Leeman publishes anthology on Theodore Roosevelt’s lifelong relationship with the Navy
Dr. William Leeman, associate professor in the Department of History and director of the Pell Honors Program, has published the anthology “Forging the Trident: Theodore Roosevelt and the United States Navy,” co-edited with Dr. John Hattendorf of the U.S. Naval War College.
Within the pages of “Forging the Trident,” published by the Naval Institute Press, readers will encounter a side of Theodore Roosevelt’s life and legacy that is often neglected.
A history of Roosevelt’s passion for the navy
Dr. William Leeman
The collection of essays highlights various aspects of Theodore Roosevelt’s lifelong relationship with the U.S. Navy, with each essay written by a leading American naval historian.
“Roosevelt’s fascination with and interest in the navy spanned his entire life, beginning during his childhood,” Leeman said. “When he was a boy, he would listen to the exciting sea adventures of his maternal uncles, both of whom were Confederate naval officers during the Civil War.”
According to Leeman, Roosevelt first studied naval history as a student at Harvard University, where he produced a major research project on the naval operations of the War of 1812. That project grew into Roosevelt’s first book, “The Naval War of 1812,” published in 1882 when he was just 23.
“What began as a childhood interest and undergraduate research project ultimately transformed into a pathbreaking leadership role in naval affairs,” Leeman said. “Roosevelt became assistant secretary of the navy from 1897-1898, and finally president from 1901-1909.”
Roosevelt played a crucial role in developing the U.S. Navy into a world power in the early 20th century. “He did all this by embracing modern technology, by enacting personnel reforms within the Navy, by improving naval officer education and training, and by educating the American public about the importance of naval power and being active in world affairs,” Leeman said. “Roosevelt also demonstrated the importance of studying history as a way to learn lessons that can inform contemporary policy debates.”
Conference brings together book’s authors
From the beginning, this project was a joint effort between Salve Regina and the Naval War College.
“This publication was the result not only of Dr. Leeman’s expertise in U.S. military and presidential history, but also a successful partnership with co-editor and leading naval historian John Hattendorf, institutional collaboration between Salve Regina and the Naval War College, and the generous support of the Pell Center for International Relations and Public Policy and the John E. McGinty Fund in History,” said Dr. Timothy Neary, professor and chair of the Department of History.
In January 2019, Salve Regina hosted a conference related to the book called “Forging the Trident: Theodore Roosevelt and the United States Navy.” During the conference, each contributor presented a paper that was a condensed version of the essay that would later be published in the book. The conference was attended by faculty and students from both Salve Regina and the Naval War College.
In addition to co-editing the volume, Leeman wrote the essay “From Knowledge, Sea Power: Theodore Roosevelt, Naval Education and the New Navy.” He is also the author of “The Long Road to Annapolis: The Founding of the Naval Academy and the Emerging American Republic,” published in 2010. He earned his Ph.D. in history from Boston University and previously taught at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
