At the 2026 Theodore Roosevelt Convention (#TeddyCon) in Medora, North Dakota, journalist, author, and political commentator John Avlon joined the Theodore Roosevelt Association’s Public Historian, Dr. Michael Cullinane, for a keynote conversation exploring one of the most enduring speeches in American history.
Delivered at the Sorbonne in Paris on April 23, 1910, Roosevelt’s “Citizenship in a Republic” address—better known as the “Man in the Arena” speech—continues to inspire generations of leaders, athletes, public servants, and everyday citizens.
During the conversation, Avlon examined the speech’s historical origins, its rise to prominence beginning in the 1950s, and how the internet age has introduced Roosevelt’s powerful message of courage, perseverance, and active citizenship to new audiences.
More than 115 years later, Roosevelt’s challenge to step into the arena, embrace responsibility, and strive to make a difference remains as meaningful as ever.