Book of the Week by Gabe Salinas
Every once in a while, you read a book that reminds you what leadership really looks like. Not the watered down, poll tested, overly cautious leadership we see today. I am talking about the kind of leadership that builds nations, reshapes futures, and turns potential into power. That is what Bret Baier captures in “To Rescue the American Spirit.” A real look at a real leader who helped build the America the world knows today.
I went into this book knowing the basics about Theodore Roosevelt. Rough Rider. Outdoorsman. Big personality. What I did not know was just how central he was to the United States becoming a world superpower. I had no idea he served as Vice President under McKinley. I had no idea he was the driving force behind the Panama Canal. And I absolutely did not know the amount of foresight he had when it came to developing a Navy that would dominate world affairs.
This book opened my eyes to how one leader with enough courage, enough clarity, and enough strategic thinking can literally elevate a country for a century.
Leadership Through Vision
The part that hit me the hardest was how clearly Teddy communicated his vision. He did not whisper it behind closed doors or only share it with political insiders. He spoke directly to the American people. He told them where he believed the country needed to go, why it mattered, and what it would take to get there.
That is leadership. Speak the vision. Repeat it. Drive it into the hearts of the people you serve. If you want a team, a company, or a nation to follow you, they need to understand your direction. Today’s leaders could learn a lot from that alone.
As a CEO, this reminded me of the importance of saying the quiet part out loud. If your team does not know where you are going, you are not leading. You are wandering. Teddy Roosevelt never wandered. He led with intention.
The Grind, The Grit, And The Refusal to Quit
Teddy’s story reminded me of my own journey in more than a few ways. He faced adversity that would have crushed most people. He lost family members. He was underestimated. He fought uphill battles in politics and in life. And through all of it, he refused to quit.
I connected deeply with that. When I built Window Ninjas, especially the call center, there were moments where it felt like I was pushing a boulder uphill. But that is where leaders are made. In the grind. In the fight. In the commitment to keep going when others would have tapped out.
Teddy also had a rare ability to look at both sides of an issue without losing his convictions. This is where today’s Republican Party could take a page from his book. Roosevelt understood that leadership required clarity and communication. If more leaders spoke with the same conviction, courage, and direction, the political landscape would look a lot different today.
Proud to Be an American
This book is loaded with moments that make you sit back and appreciate this country even more. Teddy’s foreign policy alone is enough to make you proud. He negotiated peace deals when peace mattered. He pushed for the Panama Canal because he understood its future impact on global trade. He strengthened relationships, especially with England, because he saw decades ahead.
Most importantly, he believed in America as a force for good. Not through domination, but through leadership, responsibility, and strength. Reading about his thought process and decisions put a smile on my face more than once. You could feel his love for this country on every page.
The Stories That Inspire
Normally, I can pick one moment from a book that stands out as the most inspiring. This one made that impossible. Every chapter introduced another example of Teddy’s foresight, toughness, intelligence, or creativity. He lived a life full of lessons. He thought big when others thought small. He took risks when others hesitated. And he had the wisdom to balance strength with humility.
American leadership today would look very different if more people studied the way Roosevelt operated.
Leadership Traits The World Is Missing Today
Reading this book forces you to compare yesterday’s leadership with today’s. And the truth is, we have drifted far from the standard Teddy set.
He believed in proper immigration policies.
He valued negotiation where everyone walked away feeling like they won.
He believed a superpower should be strong, but not abusive.
He believed in leading through example, not intimidation.
He believed in peace through strength.
He believed in speaking with clarity, not confusion.
We are missing that today. You see glimpses of it in leaders who speak boldly and take action without dancing around every sentence. Trump, for example, is the closest thing we have seen to Roosevelt’s style of communication and courage. Agree or disagree, you know where he stands. Teddy had that same presence. That same clarity. That same conviction that inspires people to follow.
The Big Lesson Every Reader Should Take Away
If I had to choose one lesson from this book, it would be this. Teddy understood human nature. He knew people look out for themselves first, and he understood that leadership meant guiding the country in a way that protected its interests while inspiring others.
He believed in walking softly while carrying a big stick. Not out of aggression. Out of responsibility. Out of strategy. Out of love for America.
A nation cannot lead through softness.
And it cannot lead through chaos.
It leads through strength with purpose.
Through vision backed by action.
Through confidence backed by strategy.
And that is why the United States remains a world leader today. Because of people like Teddy Roosevelt who thought decades beyond the present moment.
My Personal Call To Action
Every week I ask myself one question. What can I take from this book and put into action right now? This week the answer hit me fast. I need to study more American history. Not because it sounds good, but because I want to lead from a place of knowledge, strength, and understanding.
If you want to lead boldly today, you better know the patterns that got us here. You better know the battles, the decisions, and the people who shaped this country. History explains everything. The tension. Politics. The culture. The opportunity.
This book reminded me that a stronger leader is a more educated leader. And I am committed to leveling up.
Final Message
If you want to lead, study the men who actually led. If you want to appreciate America, learn the sacrifices and decisions that built it. Teddy Roosevelt was a fighter, a thinker, a visionary, and a patriot. Read this book and let it challenge you. Let it sharpen you. Let it remind you that leadership is not about titles. It is about courage, responsibility, and doing what is right for the people you serve. That is how a nation stays strong. And that is how you stay strong as a leader.
My Golden Squeegee Rating
This book earns 4.5 Golden Squeegees from me. It is sharp, insightful, and full of leadership lessons that still matter today. The only thing keeping it from a perfect score is the fact that it left me hungry for more. Teddy Roosevelt lived a huge life and this book moves quickly through it. I would have loved a much deeper dive. The good news is the notes section is loaded with historical gems and gives you a real roadmap for further study. If you want to understand America’s rise and the mindset of a true leader, this book is worth your time.
