Theodore Roosevelt is best remembered as Americas prototypical cowboy presidenta Rough Rider who derived his political wisdom from a youth spent in the untamed American West. But while the great outdoors did shape Roosevelts identity, Edward P. Kohn argues that it was his hometown of New York that made him the progressive president we celebrate today. During his early political career, Roosevelt took on Republicans and Democrats alike, proving his commitment to reform at all costs. He combated the citys rampant corruption and helped to guide New York through the perils of rabid urbanizationexperiences that would serve him well as president.