Letter from Alfred Thayer Mahan to Theodore Roosevelt
Subject(s): Barker, Albert Smith, 1843-1916, Battleships, Hawaii, Japan, Nelson, Horatio Nelson, Viscount, 1758-1805, Pitt, William, Earl of Chatham, 1708-1778, Preparedness, Smith, Adam, 1723-1790, United States. Navy
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Captain Mahan emphasizes to Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt that he writes only to suggest thoughts or give information–not to influence action. He calls Roosevelt’s attention to two related factors: a previous article he wrote suggesting that the threat to Hawaii is from Asia, rather than Europe, and a situation in South America which saw the United States worried about not having a battleship in the Pacific Ocean. He suggests that a similar situation could now occur if the Japanese have two battleships while the United States has only one. Mahan feels that it is important that the United States begin to prepare its fleets in order to avert potential conflict, saying “preparedness deters the foe,” and helps maintain peace without actually having to fight.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1897-05-06
Creator(s)
Mahan, A. T. (Alfred Thayer), 1840-1914
Recipient
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Language
English
Period
Assistant Secretary of the Navy (April 1897-April 1898)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
6
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 Alfred Thayer Mahan to Theodore Roosevelt. [May 6, 1897]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o25712. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Mahan, A. T. (Alfred Thayer), 1840-1914. Letter from Alfred Thayer Mahan to Theodore Roosevelt. [6 May. 1897]. Multi-image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. January 29, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o25712.
APA:
Mahan, A. T. (Alfred Thayer), 1840-1914., [1897, May 6]. Letter from Alfred Thayer Mahan to Theodore Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o25712.
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. January 29, 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.
