author
Elihu Root
1845–1937
A lawyer-statesman who helped shape U.S. foreign policy at the turn of the 20th century, he later received the 1912 Nobel Peace Prize for work in international arbitration and Pan-American cooperation.
2 Audiobooks
About the author
Born in Clinton, New York, in 1845, Elihu Root built his reputation first as a successful lawyer before moving into public life. He served as U.S. Secretary of War under William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt, then as Secretary of State under Roosevelt, and later represented New York in the U.S. Senate.
Root is often remembered for bringing a lawyer’s precision to government. Histories of his career credit him with helping modernize the War Department and with pushing reforms that strengthened the State Department and the U.S. diplomatic service.
In 1912, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for encouraging better understanding between the nations of North and South America and for supporting international arbitration agreements. He died in 1937, leaving behind a legacy tied to diplomacy, legal thinking, and public service.