The Rough Rider: Theodore Roosevelt In the early 1900s, Theodore Roosevelt blessed the world with Rough Riders, a "biography" of sorts chronicling Roosevelt's experiences riding the illustrious 1st Volunteer United States Cavalry, better known as Rough Riders in the Spanish-American War. The Rough Riders were assembled by Roosevelt, who looked for specific traits in his men. The traits of these men were considered the model of masculinity in Roosevelt's time and it was this cultural view of masculinity that formed what Roosevelt considered the best group of soldiers ever assembled. At the time, society required these men to be of a certain race, all displaying this air of masculinity. Roosevelt took inspiration from what society had instilled in him and was deemed correct. Contrary to popular belief, Roosevelt would not have been considered a physically superior man. In fact, it was pretty average. Roosevelt was ill as a child, suffering from severe asthma, which caused him many ailments. His father remedied this by emphasizing the need for Theodore to adapt physically. By the time Theodore Roosevelt was in college, he had overcome most of his childhood ailments. This is what caused Roosevelt to be so selective in building the Rough Riders, "...only after a very strict examination of their physical abilities." (10) Roosevelt would approve of a capable soldier to join his unit. Roosevelt specifically sought college men, those who had been athletes, those who actually sought "hard and dangerous service" (12), men living on the frontier who used the rifle as a means of livelihood, and those who saw the war as it did Done. Roosevelt saw war as a romantic idea. The only way men in history have become great is through war, and Roosevelt believed this wholeheartedly. This is why in the book; a key characteristic he was looking for was the will to fight. He wanted his soldiers to have the same feeling he had about war. When describing one of his officers, Roosevelt chose the traits that made this man such a great soldier. "He was the fifth descendant from father to son who had served in the United States Army, and in both body and mind he was fitted to perform his part to perfection.