United States. Navy

Secretary of the Navy William C. Whitney carries a large book labeled “Navy Yard Investigations,” and confronts George M. Robeson, William E. Chandler, and John Roach, who are cowering at his approach outside the “U.S. Navy Ya[rd] Office.” Whitney is gesturing toward sailing ships that are being repaired, among those identified are “Shenandoah: for Building – $463,866, Repairs – $906,481; Ossipee: for Building – $407,064, for Repairs – $1,197,391; Kearsarge: cost – $286.918, Repairs – $1,123,416; [and] Mohican: Repairs cost $900,000.” Caption: Secretary Whitney – “It seems to me, Gentlemen, that you have been repairing a damaged party out of a decaying navy.”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1885-06-03

Two crooks labeled “Robeson” and “Roach” walk down a sidewalk, whistling. They are being trailed by William C. Whitney, Secretary of the Navy, as a policeman. Caption: “Cheese it!”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1885-06-24

George M. Robeson, William E. Chandler, and John Roach sit on the hull of a ship resting on its side with patches labeled “Repairs” partially covering holes. Caption: A historical picture.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1885-07-01

Officer’s commission appointing Roscoe Spear a Lieutenant in the United States Navy.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1902-05-08

Black ink cartoon of President Roosevelt dressed in an admiral’s uniform and standing on a copy of the United States Constitution. He is addressing six men, all with Roosevelt’s face. One of the men is dressed as a cook and labeled “Treasury.” The rest are in Naval uniforms with the labels Army, Cabinet, Navy, Senate, and House. In the background is a ship’s smokestack labeled “The Uncle Sam Teddy.”

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site

Creation Date

1904-06-12

Bronze medal with arched top commemorating the departure of the Great White Fleet. Obverse features a relief image of President Roosevelt. Reverse features a relief of Columbia waving to the departing fleet.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site

Creation Date

1907

Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt left the New York Police Department because there was nothing left for him to accomplish in the “preposterous system.” He has always been interested in the Navy and looks forward to applying some of his “pet theories.” Roosevelt would like to discuss naval and foreign policy with Edwin Lawrence Godkin. Original and copy.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1897-07-24

Assistant Secretary Roosevelt escorted the newly commissioned John Jacob Astor to see Senator Thomas Collier Platt, Secretary of the Interior Bliss, and President William McKinley. Roosevelt is doing the “exasperating work” of moving arms and equipment around the usual delays. It will be a few days before he can join Leonard Wood for military service with the 1st Volunteer Cavalry.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1898-05-10

Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt has recommended that Captain Evans represent the Navy Department on a proposed “Board of Defense” that will form plans for a campaign. Roosevelt is confident that Secretary of the Navy Long will appoint Evans.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1898-03-19

Uncle Sam holds a large magnifying glass labeled “National Vanity” which he is using to examine a battleship flying an American flag labeled “U.S. Navy.” He is also holding papers labeled “Monroe Doctrine.” Caption: Why not look at it with the naked eye?

comments and context

Comments and Context

The sailing of the “Great White Fleet” might have prompted the cartoon of Udo J. Keppler at this time, which was the approximate arrival of the fleet in San Francisco. The fleet of 16 battleships, divided into two squadrons, and variously escorted by other vessels in its circumnavigational cruise to many ports, was at sea for 14 months.

President Roosevelt’s message to Congress at the beginning of the third session of the fifty-eighth Congress in 1904. In this message, Roosevelt discusses various aspects of the state of the union and introduces the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-06

Commissioner Roosevelt is interested in a “properly vigorous foreign policy,” including seacoast defense and a “first class navy.” He would like American intervention in Cuba and a farsighted policy that would remove European powers from the western hemisphere. He asks how American warships are armed compared to European navies. Upcoming legislation will determine the influence Roosevelt can wield on the Board of Police Commissioners.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1896-04-05

When he sees them, President Roosevelt will explain to William Sheffield Cowles and Admiral Evans his reasons for not letting the squadron travel to New York.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1905-09-01

A “Naval Line Officer” crashes through a window at the “White House” where he has been booted out. A small dog observes from the ground.

comments and context

Comments and Context

Since Theodore Roosevelt’s late college days, when he commenced work on his first major book — still a standard reference work — The Naval War of 1812, he took an active interest in the American Navy and the influence of sea power on world history (as per the title of his friend Captain A. T. Mahan’s influential book). During his service as Assistant Secretary of the Navy (1897-1898), he effected improvements and sent the fleet to Manila when war was declared on Spain. At the end of his presidency, Roosevelt famously sent the painted white “Great Fleet” on a circumnavigational cruise.

Theodore Roosevelt continues his journey to Africa, having been welcomed at several stops throughout the trip. Messina was a disaster in the wake of the recent earthquake, and Roosevelt was extremely proud of the small group of United States Navy men who were performing their jobs admirably and efficiently. Kermit Roosevelt is proving to be an ideal traveling companion.

Collection

Harvard College Library

At center, Andrew Carnegie donates an “inland sea” as a place to send the Navy. Surrounding vignettes include other options where it could be sent: the “North Pole,” the “Saragossa [sic] Sea,” the “Saharra [sic] Desert,” or “Salt Creek” – where the “Salt Creek Reception Committee,” comprised of such figures as “D.B. Hill, Alton B. Parker, Croker, Burton, Jerome, [and] Seth Low,” awaits its arrival. Caption: Some places to send it without giving offense.

comments and context

Comments and Context

The American Navy was in the news when this cartoon appeared, as it was at least once a year during President Roosevelt’s administration — during the annual message, today called the State of the Union address.

Governor Roosevelt asks for advice about the nurses’ bill. Roosevelt states that he is taking care of the children while Edith Roosevelt is away, and describes them as being “really very cunning.” He also discusses the daily business of governing New York.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1900-03-14

Assistant Secretary Roosevelt is concerned over the recent USS Maine explosion and Edith’s increasing fever. He is very grateful to Anna Roosevelt Cowles for taking care of Alice Roosevelt.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1898-02-17

Edith Roosevelt’s fever is returning and Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt is calling in Dr. Osler from Baltimore. Roosevelt was pleased to receive the informative note from William S. Cowles about the investigation into the explosion of the USS Maine in Havana, even though there is not yet any conclusion about the cause.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1898-02-25

Assistant Secretary Roosevelt assures Anna Roosevelt Cowles that it is good her husband is moving between Havana and Key West. He believes President McKinley seeks a peaceful solution but does not know what the administration will do. Edith Roosevelt’s health is improving very slowly and Theodore Roosevelt Jr.’s headaches have returned.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1898-03-16