Naval strategy

In this citation for the Theodore Roosevelt Distinguished Service Medal, Perry D. Floyd cites a long list of John F. Lehman’s accomplishments as Secretary of the Navy during the Reagan administration which qualify him to receive the award. Lehman is especially noted for increasing efficiency in the Navy and strengthening the military capabilities of the branch. Lehman was also involved in the naming of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt.

Two photographs of Lehman and one of Floyd appear in the article.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt encloses three memoranda for Secretary of the Navy Long. The first concerns the suitability of the Dry Tortugas as a naval base, the second is about the subject of torpedoes, and the third reports that the Italian government has agreed to sell two armored cruisers to Spain. Roosevelt calls Long’s attention to the growth of Spain’s naval force, in contrast to the United States’ relative stagnation.

Collection

Massachusetts Historical Society

Creation Date

1898-01-22

Theodore Roosevelt will send the tickets to Archibald “Archie” B. Roosevelt as soon as he receives them. He agrees that the Yale-Harvard football game might not be so bad, as Yale is improving. Roosevelt blames the sinking of the SS Ancona on the cowardice of the “Byzantine logothete in the White House” towards the loss of the RMS Lusitania.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1915-11-14

Theodore Roosevelt is surprised at Ambassador Bryce’s questions regarding the fortifying of the Panama Canal. Fortifications will keep the fleet available for operations and are not aimed at a particular nation. The canal could last for centuries and any nation could eventually be an enemy. Roosevelt compares the situation to Great Britain’s presence at Gibraltar. Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt’s health continues to improve.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1911-10-27

Governor Roosevelt believes that the proposed canal should be fortified. If it is not, the canal would be another weak point to watch over during a conflict. If the canal had existed during the Spanish-American War, American forces would have needed to defend the canal to prevent the Spanish fleet from crossing into the Pacific Ocean and causing problems in a new theater. Roosevelt also favors an American canal as he does not want to see European powers gain new interests in the Americas.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1900-02-26

Governor Roosevelt encloses a document from an Oyster Bay, New York, neighbor who has questions regarding what circumstances would allow his discharge. Roosevelt is confused over Secretary of State Hay’s and President McKinley’s views on the canal treaty. If such a canal as they suggest existed during the Spanish-American War there would have been a great deal of anxiety over the Spanish fleet using the canal to attack the Pacific coast or Admiral Dewey in the Philippines. Roosevelt wants a canal held and fortified by the United States.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1900-02-16

Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt writes to Captain Evans regarding various aspects of the use of battleships in conflict with Spain. He also comments on the various degrees of preparedness of the branches of the Armed Forces.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1898-04-20

Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt informs Captain Evans that he will speak to the Secretary and that he has been advising along the same lines as Evans advises in his letter. Roosevelt feels that the sailing of Spanish torpedo catchers should be treated as a mobilizing hostile army.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1898-03-16

Theodore Roosevelt writes to Price Collier and assures him that it is fine they disagree, but notes that he will continue to argue “for what is fundamentally right.” As an example, he cites Coller’s recent book, with which he disagrees with certain implications but ultimately believes it is valuable for explaining the good things about British colonization and for instructing Americans about world affairs. Roosevelt also mentions that he “takes a certain grim delight” in the discovery that his opinions, while vilified by the “peace-at-any-price people,” may have had an ultimately positive impact on the proposed arbitration treaty.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06-20

Theodore Roosevelt thinks that when World War I goes in history, it will be recognized that Admiral Louis Alexander Mountbatten’s action in connection with the mobilization of the British Fleet was one of two or three critical things which the Allies did that allowed them to neutralize the extraordinary German efficiency. Roosevelt assures Mountbatten that he will receive credit for this. Roosevelt also sends Mountbatten a copy of an article he has written in which he references Mountbatten’s actions.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-10-25

Theodore Roosevelt does not want to be considered in next spring’s primaries. He hopes that the Republican Party will realize that the Progressive Party platform of 1912 was “mere Abraham Lincolnism” and a decent man will be nominated. Roosevelt believes President Wilson should be protesting against the German sinking of passenger ships. British actions should be ignored until action is taken against the “infinitely worse deeds of the Germans.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-03-31

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Munroe Smith for sending his pamphlet, “Military Strategy versus Diplomacy.” Roosevelt corrects Smith that he served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy to John Davis Long and while Long was a “high-minded, honorable man,” Roosevelt believes he was unfit to lead the Navy. For example, one of Long’s theories was to hold all warships in port until there was danger of war. After the sinking of the USS Maine, Long refused to prepare the Navy for war as he believed this would “tend to bring about war.” Roosevelt’s actual advice to William McKinley was that the Spanish government should be informed that the United States would consider the Spanish fleet being sent to American waters as a declaration of war. If the fleet were still sent, then it would be attacked on the high seas. This is different from Long’s statement but Roosevelt doubts that Long sees the distinction.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-03-24

Theodore Roosevelt understands that the United States could help stop the war by prohibiting the shipment of supplies. However, he argues this would be dishonorable as it would mostly harm the allies and benefit Germany. Roosevelt is “plain United States” and wants the country to do their duty towards other nations and to themselves. To do this, the country must be prepared and should have started months ago. The United States needs to prepare for self defense, judge other nations by their conduct, live up to their obligations, and “not be neutral between right and wrong.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-03-03

Theodore Roosevelt refutes statements made by James M. Beck regarding Roosevelt’s actions around the time of the Spanish-American War. He denies advocating the sending of the Atlantic fleet to intercept and destroy the Spanish fleet without a declaration of war. He recommended warning Spain that sending the fleet to the West Indies would be considered a declaration of war and that the United States would act accordingly. Roosevelt also denies saying that the Assistant Secretary of the Navy should be made the “general Admiral of the Navy” with precedence over all other admirals. He suggests Beck is attempting to deliberately spread falsehoods and gives Franklin Spencer Edmonds permission to show his letter to Beck or anyone else who heard Beck’s statements. Roosevelt does not believe it is necessary to publish his response to Beck.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-11-19

Theodore Roosevelt writes to Emil C. Wetten that the United States should not abandon the expansion of their Navy at present.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-11-14

President Roosevelt agrees with the two questions Secretary of the Navy Newberry has asked, and would like him to go ahead with the meeting with Assistant Secretary of the Navy Herbert Livingston Saterlee and two others. Roosevelt hopes they will devise a plan that will make the Navy more efficient and prepared for any future war.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-07

President Roosevelt sends Lawrence F. Abbott several letters and telegrams about the Standard Oil Company case that are for his information only. He also answers Abbott’s questions about the Great White Fleet, emphasizing that the fleet must always stay together as a unit whether in Atlantic or Pacific waters.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-13

President Roosevelt congratulates Admiral Dewey on the conclusive report about the Subig Bay question.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-08-05

President Roosevelt was distressed at Representative Burton’s speech regarding the navy. He argues that a strong navy, including naval fortifications, is required for the United States to maintain its position across the globe.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-02-23

President Roosevelt returns a “first-class” letter from William Mayhew Folger who is the “right man for the place.” At the next Cabinet meeting they will consider sending additional ships to Asia.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-02-13