The Big Burn: Teddy Roosevelt and the Fire that Saved America

Timothy Egan is a Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times reporter and the author of five books. He is a National Book Award recipient, was named New York Times Editors’ Choice, and received New York Times Notable Book distinction. 

President Theodore Roosevelt Jr. was a statesman, politician, conservationist, naturalist, and writer. He was the 26th president of the United States, serving from 1901 to 1909. He began his political career as a Republican, then formed his own Progressive party. His major accomplishments as president include trust busting, increased regulation, and conservation. As a result of his presidency, millions of acres of land are protected by the national forest reserve system.

Gifford Pinchot was a forester and politician. He served as the Chief of the United States Division of Forestry, the head of the United States Forest Service, and as Governor of Pennsylvania. He was a counsel to Presidents Cleveland, McKinley, Teddy Roosevelt, Taft, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He was President Teddy Roosevelt’s closest confidant and strategist in the battle for conservation, which was his primary agenda.