1858-1877 : TR : An American patrician--of sorts -- 1877-1878 : "The best man I ever knew" -- 1878-1884 : Rising like a rocket -- 1885-1888 : "Black care rarely sits behind a rider whose pace is fast enough" -- 1889-1897 : Reform : "He seen his duty and he done it!" -- 1897-1898 : The splendid little war -- 1898-1901 : From San Juan Hill to Capitol Hill -- 1901-1908 : "Now that damned cowboy is President of the United States!" -- 1908-1912 : Big-game hunting in Africa--and in politics -- 1913-1919 : Living out the great adventure.