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Theodore Roosevelt tells A. T. Mahan that he is enjoying reading his book. Roosevelt voices disdain for a senate resolution that divided the United States naval fleet. Roosevelt informs Mahan that he wrote an article criticizing the abrogation of the 1832 Treaty of Commerce and Navigation or “Russian Treaty” and adds that he is not a hypocrite.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-21
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-27
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary sends A. T. Mahan a letter from Seth Low to Joseph Hodges Choate.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-09
Theodore Roosevelt agrees with A. T. Mahan. He questions whether silence or some other action is the best way he can do good. The New York Times’ recent editorial on arbitration treaties is “the most extraordinary bit of insincerity yet.” Roosevelt would value a signed copy of The Naval Strategy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-05
Theodore Roosevelt informs A. T. Mahan that Lyman Abbott and his other colleagues are also doubtful of the peace treaties. He asks Mahan to write a letter about it for The Outlook.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-08-21
Theodore Roosevelt agrees with Admiral A. T. Mahan on how “hopelessly wrong” the arbitration treaties are. He does not object to having a closer relationship with Great Britain but considers it “atrocious” to consider the treaties as applicable to other nations.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-08-15
Theodore Roosevelt replies to Captain Mahan and agrees that the “flying squad was looked upon with hysterical anxiety by the Northeast and its representatives in Congress.” If Mahan is near Oyster Bay, Roosevelt would like to have lunch with him to discuss the requests made for extra protection in coastal regions of “strategic importance.” He arranged to send them a Civil War monitor with 21 New Jersey militia to Portland, Maine.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-06-27
Theodore Roosevelt appreciated Captain Mahan’s letter, and enjoyed reading his piece on the Panama Canal in The Century. Roosevelt comments on how he views the international situation, saying that he believes that the United States and Great Britain can negotiate and cooperate well, but that he feels differently towards Germany and Japan.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-06-08
Theodore Roosevelt compliments Major Alfred Thayer Mahan on his recent article and discusses the efforts of “professional pacifists.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-02-26
President Roosevelt assures Admiral Mahan that he has already warned President-Elect William H. Taft against dividing the fleet. Roosevelt has shown Taft his letter to Representative George Edmund Foss, chairman of the House Committee on Naval Affairs. Roosevelt is confident that the fleet will never be divided.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-03-03
President Roosevelt asks to appoint Rear Admiral Mahan as chairman of a commission to carry out reforms in the navy. Roosevelt discussed these reforms in his recent message to congress, and he encloses a copy of that message, as well as a memorandum from a senior naval officer.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-25
President Roosevelt thanks Admiral Mahan for sending the clipping, and agrees that it is interesting.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-03
President Roosevelt appoints the date and time for the first meeting of the Navy Reform Commission and requests that they meet in the office of the Secretary of the Navy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-29
President Roosevelt informs Rear Admiral Mahan that he is appointed to a commission to inspect the organization of the United States Navy Department to determine what improvements would make it a “first class fighting fleet”. Roosevelt outlines items Mahan should inspect and asks that the first report be completed soon, followed by a second report detailing recommendations of changes to be made. In addition, Mahan should recommend the number, location, and general facilities of the navy yards to maintain the fleet in constant readiness for war and in times of peace.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-27
At their upcoming conference, President Roosevelt would like Captain Mahan to express his critical views on Secretary of the Navy Truman Handy Newberry’s plans for reorganizing the Navy Department.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-08
President Roosevelt writes that unless Admiral Caspar F. Goodrich produces evidence, there is no need for Admiral A. T. Mahan to act. Multiple accounts have validated Admiral Charles S. Sperry’s statements, and Goodrich has been against the voyage of the Great White Fleet from the start.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-01
President Roosevelt does not object to the publication of any of the pages that Rear Admiral A. T. Mahan sent to him, and he returns them now. He thinks that what Mahan says about the misconduct of the press in their handling of a certain matter is of real interest.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-10
President Roosevelt will read the notes with “great interest” and tells Rear Admiral Mahan that he will ensure that he is given authority to get the information he needs from Admiral Robley D. Evans. Roosevelt also comments on what a “ridiculous creature” journalist Edward Dicey is, and relates him to the “solemn mugwumps” who write about subjects they know nothing about.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-08
William Loeb encloses President Roosevelt’s orders for Admiral Mahan to proceed to Washington, D.C. for his special temporary duty and to return home upon its completion.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-07