In 1895 Roosevelt was appointed police commissioner for New York City. As head of the Police Board he was on the Health Board, too. He took special delight in looking after playgrounds for the children of the slums. He was aided by Jacob Riis, who wrote _How the Other Half Lives_. Roosevelt's idea was to take children from the streets and put them in playgrounds to prevent them from becoming "toughs." A Washington city editor said, "Roosevelt is the biggest man in New York City. I saw a steady stream of people go up and down the stairs which led to police headquarters. He has more visitors than the President." The truth is, as police commissioner for all New York he was commander-in-chief of an army. [Sidenote: =Merit system for police=] A policeman before could not get promoted without a "pull." But Roosevelt changed this. A Civil War veteran who had served for a long time as a policeman and had no "influence" rescued twenty-eight men and women from drowning. Congress had given him two medals, but New York City did nothing. Roosevelt came. The veteran, one night, plunged into the icy river and rescued a woman. Roosevelt showed his appreciation by promoting him. Every man on the force did his best now, for he knew promotion would come. [Sidenote: =Builds up United States Navy=] Roosevelt was called to be Assistant Secretary of the Navy, under President McKinley. He built up the navy and sent Dewey with the fleet to the Pacific. The war with Spain came (1898). Roosevelt resigned from his office, raised the Rough Riders, and took command with Colonel Wood. =189. Congress Orders Medal.= For bravery in leading the Rough Riders in a gallant charge up San Juan Hill in the face of a murderous fire he was promoted, and a medal was ordered for him. He went back to New York with his Rough Riders. They fairly worshiped him. "He knows everybody in the regiment," said one. "He is as ready to listen to a private as a major-general," said another. The boys presented him with a statue of the "Broncho Buster." Tears ran down the sun-tanned faces as a comrade made a touching speech. Roosevelt now was a real hero. [Sidenote: =Defies bosses as governor=] On his return from war he was elected governor of New York. He told the leaders of his party that he would be controlled by no man or set of men. He said that he would gladly talk with all classes of men, but must be permitted to make up his own mind. This was plain talk for the "bosses." "He just plays the honesty game," said a Tammany politician. [Sidenote: =National recognition of his work=] But he had the same old battles as in the days when he was a young man in the assembly. He tried to run the government of the state in a businesslike manner, and his fight for cleaner politics was so determined that it caught the interest of the entire country. [Illustration: COLONEL ROOSEVELT AND A GROUP OF ROUGH RIDERS] [Sidenote: =Becomes Vice-President=]