But Theodore Roosevelt wondered if his fame would endure long enough to be a viable candidate in 1904.  He told one supporter, “I have never known a hurrah to last for five years.”  Not known for patience or passivity, TR no doubt felt a sense of urgency to strike while the iron was hot.

He had his fans.  But he had also made more than a few enemies over the years during his career climb from New York State Assemblyman, to service on the United States Civil Service Commission, to the presidency of the New York City Police Commissioners.  Though he liked the idea of speaking softly and carrying a big stick, he was not actually known for a tempered-tongue.  So it should not surprise us that some powerful people were less-than-impressed with Roosevelt and actually feared the idea of him anywhere near the White House.

Republican big-wig, Mark Hanna – U.S. Senator from Ohio and one of the most powerful politicians in the nation - famously remarked about Teddy’s nomination for the vice presidency: “Don’t you realize that there’s only one life between that madman and the White House?”  He later told President McKinley, “your duty to the country is to live for four years from next March.”  History, of course, tells us that Mr. McKinley did not live that long.  He was shot while visiting the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York.  He died eight days later.

On September 14, 1901 Theodore Roosevelt, at forty-two years of age, became the youngest man ever to become president of the United States.  

People do not compare Theodore Roosevelt to his predecessors.  Similarly, you never hear it suggested that Ronald Reagan was like someone before him, or that Franklin Roosevelt reminded the nation of an earlier president.  They were not wannabes or hero-worshippers.  The nation had not seen their likes before.  And they have been used ever since as benchmarks for great executive leadership.

They were, in fact, American originals.

It is, of course, way too soon to predict such greatness for Sarah Palin, but searching for historical reference points to help us accept or understand any of the current candidates may actually miss the point.

We might just be seeing someone who does not need to remind us of “so and so.”   Maybe there is a fresh American original on the political stage right now.