There are many points of comparison between these two
presidents. Perhaps the one that offers the clearest contrast between the two is the
area of foreign policy.
In foreign policy, Roosevelt was
avowedly looking out for the interests of the United States. He was not trying to be
idealistic or spread democracy or anything like that. He practiced his "big stick"
diplomacy, throwing the US's weight and power around to get things that he felt would
help the US (like the Panama Canal Zone).
By contrast,
Wilson tended to try to be idealistic. For example, he took actions in Mexico that (you
can argue) were against US interests. He chose what he saw as a democratically elected
leader over one who would be more friendly to the US. When WWI came around, he tried to
broker a peace based on ideals rather than on power. In these ways, he was clearly
trying to be idealistic.
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