Sold – Theodore Roosevelt: “Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick”

One basic principle was the underpinning of Theodore Roosevelt’s philosophy – his belief that, to accomplish anything great, "justice and generosity" must be combined with strength, as they "count most when shown not by the weak but by the strong."

These beliefs were put to the test while he was governor of New York. He was under pressure to reappoint as Insurance Commissioner the corrupt Louis Payn, a life-long political friend of Sen. Tom Platt, the boss of the Republican Party. T.R. resolutely refused to agree, and he took the fight into the open to outmaneuver Platt, thus forcing the state’s Republican leaders to abandon their support for Payn. He was elated and wrote to his friend Assemblyman Henry Sprague summing up his successful policy.

Typed Letter Signed on his State of New York, Executive Chambers letterhead, two pages, Albany, January 26, 1900, to Sprague. "Your letter of the 25th really pleased me. Of course, I shall not feel real easy until the vote has actually been taken, but apparently everything is now all right. I have always been fond of the West African proverb: ‘Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.’ If I had not carried the big stick, the organization would not have gotten behind me, and if I had yelled and blustered, as Pankhurst and the similar dishonest lunatics desired, I would not have had ten votes. But I was entirely good natured, kept perfectly cool and steadfastly refused to listen to anything save that Payn had to go, and that I would take none but a thoroughly upright and capable man in his place. Unless there is some cataclysm, these tactics will be crowned with success. As for the Evening Post, Pankhurst and Company, they of course did their feeble best to try and get me to take action which would have ensured Payn’s retention and would have resulted therefore in a very imposing triumph for rascality. They have often shown themselves the enemies of good government, but in this case I do not think they are even to be credited with good intentions. They were no more anxious to see dishonesty rebuked than a professional prohibitionist is to see the liquor law decently administered."

On January 31, the New York Senate confirmed Francis J. Henricks as Payn’s replacement, and T.R.’s triumph was complete. The phrase “Speak softly and carry a big stick” caught the country’s mood and fancy. It was taken up by the newspapers and cartoonists and almost immediately catipulted Roosevelt into fame. The timing was fortuitous, both for Roosevelt and the nation he was soon to lead.

As T.R.’s biographer Edmund Morris states, "The Big Stick took him as far as the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia," where he was nominated for vice president just 5 months later. A year and a half after posting this famous letter to Sprague, T.R. was president of the United States. Roosevelt Changed America and the World He found a nation traditionally reticent about foreign affairs under a government that saw more limits to its power than opportunities for its exercise. He had a vision: An America assuming standing as a world power, a U.S. government strong enough to achieve national goals and pursue national greatness, a presidency powerful enough to effectively guarantee the public welfare and provide inspiration and leadership. He built America’s might and stature and made them felt around the world. Believing that government represents the public interest, he empowered it and achieved startling breakthroughs throughout national life.

His "Square Deal" was the first presidential "program", and under it he crusaded for causes like the Food and Drug Act and labor and consumer rights. He was the father of American conservation and established the National Parks. In accomplishing all this, the principle by which he was guided is one that is still quoted and practiced today: "Speak softly and carry a big stick…" That phrase has became the best known motto of any American president. Roosevelt’s letterbook carbon copy of this monumental letter is in the Library of Congress as one of its “American Treasures.” This is the original mailed letter, exactly as received by Sprague. Please inquire for price.