“A Few Pregnant Days”: Theodore Roosevelt and the Venezuelan Crisis of 1902
Subject(s): Beale, Howard K. (Howard Kennedy), 1899-1959, Bülow, Bernhard, Fürst von, 1849-1929, Bünz, Karl, 1843-1918, Castro, Cipriano, 1856?-1924, Dewey, George, 1837-1917, Diplomacy, Germany, Hay, John, 1838-1905, Holleben, Theodor von, 1840-1913, International relations--Historiography, Loeb, William, 1866-1937, Marks, Frederick W., Powell, E. Alexander (Edward Alexander), 1879-1957, Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919, Spring Rice, Cecil, Sir, 1859-1918, Sternburg, Hermann Speck von, Freiherr, 1852-1908, Thayer, William Roscoe, 1859-1923, Venezuela, William II, German Emperor, 1859-1941
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Edmund Morris examines in great detail the negotiations that led to the resolution of the Venezuelan debt and blockade crisis of 1902 between the United States and Germany. Morris agrees with historian Frederick W. Marks that much of the correspondence and records of the negotiations have been destroyed, and he provides five pages of tables to show the different versions of the negotiations as remembered by Theodore Roosevelt and recorded by various journalists, historians, and biographers. Morris argues that Roosevelt saw Germany as a threat to American interests and the maintenance of the Monroe Doctrine, and he asserts that Roosevelt behaved like a gentleman who was keen to prevent the humiliation of Emperor William II. Morris demonstrates that Roosevelt acted in keeping with his belief of speaking softly while deploying American naval assets under the command of Admiral George Dewey. Morris asserts that this combination of deft diplomacy and the employment of military power led to a successful resolution of the crisis.
A photograph of Roosevelt standing next to a large globe and another showing him on horseback with Emperor William II of Germany appear in the article. A listing of the officers of the Theodore Roosevelt Association along with the members of its executive committee also appears in the article.
Collection
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal
Creation Date
1989
Creator(s)
Language
English
Period
Theodore Roosevelt and Public Memory (1919-present)
Page Count
12
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:
“A Few Pregnant Days”: Theodore Roosevelt and the Venezuelan Crisis of 1902. [December 19, 1989]. Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o307782. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Morris, Edmund. “A Few Pregnant Days”: Theodore Roosevelt and the Venezuelan Crisis of 1902. [19 Dec. 1989]. Image.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. December 19, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o307782.
APA:
Morris, Edmund., [1989, December 19]. “A Few Pregnant Days”: Theodore Roosevelt and the Venezuelan Crisis of 1902.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o307782.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/theodore-roosevelt-association-journal. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. December 19, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/theodore-roosevelt-association-journal.
APA:
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/theodore-roosevelt-association-journal.
