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Admiral Dewey writes to President Roosevelt about the ineffectiveness of armored cruisers. Dewey says that while there are some specific uses for armored cruisers, generally either an unarmored cruiser or a battleship is a preferable choice. The General Board does not recommend building any armored cruisers.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-15
President Roosevelt thanks Stephen W. Roach for sending him a biography of his father, John Roach, who Roosevelt praises as being instrumental to beginning the building up of the American navy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-27
President Roosevelt tells Secretary of the Navy Metcalf that he thinks the armor belt on ships should be higher, and asks where it will be on new ships. He also asks about plans for turrets on the new ships. He proposes having a line officer as Second Assistant Secretary of the Navy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-23
President Roosevelt has read the report from Solicitor of the Department of Commerce and Labor Edwin Walter Sims and instructs Secretary of Commerce and Labor Metcalf to carry out his recommendations without involving Congress. Roosevelt directs the Treasury Department to investigate the “dereliction of duty” of the Revenue Cutter Services and believes that more protection from the United States Marines might be necessary to safeguard the Alaskan seal fur fisheries from seal pirates.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-09
President Roosevelt would like Rear Admiral Converse to investigate deeper into the question of armor belts on battleships. Roosevelt specifically mentions the Russian Battleship T︠S︡esarevich as a comparison, saying that he is not sure if American battleships would have withstood the same blows–although he is certain that American naval officers would have fought better.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-10-31
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt discusses various national and international reasons why the Navy Department should steadily, yet rapidly, build up the Navy. He reasons that “a great navy does not make for war, but for peace.” Roosevelt lists actionable steps Congress and the Department can take.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-09-30
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt shares with President McKinley his belief that a battleship should only be sent to the Mediterranean if they intend to make a demonstration of force, in which case three or four armored vessels should be sent. He discusses each of the armored cruisers and battleships that could be sent, their current status, and whether they are suitable.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-04-26
James Morris Morgan is asking Theodore Roosevelt a genealogy-related question about his late uncle, James Dunwody Bulloch, as he has already exhausted all other sources that might’ve known the answer.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-05
Albert L. Key writes President Roosevelt about Lieutenant Commander Frank K. Hill, who has been actively directing attention to the armor belt question. A group of naval officers are conspiring to have him detached from his post and sent away from Washington. Key speaks to Hill’s quality and good standing and asks Roosevelt to step in to prevent him from being sent away.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-06
Secretary of the Navy Metcalf writes President Roosevelt about several matters. First, he addresses reports about the water line of the armor belts on existing battleships and responds to suggestions that the belts should be raised. Citing reports by Admiral Robley D. Evans, who is sailing to the Pacific with the Atlantic Fleet, Metcalf does not recommend this. In fact, he believes lowered would be better. Metcalf also informs Roosevelt of plans to modify turret ammunition hoists. Finally, Metcalf says he does not support a plan to appoint a line officer Assistant Secretary of the Navy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-07
Senator Estournelles de Constant of France finds a letter from President Roosevelt to be “like the signal of a light-house above the fog” when compared to his communications with most European governments. He eagerly anticipates his meeting with Roosevelt in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, next spring. Estournelles de Constant notes the challenges of getting Germany and France to reconcile and predicts “brilliant failure” for the next conference of The Hague if arms limitation cannot be agreed upon.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-18
Charles J. Bonaparte encloses a telegram for President Roosevelt received from Admiral Bradford. Bonaparte will be sending a statement to Roosevelt shortly about the vessels in Santo Domingo. Bonaparte asks if Roosevelt has any instructions to give him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-20
Chronology of the daily life of Theodore Roosevelt from January 1892 to December 1898. Notable events include the death of Elliott Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt is appointed New York City Police Commissioner, his tenure as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, the Spanish-American War, and Roosevelt’s gubernatorial campaign.
Theodore Roosevelt Association
1985
Colored stereograph of the bow of the USS Indiana. Text on the reverse of the stereograph discusses the considerations that must be made when constructing a battleship for “effective aggressive and defensive warfare,” such as guns and armor, coal intake, and missile defense.
As printed on the reverse of the stereograph, “A battleship is a wonder of design and construction. Every known device is employed, every branch of human knowledge and skill is laid under contribution to achieve perfection in a thousand details. A battleship must be prepared for effective aggressive and defensive warfare, which means that it must carry the most powerful guns and ammunition known, must have good speed, must be able to travel a considerable distance without recoaling, and, above all, must be protected from serious damage by the enemy’s missiles. The task of those who plan a new battleship is, therefore, a very complicated and difficult one. The enormous weight of the armor, of the guns and the coal that must be carried, cause a large displacement, which again necessitates powerful engines to drive the ship through the water, and the running of the engines requires vast quantities of coal. Add to this the necessity of comfortable quarters for the officers and men, large rooms for storing provisions and the paramount requirement of ample room for handling the guns, and you have an idea how much ingenuity it takes to plan and build one of these floating fortresses.”
Summary of thirteen letters addressing the question of the distribution of water line belt armor on battleships in the United States Navy. Summarized letters include discussions between admirals, government reports, letters from the Bureau of Construction, and information from international sources.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-03