(February 15, 1845–February 7, 1937), was appointed Secretary of War in President William McKinley’s administration, 1899–1904; Secretary of State in President Theodore Roosevelt’s administration, 1905–12; won the Nobel Peace Prize, 1912; was a U.S. Senator, 1909–15; president of the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1915; a U.S. district attorney for the southern district of New York, 1883–85; and chairman of the judiciary committee.
He practiced law in New York City, acting as junior counsel for the defense in the trial of “Boss” William Tweed, and was personal counsel of Jay Gould, Chester A. Arthur, Charles A. Dana, Edward H. Harriman and many large financial institutions.
President Woodrow Wilson appointed him as “ambassador extraordinary” and chief of a special diplomatic mission to Russia. He was also active in the League of Nations; the Permanent Court of International Justice; and was the president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Elihu Root stated:
When a teacher of the future comes to point out to the youth of America how the highest reward of intellect and devotion can be gained, he may say to them—not by subtly and intrigue, not by wire-pulling and demagoguery, not by shiftiness on following expediency;
but by being firm in devotion to the principles of manhood and the courage of religiousness in public life; by being a man without guile, without fear, without selfishness, and with devotion to duty, devotion to his country and his God.2860