Hofstadter describes Roosevelt as a conservative as progressive and Wilson as conservative as liberal. Both men began their political careers with conservative principles but changed their views as they gained success. Their difference lied in that Wilson allowed room for change in his philosophy because of his sincerity. Roosevelt's sudden change was viewed as a dramatic change not in his personal views, but in language to better his political career.

When both Roosevelt and Wilson started out as politicians they were both had idealistic, conservative philosophies. Roosevelt felt that the American society was becoming too materialistic due to the shift from a militant to a peacefully economic nation. He championed the heroic values of an American soldier and wanted to restore to the American spirit "the fighting edge." Wilson was moralistic and cherished British tradition. His political model was a system in which statesmen who possessed an excessive...