Theodore Roosevelt and the Diplomacy of Righteousness
Subject(s): Diplomacy, Philippine American War (Philippines : 1899-1902), Presidents--Evaluation, Revolution (Panama : 1903), Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919, Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930, Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924
Click on image to zoom in
Serge Ricard argues that President Theodore Roosevelt practiced a style of diplomacy that was clothed in self-righteousness and was backed by the threat of force. Ricard argues that Roosevelt’s diplomacy lacked nuance because Roosevelt reduced all conflicts and disputes to a “simplistic vision of right and wrong.” He asserts that Roosevelt lacked Woodrow Wilson’s endless self-examination and William H. Taft’s commitment to dollar diplomacy, but that he viewed America’s role in the revolutions of the Philippines and Panama in black and white terms with the United States playing the role of guardian of progress and civilization. Ricard closes by arguing that Roosevelt’s style of diplomacy has endured to the detriment of the United States and its foreign policy record.
John A. Gable writes a brief introduction to this article in which he notes Ricard’s credentials, and he stresses that the Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal welcomes the opportunity to air debates about Roosevelt’s record.
Collection
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal
Creation Date
1982-08-06
Creator(s)
Language
English
Period
Theodore Roosevelt and Public Memory (1919-present)
Page Count
4
Production Method
Record Type
Image
Resource Type
Rights
No permission is required from the Theodore Roosevelt Association to use items in the Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal collection for educational purposes. For permissions, contact William Tilchin at (516) 921-6319 or by email at wnt@bu.edu.
Citation
Cite this Record
Chicago:
Theodore Roosevelt and the Diplomacy of Righteousness. [August 6, 1982]. Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o307590. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Ricard, Serge; Gable, John A.. Theodore Roosevelt and the Diplomacy of Righteousness. [6 Aug. 1982]. Image.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. February 26, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o307590.
APA:
Ricard, Serge; Gable, John A.., [1982, August 6]. Theodore Roosevelt and the Diplomacy of Righteousness.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o307590.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/theodore-roosevelt-association-journal. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. February 26, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/theodore-roosevelt-association-journal.
APA:
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/theodore-roosevelt-association-journal.
