“… FROM READINGS OF THE PEOPLE I ADMIRED—RANGING FROM THE SOLDIERS OF VALLEY FORGE, AND MORGAN’S RIFLEMEN, TO THE HEROES OF MY FAVORITE STORIES—AND FROM HEARING OF THE FEATS PERFORMED BY MY SOUTHERN FOREFATHERS AND KINFOLK, AND FROM KNOWING MY FATHER, I FELT A GREAT ADMIRATION FOR MEN WHO WERE FEARLESS AND WHO COULD HOLD THEIR OWN IN THE WORLD, AND I HAVE A GREAT DESIRE TO BE LIKE THEM.”
TR could research.
He could chronicle.
He could report.
These three things alone would have made him a great writer.
The fact that he could discern, evaluate, and philosophize was an added bonus.