In the Arena: Good Citizens, a Great Republic, and How One Speech Can Reinvigorate America

The Fox News contributor and decorated Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran reads his vigorous call-to-arms to reignite American citizenship at home and restore American power abroad, using the timeless truths of Teddy Roosevelt’s iconic “Man in the Arena” speech.

Pete Hegseth makes an impassioned and experiential argument for how Teddy Roosevelt’s articulation of “good citizens,” “equality of opportunity,” and unapologetic US leadership—“good patriots”—can renew our imperiled American experiment and save the free world, in this fascinating, first-hand challenge to elite progressivism, ahistorical foreign policy, and status-quo politics.

Despite contention surrounding Teddy Roosevelt’s legacy, Hegseth argues that the Rough Rider’s exhortation serves as a timeless wake-up call for our Republic. Hegseth resurrects Roosevelt’s famous “Citizenship in a Republic” address—best known for the “Man in the Arena” quote—as a roadmap for addressing the massive challenges facing America today. In order to rejuvenate what makes America exceptional, we must unapologetically get back into Roosevelt’s arena—as engaged “good citizens” at home and powerful “good patriots” in the world.

Bolstered by gripping personal experience, Hegseth channels Teddy Roosevelt’s words to make a case for turning America’s highest ideals into action through the gritty virtues of citizenship, the dogged pursuit of equal opportunity, and aggressive commitment to winning the wars we fight—including the Iraq War. An exceptional American experiment was entrusted to “average citizens” in 1776 and has been perpetuated by every generation since...until now. If we won’t fight for America, then what will we fight for? And if not now, then when? Get in the arena!

Pete Hegseth is a FOX News contributor who regularly appears on FOX & Friends, The Kelly File, and Outnumbered. An infantry officer in the Army National Guard, he is a veteran of Iraq, Afghani­stan, and Guantanamo Bay who holds two Bronze Stars and a Combat Infantryman’s Badge for his time overseas. He is the former CEO of the veterans advocacy organization Concerned Veterans for America and former Chairman of the pro-victory organization Vets for Freedom. He is also a graduate of Princeton Uni­versity and Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. He writes regularly for National Review and FOXNews.com and is a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations.