Before Roosevelt was a president he was the Vice President under William McKinley. When McKinley was assassinated Roosevelt stepped into the presidential position. He started out his presidency by introducing his square deal to fix the problems of the American Society. By fixing the problems with America first it allowed him to then focus on his foreign policies. Roosevelt started into imperialism with his building on the Panama Canal which improved trade for the United States and would eventually make America the most powerful country in America. He also ended conflicts in foreign countries giving him respect, such as the Roosevelt Corollary and ending the Russo-Japanese war, where he was awarded a noble peace prize. After his two terms in office, Taft became president but Roosevelt was still known as the Imperial leader in America and the peacekeeper. His face is on Mount Rushmore today.