During the Parisian leg of his post-presidential European tour, Theodore Roosevelt delivered a speech titled “Citizenship in a Republic,” in which he noted, “Credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again, and again … but who does actually strive to do the deeds.” This would go on to become one of his most famous speeches, inspiring generations of American statesmen and those hoping to emulate them.
This past week, the Bull Moose Project, a recently formed political organization, held its first-ever candidate leadership summit. Aspiring officeholders from around the country assembled to receive training on how to run their campaigns. The 50-or-so summit attendees were enthusiastic and notably young, predominantly in their early 20s, with many already in the throes of running for office. The organization, according to its website, is dedicated to training, supporting, and electing the next generation of American statesmen while further building out the burgeoning conservative populist movement. And if it wasn’t already apparent from its name, the group draws considerable inspiration from the 26th president.
Summit attendees heard from early torchbearers of the New Right in the form of current officeholders, like West Virginia Delegate Riley Keaton and Missouri State Rep. Chris Lonsdale, as well as former candidates, such as Stefano Forte of New York and Florida’s Anthony Sabatini — all of whom first ran for office in their 20s and are currently
