Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The title of the book is To Rescue the American Spirit. Does Baier make a convincing case that Theodore Roosevelt accomplished this goal during his lifetime?

2. How does Baier’s portrayal of Roosevelt compare to his other presidential biographies, like his works on Washington or Eisenhower, or to other presidential histories you may have read?

3. What aspect of Roosevelt’s life, as presented in the book, was most surprising or memorable to you? Was it his response to personal tragedy, his political maneuvering, or his adventures abroad?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Roosevelt’s father’s advice, “You must make your body” (33), became a guiding principle for overcoming physical weakness. How does this concept of deliberately building personal strength, whether physical or mental, resonate with your own perspective on growth?

2. After suffering immense personal loss, Roosevelt found healing in the rugged landscape of the Dakota Badlands. What does his experience suggest about the power of place and nature to help one navigate difficult times?

3. Roosevelt’s philosophy of “the strenuous life” championed action, challenge, and overcoming hardship (239). Where do you see the value in this worldview today, and what might be its limitations in a modern context?

4. The book details Roosevelt’s deep friendships, like with Henry Cabot Lodge, alongside his bitter political fallings-out, most notably with William Howard Taft. What did these relationships reveal about his character and his ability to navigate the intersection of the personal and the political?

5. How did the stories of the Roosevelt children’s energetic and often chaotic life in the White House affect your understanding of their father as a public figure and a family man?

6. What is your perspective on Roosevelt’s way of coping with the death of his first wife, Alice, by never speaking of her again? How did this profound silence appear to shape the life of his daughter, also named Alice?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. Baier draws direct parallels between Roosevelt’s time and the modern day, highlighting issues like global instability and populism. Did you find these connections insightful, and in what ways does Roosevelt’s leadership seem like a relevant model versus a product of its own era?

2. The White House dinner with Booker T. Washington was a landmark event that prompted a severe political backlash. What does this episode reveal about the racial dynamics of the Progressive Era and the boundaries of presidential influence on social norms?

3. Roosevelt promoted the idea of Balancing Public and Economic Needs in Government to mediate between powerful corporate interests and labor. How does this vision of the federal government’s economic role compare with dominant political ideas today?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Why do you think Baier chose to open the biography in the middle of Roosevelt’s journey to Buffalo after McKinley was shot? How does this dramatic starting point frame the rest of the narrative about his life and career?

2. The doctrine “Speak softly and carry a big stick” is a central theme (175). How effectively do the contrasting examples of the Portsmouth Peace Conference and the Panama Canal affair illustrate the two sides of this foreign policy philosophy?

3. What significance does the American West hold in the biography? How does the narrative use the Badlands to represent a space for Roosevelt’s physical and psychological transformation?

4. The book positions Roosevelt as a populist who rejected rule by the wealthy. How does his brand of populism, as depicted in the book, compare to that of other famous American political figures you’ve studied, such as Andrew Jackson or his own cousin, Franklin D. Roosevelt?

5. In what specific ways does the book demonstrate Roosevelt’s mastery of public relations and his role in pioneering the modern, media-conscious presidency?

6. The biography touches on Roosevelt’s contradictions, such as being a conservationist who was also a prolific hunter. Did you feel Baier presented a balanced portrait, or did the narrative lean more toward a heroic interpretation of his character?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Roosevelt established the first national wildlife refuge and set aside 230 million acres for federal protection. If you were tasked with designing a new national park or monument to honor his conservationist legacy, what natural landscape would you choose, and what features would you highlight to represent his vision?

2. Imagine you are a journalist accompanying the Rough Riders in Cuba. What would be the headline and the first paragraph of your dispatch after the charge up Kettle Hill, focusing on an aspect of the battle or Roosevelt’s leadership that the book emphasizes?

3. Roosevelt’s “Square Deal” aimed to balance the interests of corporations, labor, and the public. If you were to create a modern “Square Deal” platform inspired by his principles, what three key issues would you focus on today, and what might your proposed solutions look like?