Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to A. T. Mahan
Subject(s): Annexation, Barker, Albert Smith, 1843-1916, Battleships, Beardslee, L. A. (Lester Anthony), 1836-1903, Canals, Interoceanic, Cleveland, Grover, 1837-1908, Colonies, England, Germany, Hawaii, International relations, Japan, Lodge, Henry Cabot, 1850-1924, Long, John Davis, 1838-1915, McKinley, William, 1843-1901, Navies, Oregon (Battleship), Reed, Thomas B. (Thomas Brackett), 1839-1902, Sherman, John, 1823-1900, Spain
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Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt agrees with Captain Mahan about both Hawaii and foreign policy generally. Roosevelt worries about Japan, and feels that the United States should increase its military presence in the Pacific Ocean. Senator Henry Cabot Lodge has spoken with President William McKinley on this topic and “pressed his views upon him with all his strength.” Roosevelt additionally mentions his worries about the international situation in the West Indies. He believes the United States should increase its presence and make sure that no strong European power is allowed to gain a foothold there. The institutional resistance to the build-up of the Navy annoys Roosevelt. He comments to Mahan, however, that Secretary of the Navy John Davis Long agrees with the two of them about Hawaii, and that he hopes for positive action on that front.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1897-05-03
Creator(s)
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Recipient
Mahan, A. T. (Alfred Thayer), 1840-1914
Language
English
Period
Assistant Secretary of the Navy (April 1897-April 1898)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
7
Production Method
Record Type
Multi-image
Resource Type
Rights
These images are presented through a cooperative effort between the Library of Congress and Dickinson State University. No known restrictions on publication.
Citation
Cite this Record
Chicago:
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to A. T. Mahan. [May 3, 1897]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o158607. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to A. T. Mahan. [3 May. 1897]. Multi-image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. February 6, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o158607.
APA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919., [1897, May 3]. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to A. T. Mahan.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o158607.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. February 6, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
APA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
