Angels of peace

President Roosevelt is dressed as an angel of peace with an olive branch as he leans on one of the guns on a battleship. Caption: “I want a resistless fighting navy, because it is the most effective guarantee of peace that the country can have.”—President Roosevelt.

comments and context

Comments and Context

On July 22, 1908, President Roosevelt traveled to the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, to deliver a major address. Appropriately, he made the trip from Oyster Bay by sea on The Mayflower, the presidential yacht.

In the final year of Roosevelt’s presidency, he filled his speeches and articles with carefully-considered plans and justifications. He charted future policies in detail with longer presentations, more statistics, and the conscious co-option of points that critics might use to oppose his goals.

The Navy Magazine called the conference “undoubtedly one of the most important and far-reaching conferences in the history of the American Navy.” It noted the great number of attendees and the attention paid by domestic and foreign observers.

The president addressed his usual topics, like the need for a continued and expanded program of battleship construction. Roosevelt emphasized the strategic naval importance of the Panama Canal, which was being built at the time. He also reminded his audience of the manifold benefits associated with the Great White Fleet’s circumnavigation of the world’s seas. The fleet’s voyage to the ports of friendly nations and political opponents was still underway as he spoke. No matter was too large or small to escape Roosevelt’s notice. His speech ranged from matters of naval reorganization to the increased tonnage of dreadnoughts.

It was a remarkable address, as Roosevelt had very literally intended it to be. He wanted his words to be debated, agreed with, and adopted.

Expressing his lifelong belief in peace through strength, Roosevelt crafted a typically unique phrase: “I want a resistless fighting Navy.” The precise meaning of this statement is difficult to parse. “Resistless” is an unusual word with an ambiguous definition. However, Roosevelt’s general tone and personality leave no doubts as to his intentions.

Cartoonist P. B. McCord neither endorsed nor disagreed with the president’s sentiments. Rather, he notes the duality of an aggressive military policy and hopes for peace. This composition illustrates the contradictory elements of Roosevelt’s thesis. McCord neatly pairs images of big guns and a military hat with a halo, angel’s wings, and the olive branch of peace.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-25

Creator(s)

McCord, P. B., 1870-1908

Language

English

Period

U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)

Page Count

1

Production Method

Printed

Record Type

Image

Resource Type

Cartoon

Rights

These images are presented through a cooperative effort between the Library of Congress and Dickinson State University. No known restrictions on publication.

Citation