# Congress — An Autobiography character guide

> Congress in An Autobiography by Theodore Roosevelt.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Congress

**First appearance:** 0016-x-the-presidency-making-an-old-party-progressive

## Snapshot

The fractious legislative body whose senators and representatives Roosevelt must court, cajole, and occasionally defy to convert his program into law.

## Who they are

Congress is less a single actor than a shifting field of allies and opponents, from loyal friends like Lodge to wary adversaries across the aisle. Roosevelt's account dwells on the men who could be convinced by argument and those who could not, and on the difference between party loyalty and national interest. The institution embodies the friction between executive energy and legislative caution that defines his presidency.

## In the story

### [VI: The New York Police](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_autobiography_se/chapters/vi-the-new-york-police)

Mentioned as having passed special laws to authorize rewards for a veteran policeman's heroism.

### [VII: The War of America the Unready](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_autobiography_se/chapters/vii-the-war-of-america-the-unready)

Criticized for passing denunciatory resolutions while keeping the nation militarily weak, and for the 'foolish peace people' and 'international tail-twisters' influencing policy.

### [Social and Industrial Justice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_autobiography_se/chapters/xiii-social-and-industrial-justice)

Enacted laws protecting miners, factory workers, and child labor, and passed workmen's compensation.

### [The Monroe Doctrine and the Panama Canal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_autobiography_se/chapters/xiv-the-monroe-doctrine-and-the-panama-canal)

Referenced as the body that passed the act authorizing the President to acquire control of the Panama Canal route.

### [Appendix A](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_autobiography_se/chapters/appendix-a)

Addressee of the proposed message regarding the Panama Canal.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_autobiography_se/characters/congress
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_autobiography_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_autobiography_se/characters