Theodore Roosevelt and the US Navy
By Mark Lindberg, Mtn. View, CA – October 2025 after the 2025 TR Symposium
The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library will be opening on July 4, 2026 in Medora, N. Dak.
Born in 1858, Theodore Roosevelt (TR) attention to the US Navy was confirmed while a student at Harvard when he wrote a book on the US Navy during the War of 1812. He would eventually provide new foundations to the modern US Navy including reforms of officer promotions to modernizing the fleet.
Although TR’s father was a strong pro Lincoln Democrat, TR’s Mom, Martha Bulloch was a supporter of the South during the US Civil War. Her brother, James, organized infamous Union blockade runners such as the Confederate ship Alabama to break through the Union blockade carrying cotton to Europe while capturing or sinking several hundred ships…After the Civil War, James was under an arrest warrant and forced to live in England. TR was fascinated by that history and became instrumental in convincing James to write a history of those Naval exploits with “The Secret Service of the Confederate States in Europe.”
TR’s life was marked by untimely deaths. His first wife Alice died in childbirth on the same day his mother died on February 14, 1884. As with future tragedies, TR would lose himself in some new adventure. In 1884, TR would leave his new daughter Alice with his sister, Bamie, and head out to the extent of the Northern Pacific Railroad to what is now western North Dakota. There, he became a partner in an “open range” cattle ranch that flourished until the disastrous winter of 1886. TR then got out of ranching and returned to NY. He married his high school sweetheart Edith Carow and reestablished himself in NY politics as police commissioner where he began reforms including Civil Service.
In 1897, TR was appointed assistant Secretary of the US Navy under President McKinley. His boss, John Long was sickly and frequently absent giving TR the opportunity the manage day to day affairs. Those day-to-day activities gradually expanded more authority over policy and Strategic decisions including fanning the flames about Spain exploiting the US neighbor of Cuba. On the verge of the Spanish American War, TR had Commodore Perry load up with coal which proved crucial when Perry was soon to destroy the Spanish fleet in the Philippines. In 1898, TR resigned from Under Secretary of the Navy to form the “Rough Riders” volunteer Cavalry Regiment that routed Spanish troops in Cuba and boosted TR’s reputation. Upon TR’s return from Cuba, The Republican Party had him nominated and then winning the Governorship of New York in 1898.
Governor TR’s “reformist” policies soon upset many of the New York Republican bureaucracy. So, when the 1900 Campaign to re-elect McKinley began TR was selected to run as Vice President. Many of those folks that wanted TR out of New York politics were shocked that the so called “damn cowboy” was now President when Mckinley was assassinated in 1901 just 6 months after his 2nd inauguration.
While President, TR reinvigorated his US Navy passion and launched the world cruise of what was called “The Great White Fleet”. This cruise emphasized the rising naval power of the United States. Prior to TR becoming President, a new and deadlier class of war ships was introduced to the World with the British HMS Dreadnaught. President TR was determined not to let the United States fall behind. Although President TR requested four of this class, Congress agreed to fund two Dreadnought called the Delaware class and in 1907 the USS North Dakota became the 2nd US ship of this class at 25,000 tons with 12-inch main guns with a maximum speed of 22 knots using steam turbine engines. During the early 20th century, Naval technology was accelerating at a fever pace and the Delaware Class was obsolete in a dozen years …
Later, 5th Cousin and future President, Franklin D Roosevelt would also occupy the position of Assistant Secretary of the Navy. FDR was also critical preparing the US Navy for WWII…