Teddy and the Common Man

Teddy Roosevelt was a champion of ordinary people. Many of his history books, such as Hero Tales from American History, focus on the contributions and accomplishments of ordinary folks. Even at the pinnacle of his career, TR made time for average citizens--to the chagrin of the power brokers around him. For instance he once left two senators, five congressmen, and the heads of seven major corporations to wait in the White House for two hours while he discussed flora and fauna with a half dozen "truck farmers" from Alabama. When he finally showed the influential men into his office, one of the senators sternly rebuked him, "Mr. President, you must stand by your priorities." To which Roosevelt responded, "Oh, but I did, Senator. I did."

• Click here to see images of modern day Georgia "truck farmers" from a collection by Perry Dilbeck in his book, Truck Farmers: The Last Harvest.