In 1914, the Republican Party (USA) was primarily split between between conservatives and progressives. Theodore Roosevelt, the defacto leader of the progressive wing, had left the presidency after barely losing the election nearly two years prior. Before assuming the office, he spent decades in New York state politics and led one of the most prolificly adventurous lives of any US president, ever.

That summer, Teddy made some very public statements accusing William Barnes – a well connected New York Republican from a well known family – of corruption.

Barnes sued Roosevelt for libel; a more common practice then, as libel laws of that era favored the plantiff. Calling someone like Roosevelt a liar in such public fashion was moronic from the start. Instead of backing away from his accusation or pretending he had made some sort of mistake, Roosevelt instead set out to prove that he meant exactly what he said and that his statements were true. He ultimately prevaled and the jury found him not guilty of libel.

The ordeal backfired on Barnes’ spectacularely, effectively ending his political career and influence. It also helped reignite Roosevelt’s political career, making him be seen as a serious candidate for the 1920 presidential election. Sadly, that possibility never materialized as Roosevelt died in 1919.

The moral of the story: don’t fuck with a bull moose.