At age 24, a naive, energetic greenhorn stepped off a Northern Pacific railcar and into the nearly Wild West. In short order, he established the Elkhorn Ranch north of Medora, North Dakota. Despite his "work conquers all" attitude, "all" didn't include winter weather on the Northern Plains. His cattle operation busted and the greenhorn withdrew in 1887 to different fortunes back East. But had he not spent that time in the Dakotas, the failed rancher claimed he never would have become President of the United States. Accordingly, had Theodore Roosevelt (T.