablythegreatestthingRooseveltdid，undoubtedly。Thisglobeisthecapitalstockoftherace。Itisjustsomuchcoalandoilandgas。Thismaybeeconomizedorwasted。Thesamethingistrueofphosphatesandothermineralresources。Ourwaterresourcesareimmense，andweareonlyjustbeginningtousethem。Ourforestshavebeendestroyed；theymustberestored。Oursoilsarebeingdepleted；theymustbebuiltupandconserved。
“Thesequestionsarenotofthisdayonlyorofthisgeneration。
Theybelongalltothefuture。Theirconsiderationrequiresthathighmoraltonewhichregardstheearthasthehomeofaposteritytowhomweoweasacredduty。
“ThisimmenseideaRoosevelt，withhighstatesmanship，dinnedintotheearsoftheNationuntiltheNationheeded。Hehelditsohighthatitattractedtheattentionoftheneighboringnationsofthecontinent，andwillsospreadandintensifythatwewillsoonseetheworld’sconferencesdevotedtoit。
“Nothingcanbegreaterorfinerthanthis。ItissogreatandsofinethatwhenthehistorianofthefutureshallspeakofTheodoreRooseveltheislikelytosaythathedidmanynotablethings，amongthemthatofinauguratingthemovementwhichfinallyresultedinthesquaredeal，butthathisgreatestworkwasinspiringandactuallybeginningaworldmovementforstayingterrestrialwasteandsavingforthehumanracethethingsuponwhich，anduponwhichalone，agreatandpeacefulandprogressiveandhappyracelifecanbefounded。
“Whatstatesmaninallhistoryhasdoneanythingcallingforsowideaviewandforapurposemorelofty？”
