theodore roosevelt thought this way? it was both a generational kind of thing, but it was also a very personal thing. theodore roosevelt idolized his father. theodore roosevelt sr. was handsome, well educated, high-minded, he was the greatest man i have ever known, young theodore roosevelt said. but there was one thing, one flaw in his father, and do you know what that flaw was? his father had not served in the military during the civil war. during the nation's crisis when other people his age, other people of his health were going off to fight, the senior theodore roosevelt did not fight. now, it was probably a decision that was the best for the country. theodore roosevelt sr. became what was called an allotment commissioner, and during the civil of war he went around to the union camps to persuade the union soldiers to allot a portion of their pay to the support of their wives, children and family back home. there was nothing was required, but he persuaded them to do it and almost certainly strengthened the home front. theodore roosevelt sr. definitely did more for his country in that position than if he had joined the military and taken a position on some ge