Teddy on War and Peace

Roosevelt's attitude toward war and peace is very interesting and instructive. One of the few ways in which political opponents attempted to criticize TR was to promote a war-monger mystique based on his Rough Rider image and strong "Big Stick" rhetoric. Ironically, the two terms of TR's presidency were among the most peaceful in the history of the nation. In fact, TR won a Nobel Peace Prize for his negotiating the end of the Russo-Japanese War in 1905. Of the lack of war during his administration, TR later quipped, "I certainly would never have started a war I couldn't have fought in!" These peaceful years were no accident, but were a result of TR's "peace through strength" approach. He strongly opposed a "peace-at-any-price" philosophy. Foundational to his approach is this outstanding quote:

"Peace is generally good in itself, but it is never the highest good unless it comes as the handmaiden of righteousness; and it becomes a very evil thing if it serves merely as a mask for cowardice and sloth, or as an instrument to further the ends of despotism or anarchy."

( This is a very biblical understanding. I can't help but think of Jeremiah speaking against the false prophets of Judah who proclaimed 'Peace, peace,' when there was no peace. It was a false peace--not of victory over unrighteousness, but of surrender to unrighteousness. Sadly, I think too of the U.N., which sets itself up as an arbiter of international justice, but is really more often "an instrument to further the ends of despotism or anarchy.")
Further TR said, "I only advocate preparation for war in order to avert war; and I should never advocate war itself unless it were the only possible alternative to shame and dishonor." The quintessential example of this was the cruise of the "Great White Fleet." In 1907, 16 battleships were painted a brilliant white, manned by 14, 000 sailors and marines, and sent by Roosevelt on a 43,000 mile 14-month circumnavigation of the globe that would include 20 port calls on six continents. Critics were appalled at such blatant "saber rattling," but TR contended that the fleet had "exercised a greater influence for peace than all the peace conferences of the last fifty years." As one sailor said, "We just wanted to let the world know we were prepared for anything they wanted to kick up. We wanted to show the world what we could do." And so the peace was kept under Teddy Roosevelt.