University Park, PA -- Theodore Roosevelt assumed the presidency in 1901, following the assassination of William McKinley. A Republican, Roosevelt shocked big business by immediately bringing suit against J. Pierpont Morgan, America's most powerful financier. This action was the opening salvo in a broad series of federal initiatives designed to regulate the power of businesses that dominated turn-of-the century America. In this and other actions throughout his presidency, ranging from conservation of natural resources to foreign policy initiatives, Theodore Roosevelt redefined presidential authority, greatly enhancing the powers of the executive office.

The first in a six-part film and discussion series, Theodore Roosevelt: The Bully Pulpit examines Roosevelt's presidency and legacy. Segments will be shown from the two-time Emmy Award–winning film TR, The Story of Theodore Roosevelt, which chronicles his sometimes unorthodox presidential style. The event is free and open to the public and will be held in Foster Auditorium, 101 Pattee Library, on Monday, March 11, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

The series "Presidents, Politics, and Power: American Presidents Who Shaped the 20th Century" is a partnership between Schlow Memorial Library and the Social Sciences Library, within Penn State's University Libraries, Together, they make up one of twenty-pilot libraries nationwide selected to participate in this project organized by National Video Resources (NVR) in partnership with the American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office. The project is funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the locally sponsoring libraries.

For more information: www.libraries.psu.edu/crsweb/docs/presidents/ or 814-865-4861.