Two rough riders : Buffalo Bill and Theodore Roosevelt's enigmatic relationship
This dissertation examines the social, political, and cultural connections between Theodore ~Teddy~ Roosevelt and William F. ~Buffalo Bill Cody.~ Due to their advocacy of American Exceptionalism through the frontier process, the complexities of both men are covered with a veneer of myths and legends, leading many to believe both men were personal friends and political allies. As an actor, Buffalo Bill appealed to America's middle and working classes, conveying a strong message of American exceptionalism through his dramatic recreations in Buffalo Bill's Wild West. Yet despite their shared advocacy for the American western experience, there is little documentary evidence to demonstrate the two men were close friends and divided by their class and regional differences. While both men agreed on the political issues of conservation and military intervention in overseas conflicts, they often disagreed on a professional level. Both men found fault with one another over their differing methodologies used to accomplish their similar goals. Buffalo Bill clearly sought financial gain through political support of Roosevelt, practicing the methods reflective of machine politics. Roosevelt, prone to use Buffalo Bill's
Johnston, Jeremy M.
Two rough riders : Buffalo Bill and Theodore Roosevelt's enigmatic relationship. This dissertation examines the social, political, and cultural connections between Theodore ~Teddy~ Roosevelt and William F. ~Buffalo Bill Cody.~ Due to their advocacy of American Exceptionalism through the frontier process, the complexities of both men are covered with a veneer of myths and legends, leading many to believe both men were personal friends and political allies. As an actor, Buffalo Bill appealed to America's middle and working classes, conveying a strong message of American exceptionalism through his dramatic recreations in Buffalo Bill's Wild West. Yet despite their shared advocacy for the American western experience, there is little documentary evidence to demonstrate the two men were close friends and divided by their class and regional differences. While both men agreed on the political issues of conservation and military intervention in overseas conflicts, they often disagreed on a professional level. Both men found fault with one another over their differing methodologies used to accomplish their similar goals. Buffalo Bill clearly sought financial gain through political support of Roosevelt, practicing the methods reflective of machine politics. Roosevelt, prone to use Buffalo Bill's
rough rider bill roosevelt enigmatic relationship examines social_political cultural connection roosevelt william bill due advocacy american exceptionalism frontier process complexity men cover myth legends lead many believe men personal friend political ally actor bill appeal america middle work_class convey strong message american exceptionalism dramatic recreation bill wild west yet_despite share advocacy american western experience little documentary_evidence men close friend divide class regional_difference men agree political_issue conservation military_intervention overseas conflict often disagree professional level men find fault one_another differing methodology use accomplish similar goal bill clearly seek financial gain political support roosevelt practice method reflective machine politics roosevelt prone use bill