A Sea Change in American Diplomacy: Theodore Roosevelt and the evolving role of the U.S. Navy in American Foreign Policy; 1896-1909

Abstract

This thesis argues that the historical analysis of President Theodore Roosevelt’s diplomatic achievements are too often, and mistakenly, attributed to his use of the threat of military force to coerce foreign governments and ignore his remarkable ability to employ of the tools of statecraft and national power available to him towards achieving his objectives. The paper explores two examples of Roosevelt’s foreign policy actions, the 1902-1903 Venezuela Crisis, and his efforts to gain diplomatic concessions by the Ottoman government, to demonstrate that Roosevelt was a highly intelligent, educated, capable, and disciplined head of state. Rather than embodying the oft quoted, “Speak softly and carry a big stick” policy edict for which he is known, Roosevelt displayed a disciplined approach to achieving his strategic goals, a keen understanding of the limits of military force, which he coupled with a deep understanding of the national interests and exigencies of competitor states. Thus, through the calibrated application of the tools of statecraft, Roosevelt was able to effectively achieve his objectives without ever resorting to the use of force.