# 3182b - 1998 32c Celebrate the Century - 1900s: Theodore Roosevelt

US #3182b
1998 Theodore Roosevelt – Celebrate the Century (1900s)

• Part of the first sheet in the Celebrate the Century stamp series issued from 1998-2000
• Honors President Theodore Roosevelt
• Includes text on the back with historical details

Stamp Category: Commemorative
Series: Celebrate the Century
Value: 32¢ First Class Mail Rate
First Day of Issue: February 3, 1998
First Day City: Washington, DC
Quantity Issued: 188,000,000
Printed by: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd.
Printing Method: Offset, Intaglio
Format: Panes of 15
Perforations: 11.6
Tagging: Block Tagging

Why the stamp was issued: To commemorate President Theodore Roosevelt and the impact his presidency had on American history.

About the stamp design: Pictures gouache and colored pencil illustration of President Theodore Roosevelt by artist Richard Waldrep. Includes the following text on the back “The 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt promoted conservation, regulated business and earned the Nobel Peace Prize for mediating the end of the Russo-Japanese War.”

First Day City: The First Day of Issue Ceremony was held in Washington, DC, with legendary radio and television host Larry King as master of ceremonies.

About the Celebrate the Century series: The USPS launched the Celebrate the Century series in 1998 to mark the end of the 20th century and herald the arrival of the 21st. The series includes 10 sheets of 15 stamps (150 in total), with each honoring important moments from a different decade (1900s, 10s, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s). At the time of completion, it was the longest and most ambitious commemorative stamp series in US history.

History the stamp represents: Theodore Roosevelt was sworn in as president of the United States on September 14, 1901, upon the death of President McKinley (he was shot by an assassin on September 6). Roosevelt was 42 at the time of his swearing-in, making him the youngest president in history up to that point.

Upon taking office, Roosevelt promised to uphold McKinley’s policies and retain his cabinet. One of his first significant acts was delivering a 20,000-word address to Congress, urging them to limit the power of large corporations (also known as trusts). His firm stance on the issue earned him the nickname “trust-buster.” Roosevelt also established the Department of Commerce and Labor to make labor and management issues more widely known.

President Roosevelt also took strides to improve the quality of food and medicine by pushing Congress to pass the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act. These laws required foods and drugs to be properly labeled, for meat to be inspected, and for meatpacking plants to maintain sanitary conditions.

Roosevelt dedicated much of his time in the White House to protecting natural resources. He pushed for the Newlands Reclamation Act of 1902, which placed 230 million acres under federal protection. During his term, Roosevelt set aside more federal land, national parks, and nature preserves than all the presidents before him combined. He established the US Forest Service and created five new National Parks. He also passed the 1906 Antiquities Act, establishing 18 new US National Monuments. Roosevelt created America’s first 51 bird reserves, 4 game preserves, and 150 national forests.

Another of Roosevelt’s famous accomplishments was the Panama Canal. Work on that began in 1903, when he encouraged the people of Panama to establish themselves as an independent nation from Columbia (which had refused to work with America in building a canal across the isthmus). Roosevelt sent naval vessels to the area, allowing the Panamanian rebels to secede without major confrontation. As a new nation, Panama sold the Canal Zone to the United States for $10 million. Roosevelt saw the canal as vital to protecting America’s interests and strengthening the US Navy.