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The Presidential campaign of 1888, the Republican nominee, Harrison, needed somebody that would give speeches to catch the listener's attention. He chose the Young Roosevelt. When he won, Roosevelt hoped for a political appointment as compensation, such as Assistant Secretary of State, but was only given the job as a Civil Service Commission. This proved to be a no-win situation for Roosevelt, because if he did a good job then he would lose favor with his party, but if he did not do anything then he would receive severe criticism. When in the Presidential Election of 1892, the Democratic candidate, Grover Cleveland, won, Roosevelt decided to leave his job. He took the job as Board of Police Commissioners in New York City. He quickly made headlines as he tried to clean the police department of all its corruption. He would go undercover throughout the streets catching policemen who were not doing their job. He also bought the standardization of firearms, and had officers use bicycles. .
In the election of McKinley in 1896, Roosevelt was appointed Assistant Secretary of the Navy. As Assistant Secretary of the Navy he fought for a stronger Navy, adding cruisers and battleships. Fearing the danger of Spanish control of Cuba, Teddy strongly advocated war against Spain; but McKinley was doubtful of starting the war, waiting for public opinion to lead him what to do. Then when the US battleship Maine exploded in Havana Harbor, killing 250 Americans, Roosevelt placed the blame on Spain, and the public was agreeing with it. Left in charge of the Navy for a day while his boss, Secretary of the Navy John Long, was away because of his health, the hawkish Assistant Secretary telegraphed all squadron commanders in the Pacific and put them on high alert against Spain's Pacific fleet--a brazen usurpation of power. Roosevelt also wanted to start the first Voluntary cavalry regiment that would be sent to Cuba to fight.