MyopponentsduringthecampaignhadlaidmuchstressuponmysupposedpersonalambitionandintentiontousetheofficeofPresidenttoperpetuatemyselfinpower。Ididnotsayanythingonthesubjectpriortotheelection，asIdidnotwishtosayanythingthatcouldbeconstruedintoapromiseofferedasaconsiderationinordertosecurevotes。Butonelectionnight，afterthereturnswereinIissuedthefollowingstatement：“ThewisecustomwhichlimitsthePresidenttotwotermsregardsthesubstanceandnottheform，andundernocircumstanceswillIbeacandidatefororacceptanothernomination。”
　　Thereasonformychoiceoftheexactphraseologyusedwastwofold。Inthefirstplace，manyofmysupporterswereinsistingthat，asIhadservedonlythreeandahalfyearsofmyfirstterm，cominginfromtheVice-PresidencywhenPresidentMcKinleywaskilled，Ihadreallyhadonlyoneelectiveterm，sothatthethirdtermcustomdidnotapplytome；andIwishedtorepudiatethissuggestion。IbelievedthenandIbelievenowthethirdtermcustomortraditiontobewholesome，and，therefore，Iwasdeterminedtoregarditssubstance，refusingtoquibbleoverthewordsusuallyemployedtoexpressit。Ontheotherhand，IdidnotwishsimplyandspecificallytosaythatI
　　wouldnotbeacandidateforthenominationin1908，becauseifIhadspecifiedtheyearwhenIwouldnotbeacandidate，itwouldhavebeenwidelyacceptedasmeaningthatIintendedtobeacandidatesomeotheryear；andIhadnosuchintention，andhadnoideathatIwouldeverbeacandidateagain。CertainnewspapermendidaskmeifI
　　intendedtoapplymyprohibitionto1912，andIansweredthatIwasnotthinkingof1912，norof1920，norof1940，andthatImustdeclinetosayanythingwhateverexceptwhatappearedinmystatement。
　　ThePresidencyisagreatoffice，andthepowerofthePresidentcanbeeffectivelyusedtosecurearenomination，especiallyifthePresidenthasthesupportofcertaingreatpoliticalandfinancialinterests。Itisforthisreason，andthisreasonalone，thatthewholesomeprincipleofcontinuinginoffice，solongasheiswillingtoserve，anincumbentwhohasprovedcapable，isnotapplicabletothePresidency。Therefore，theAmericanpeoplehavewiselyestablishedacustomagainstallowinganymantoholdthatofficeformorethantwoconsecutiveterms。ButeveryshredofpowerwhichaPresidentexerciseswhileinofficevanishesabsolutelywhenhehasonceleftoffice。Anex-Presidentstandspreciselyinthepositionofanyotherprivatecitizen，andhasnotoneparticlemorepowertosecureanominationorelectionthanifhehadneverheldtheofficeatall——
　　indeed，heprobablyhaslessbecauseoftheveryfactthathehasheldtheoffice。Thereforethereasoningonwhichtheanti-thirdtermcustomisbasedhasnoapplicationwhatevertoanex-President，andnoapplicationwhatevertoanythingexceptconsecutiveterms。Asabarrierofprecautionagainstmorethantwoconsecutivetermsthecustomembodiesavaluableprinciple。Appliedinanyotherwayitbecomesamereformula，andlikeallformulasapotentialsourceofmischievousconfusion。Havingthisinmind，Iregardedthecustomasapplyingpractically，ifnotjustasmuch，toaPresidentwhohadbeensevenandahalfyearsinofficeastoonewhohadbeeneightyearsinoffice，andtherefore，intheteethofapracticallyunanimousdemandfrommyownpartythatIacceptanothernomination，andthereasonablecertaintythatthenominationwouldberatifiedatthepolls，Ifeltthatthesubstanceofthecustomappliedtomein1908。Ontheotherhand，ithadnoapplicationwhatevertoanyhumanbeingsavewhereitwasinvokedinthecaseofamandesiringathirdconsecutiveterm。
　　Havinggivensuchsubstantialproofofmyownregardforthecustom，I
　　deemitadutytoaddthiscommentonit。Ibelievethatitiswelltohaveacustomofthiskind，tobegenerallyobserved，butthatitwouldbeveryunwisetohaveitdefinitelyhardenedintoaConstitutionalprohibition。ItisnotdesirableordinarilythatamanshouldstayinofficetwelveconsecutiveyearsasPresident；butmostcertainlytheAmericanpeoplearefittotakecareofthemselves，andstandinnoneedofanirrevocableself-denyingordinance。Theyshouldnotbindthemselvesnevertotakeactionwhichundersomequiteconceivablecircumstancesitmightbetotheirgreatinteresttotake。
　　Itisobviouslyofthelastimportancetothesafetyofademocracythatintimeofrealperilitshouldbeabletocommandtheserviceofeveryoneamongitscitizensintheprecisepositionwheretheservicerenderedwillbemostvaluable。Itwouldbeabenightedpolicyinsucheventtodisqualifyabsolutelyfromthehighestofficeamanwhowhileholdingithadactuallyshownthehighestcapacitytoexerciseitspowerswiththeutmosteffectforthepublicdefense。If，forinstance，atremendouscrisisoccurredattheendofthesecondtermofamanlikeLincoln，assuchacrisisoccurredattheendofhisfirstterm，itwouldbeaveritablecalamityiftheAmericanpeoplewereforbiddentocontinuetousetheservicesoftheonemanwhomtheyknew，anddidnotmerelyguess，couldcarrythemthroughthecrisis。Thethirdtermtraditionhasnovaluewhateverexceptasitappliestoathirdconsecutiveterm。Whileitiswelltokeepitasacustom，itwouldbeamarkbothofweaknessandunwisdomfortheAmericanpeopletoembodyitintoaConstitutionalprovisionwhichcouldnotdothemgoodandonsomegivenoccasionmightworkrealharm。
　　TherewasonecartoonmadewhileIwasPresident，inwhichIappearedincidentally，thatwasalwaysagreatfavoriteofmine。Itpicturedanoldfellowwithchinwhiskers，afarmer，inhisshirt-sleeves，withhisbootsoff，sittingbeforethefire，readingthePresident’sMessage。OnhisfeetwerestockingsofthekindIhaveseenhungupbythedozeninJoeFerris’sstoreatMedora，inthedayswhenIusedtocomeintotownandsleepinoneoftheroomsoverthestore。Thetitleofthepicturewas“HisFavoriteAuthor。”ThiswastheoldfellowwhomIalwaysusedtokeepinmind。HehadprobablybeenintheCivilWarinhisyouth；hehadworkedhardeversinceheleftthearmy；hehadbeenagoodhusbandandfather；hehadbroughtuphisboysandgirlstowork；hedidnotwishtodoinjusticetoanyoneelse，buthewantedjusticedonetohimselfandtootherslikehim；
　　andIwasboundtosecurethatjusticeforhimifitlayinmypowertodoso。[*]
　　[*]IbelieveIrealizedfairlywellthisambition。Ishallturntomyenemiestoattestthetruthofthisstatement。TheNewYork/Sun/，shortlybeforetheNationalConventionof1904，spokeofmeasfollows：
　　“PresidentRooseveltholdsthathisnominationbytheNationalRepublicanConventionof1904isanassuredthing。Hemakesnoconcealmentofhisconviction，anditisunreservedlysharedbyhisfriends。WethinkPresidentRooseveltisright。
　　“TherearestrongandconvincingreasonswhythePresidentshouldfeelthatsuccessiswithinhisgrasp。Hehasusedtheopportunitiesthathefoundorcreated，andhehasusedthemwithconsummateskillandundeniablesuccess。
　　“ThePresidenthasdisarmedallhisenemies。Everyweapontheyhad，neworold，hasbeentakenfromthemandaddedtothenowunassailableRooseveltarsenal。WhyshouldpeoplewonderthatMr。
　　Bryanclingstosilver？HasnotMr。RooseveltabsorbedandsequesteredeveryvestigeoftheKansasCityplatformthathadashredofpracticalvalue？SupposethatMr。BryanhadbeenelectedPresident。WhatcouldhehaveaccomplishedcomparedwithwhatMr。
　　Roosevelthasaccomplished？WillhismostpassionatefollowerspretendforonemomentthatMr。Bryancouldhaveconceived，muchlessenforced，anysuchpursuitofthetrustsasthatwhichMr。
　　Roosevelthasjustbroughttoatriumphantissue？WillMr。BryanhimselfintimatethattheFederalcourtswouldhaveturnedtohisprojectsthefriendlycountenancewhichtheyhavelenttothoseofMr。Roosevelt？
　　“Whereis’governmentbyinjunction’goneto？Theveryemptinessofthatoncepotentphraseisbeyonddescription！AregimentofBryanscouldnotcompetewithMr。Rooseveltinharryingthetrusts，inbringingwealthtoitsknees，andinconvertingintothepalpableactualitiesofactionthewildestdreamsofBryan’scampaignorators。Hehasoutdonethemall。
　　“AndhowutterlythePresidenthasroutedthepretensionsofBryan，andofthewholeDemocratichordeinrespecttoorganizedlabor！
　　Howemptywerealltheirprofessions，theirmouthingsandtheirhowlingsinthefaceofthesimpleandunpretentiousachievementsofthePresident！InhisownstraightforwardfashionheinflicteduponcapitalinoneshorthourofthecoalstrikeagreaterhumiliationthanBryancouldhavevisiteduponitinacentury。HeistheleaderofthelaborunionsoftheUnitedStates。Mr。
　　RoosevelthasputthemabovethelawandabovetheConstitution，becauseforhimtheyaretheAmericanpeople。”[Thislast，Ineedhardlysay，ismerelyarhetoricalmethodofsayingthatIgavethelaborunionpreciselythesametreatmentasthecorporation。]
　　SenatorLaFollette，intheissueofhismagazineimmediatelyfollowingmyleavingthePresidencyinMarch，1909，wroteasfollows：
　　“Rooseveltstepsfromthestagegracefully。Hehasruledhispartytoalargeextentagainstitswill。Hehasplayedalargepartintheworld’swork，forthepastsevenyears。Theactivitiesofhisremarkablyforcefulpersonalityhavebeensomanifoldthatitwillbelongbeforehistrueratingwillbefixedintheopinionoftherace。HeissaidtothinkthatthethreegreatthingsdonebyhimaretheundertakingoftheconstructionofthePanamaCanalanditsrapidandsuccessfulcarryingforward，themakingofpeacebetweenRussiaandJapan，andthesendingaroundtheworldofthefleet。
　　“Theseareimportantthings，butmanywillbeslowtothinkthemhisgreatestservices。ThePanamaCanalwillsurelyservemankindwheninoperation；andthemanneroforganizingthisworkseemstobefine。Butnoonecansaywhetherthisprojectwillbeagiganticsuccessoragiganticfailure；andthetaskisonewhichmust，inthenatureofthings，havebeenundertakenandcarriedthroughsometimesoon，ashistoricperiodsgo，anyhow。ThePeaceofPortsmouthwasagreatthingtoberesponsiblefor，andRoosevelt’sgoodofficesundoubtedlysavedagreatandbloodybattleinManchuria。Butthewarwasfoughtout，andthepartiesreadytoquit，andthereisreasontothinkthatitwasonlywhenthissituationwasarrivedatthatthegoodofficesofthePresidentoftheUnitedStateswere，moreorlessindirectly，invited。Thefleet’scruisewasastrongpieceofdiplomacy，bywhichweinformedJapanthatwewillsendourfleetwhereverwepleaseandwheneverweplease。Itworkedoutwell。
　　“Butnoneofthesethings，itwillseemtomany，cancomparewithsomeofRoosevelt’sotherachievements。Perhapsheisloathtotakecreditasareformer，forheispronetospellthewordwithquestionmarks，andtospeakdisparaginglyof’reform。’
　　“Butforallthat，thiscontemnerof’reformers’madereformrespectableintheUnitedStates，andthisrebukerof’muck-
　　rakers’hasbeenthechiefagentinmakingthehistoryof’muck-
　　raking’intheUnitedStatesaNationalone，concededtobeuseful。HehaspreachedfromtheWhiteHousemanydoctrines；butamongthemhehasleftimpressedontheAmericanmindtheonegreattruthofeconomicjusticecouchedinthepithyandstingingphrase’thesquaredeal。’Thetaskofmakingreformrespectableinacommercializedworld，andofgivingtheNationasloganinaphrase，isgreaterthanthemanwhoperformeditislikelytothink。
　　“And，then，thereisthegreatandstatesmanlikemovementfortheconservationofourNationalresources，intowhichRooseveltsoenergeticallythrewhimselfatatimewhentheNationasawholeknewnotthatweareruiningandbankruptingourselvesasfastaswecan。ThisisprobablythegreatestthingRooseveltdid，undoubtedly。Thisglobeisthecapitalstockoftherace。Itisjustsomuchcoalandoilandgas。Thismaybeeconomizedorwasted。Thesamethingistrueofphosphatesandothermineralresources。Ourwaterresourcesareimmense，andweareonlyjustbeginningtousethem。Ourforestshavebeendestroyed；theymustberestored。Oursoilsarebeingdepleted；theymustbebuiltupandconserved。
　　“Thesequestionsarenotofthisdayonlyorofthisgeneration。
　　Theybelongalltothefuture。Theirconsiderationrequiresthathighmoraltonewhichregardstheearthasthehomeofaposteritytowhomweoweasacredduty。
　　“ThisimmenseideaRoosevelt，withhighstatesmanship，dinnedintotheearsoftheNationuntiltheNationheeded。Hehelditsohighthatitattractedtheattentionoftheneighboringnationsofthecontinent，andwillsospreadandintensifythatwewillsoonseetheworld’sconferencesdevotedtoit。
　　“Nothingcanbegreaterorfinerthanthis。ItissogreatandsofinethatwhenthehistorianofthefutureshallspeakofTheodoreRooseveltheislikelytosaythathedidmanynotablethings，amongthemthatofinauguratingthemovementwhichfinallyresultedinthesquaredeal，butthathisgreatestworkwasinspiringandactuallybeginningaworldmovementforstayingterrestrialwasteandsavingforthehumanracethethingsuponwhich，anduponwhichalone，agreatandpeacefulandprogressiveandhappyracelifecanbefounded。
　　“Whatstatesmaninallhistoryhasdoneanythingcallingforsowideaviewandforapurposemorelofty？”