Elihu Root
| Elihu Root | |
|---|---|
 |
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| 38th United States Secretary of State | |
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In office July 19, 1905 – January 27, 1909 |
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| President | Theodore Roosevelt |
| Preceded by | John Hay |
| Succeeded by | Robert Bacon |
| 41st United States Secretary of War | |
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In office August 1, 1899 – January 31, 1904 |
|
| President |
William McKinley Theodore Roosevelt |
| Preceded by | Russell A. Alger |
| Succeeded by | William Howard Taft |
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United States Senator from New York |
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In office March 4, 1909 – March 3, 1915 |
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| Preceded by | Thomas C. Platt |
| Succeeded by | James Wolcott Wadsworth, Jr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
February 15, 1845 Clinton, New York |
| Died | February 7, 1937 (aged 91) New York, New York |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Clara Frances Wales |
| Relations |
Oren Root I, father Oren Root II, brother |
| Alma mater |
Hamilton College New York University School of Law |
| Profession | Lawyer, Politician |
| Signature |  |
Elihu Root (/ˈɛlᵻhjuː ˈruːt/; February 15, 1845 – February 7, 1937) was an American lawyer and statesman who served as the Secretary of War (1899–1904) under two presidents, including President Theodore Roosevelt. He moved frequently between high-level appointed government positions in Washington, D.C. and private-sector legal practice in New York City. For that reason, he is sometimes considered to be the prototype of the 20th century political "wise man," advising presidents on a range of foreign and domestic issues. He was elected by the state legislature as a U.S. Senator from New York and served one term, 1909–1915. Root was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1912.
Root was a leading lawyer, whose clients included major corporations and such powerful players as Andrew Carnegie. Root served as president or chairman of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the Carnegie Institution of Washington, and the Carnegie Corporation of New York. As Secretary of War under McKinley and Roosevelt, Root designed American policies for the new colonial possessions, especially the Philippines and Cuba. His role in suppressing a Filipino revolt angered anti-imperialist activists at home. Root favored a paternalistic approach to colonial administration, emphasizing technology, engineering, and disinterested public service, as exemplified by the ethical standards of the Progressive Era. He helped design the Foraker Act of 1900, the Philippine Organic Act (1902), and the Platt Amendment of 1901, which authorized American intervention in Cuba in the future if needed to maintain a stable government. He was a strong advocate of what became the Panama Canal, and he championed the Open Door to expand world trade with China.
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