Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William S. Cowles
Subject(s): Canals--Government policy, Canals, Interoceanic--Design and construction, Central America, Cervera y Topete, Pascual, 1839-1909, Dewey, George, 1837-1917, France, Germany, Great Britain, International relations, Monroe doctrine, Naval strategy, Oregon (Battleship), Spanish-American War (1898)
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Governor Roosevelt believes that the proposed canal should be fortified. If it is not, the canal would be another weak point to watch over during a conflict. If the canal had existed during the Spanish-American War, American forces would have needed to defend the canal to prevent the Spanish fleet from crossing into the Pacific Ocean and causing problems in a new theater. Roosevelt also favors an American canal as he does not want to see European powers gain new interests in the Americas.
Collection
Creation Date
1900-02-26
Creator(s)
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Recipient
Cowles, Wm. S. (William Sheffield), 1846-1923
Language
English
Period
Governor of New York (October 1898-1900)
Repository
Harvard College Library
Page Count
1
Production Method
Record Type
Image
Resource Type
Rights
Electronic copy sponsored by the Theodore Roosevelt Center at Dickinson State University. For reproduction or publication permission, contact the Theodore Roosevelt Collection, Houghton Library. See the Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library Terms of Use for further copyright information.
Citation
Cite this Record
Chicago:
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William S. Cowles. [February 26, 1900]. Harvard College Library.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o286163. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William S. Cowles. [26 Feb. 1900]. Image.
Harvard College Library. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. January 22, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o286163.
APA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919., [1900, February 26]. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William S. Cowles.
Harvard College Library. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o286163.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Harvard College Library. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/harvard-college-library. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Harvard College Library. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. January 22, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/harvard-college-library.
APA:
Harvard College Library. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/harvard-college-library.
