Theodore Roosevelt’s “National Duties”, a speech he gave in 1912, calls for unity and nationalism. It says that everyone must do their part and work together. This speech is also meant to motivate us by focusing on two things: what we can leave for our children and what a good nation looks like. It is accurate to describe his presidency, even though the speech was given when he was vice president. This includes nationalist issues, personal matters and foreign diplomacy. This phrase, “speaking softly but carrying a heavy stick”, is his idea of how a nation ought to act. This works for many people, including those in our military today, as it emphasizes civility and power. Theodore Roosevelt and Trump share a similar leadership style.
His clear nationalist emphasis is seen when he mentions that all citizens have a duty and must work hard, which works to his advantage in getting the attention of the middle, working class and placing himself as a populist. In his speech, Theodore Roosevelt makes it very clear that he has a strong nationalist agenda. This serves to attract the middle class and workers, as well allowing him to be seen as a populist. After stating his nationalist beliefs, he moves quickly to his main focus: foreign policy and how a country should behave. In his speech, Roosevelt mentions that “a nation which has done great works will continue to live, albeit in a different form, for eternity” (Roosevelt). The idea that a nation can live forever by doing something great and leaving a legacy motivates readers and listeners to want to see our country improve. It also makes them think about their own lives and what they will leave behind. This will encourage citizens to be more involved in their communities and to feel more patriotic. They may also want to see the United States get more involved in foreign affairs. The philosophy behind it is that power and force are useless if someone lacks politeness and civility. Similarly, if you speak softly and have no power, then you will not be respected. The “big stick” philosophy is a way of negotiating when possible and using military force if needed. This ideology is said to be the best way to bring a country up in the world because it balances negotiating with military power. It is said that the nation should be prepared to use its power or go to war if diplomacy fails. You can see Roosevelt’s achievements to prove that this “big-stick” approach could work for a better nation.
Theodore Roosevelt’s foreign policy and nationalism-focused leadership is very similar to Donald Trump. There are however some differences in their leadership styles, such as their political experience. Trump and Roosevelt came from rich families but Trump had no experience in politics. Roosevelt had been a Governor as well as McKinley’s Vice-President. Both men won the support of the public through their populist approaches and media attention. Both presidents were devoted to the idea that nationalism is a key element of leadership. Both presidents valued the hard work of their workers, and that is why both campaigns put the people first and focused on improving working class lives. Both Roosevelt’s and Trump’s foreign policy was also a major focus. Roosevelt was instrumental in building the Panama Canal. He also negotiated the Gentleman’s Agreement between Japan and the United States regarding immigration. Trump has also been able continue the fight against ISIS. Trump has increased sanctions on North Korea’s import and export business. He has also pressed China into reducing any banking connections with North Korea. Their similarity of focus in highlighting the importance of US involvement in foreign affairs is a sign that they share the same leadership qualities. Trump has a reputation for publicly ridiculing his adversaries. Roosevelt is no different. Roosevelt and Trump both had very different ideas regarding foreign policy. Trump doesn’t believe in climate change and is against environmental conservation. Roosevelt also added a lot of land to the public domain. Trump may have said in his campaign that he was trying to help the workers, but he has refused to increase the minimum wage. Roosevelt, on the other hand, wanted to ensure that everyone had a living wage.
Roosevelt’s “big stick” ideology, which can lead a nation to greatness if handled correctly, is evident throughout his foreign diplomacy. Trump, on the other hand, has a very similar approach, but he speaks louder and is more willing to use reprimands. Roosevelt’s “bigstick”, or the idea that a nation can achieve greatness by using it correctly, was evident throughout his diplomacy. Trump used a similar approach to foreign affairs, but spoke louder, and he is more willing use a sticking point.
