Letter from A. T. Mahan to Theodore Roosevelt
Subject(s): Corbett, Julian Stafford, 1854-1922, Jomini, Antoine Henri, baron de, 1779-1869, Military administration, Military art and science, Nelson, Charles P. (Charles Preston), 1877-1935, Newberry, Truman Handy, 1864-1945, Pitt, William, Earl of Chatham, 1708-1778, United States. Navy Department, United States. Navy Dept.
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A. T. Mahan offers his opinion on the role of the secretary of the Navy. Mahan believes that the issues within the Navy Department have arisen from its corporate structure and the staff’s knowledge gaps. Mahan observes that there is a lack of “personal responsibility” in the department and argues that the Chief of Staff should be “solely responsible for the information, and for advice, given the Secretary.” Drawing from Julian Stafford Corbett, Mahan discusses the connection between diplomatic and military actions and the necessity of a strong military in peacetime. He concludes by asserting that he does not “advocate or countenance” any actions to weaken the power of the secretary.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1909-01-13
Creator(s)
Mahan, A. T. (Alfred Thayer), 1840-1914
Recipient
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Language
English
Period
U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
4
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 A. T. Mahan to Theodore Roosevelt. [January 13, 1909]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o60011. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Mahan, A. T. (Alfred Thayer), 1840-1914. Letter from A. T. Mahan to Theodore Roosevelt. [13 Jan. 1909]. Multi-image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. February 6, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o60011.
APA:
Mahan, A. T. (Alfred Thayer), 1840-1914., [1909, January 13]. Letter from A. T. Mahan to Theodore Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o60011.
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. February 6, 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.
