In Command: Theodore Roosevelt and the American Military

by Matthew Oyos

Theodore Roosevelt is one of the most popular presidents in U.S. history. His career straddled the "pivotal decades" (1900-1920) and attempted to bridge the gap by injecting nineteenth-century Victorian values into modern organizations to ensure the maintenance of America's morals. Though he was not a wartime president, he took his role as commander in chief very seriously. In Command: Theodore Roosevelt and the American Military explores Roosevelt's efforts to modernize the American Military before, during, and after his presidency. Matthew Oyos examines the evolution of Roosevelt's ideas about military force in the age of industry and explores his drive to promote new institutions of command, technological innovations, militia reform, and international military missions.

In Command places these developments into the broader themes of Progressive Era reform, civil-military tensions, and Roosevelt's ideas of national cultural vitality and civic duty. Though much has been written on Roosevelt's personal and presidential life, Oyos delivers a book that pays tribute to Roosevelt's career-long commitment to transforming the military institutions of the United States. Roosevelt's promotion of innovative military technologies, his desire to inject the officer corps with fresh vigor, and his role in building new institutions for military command (such as the naval base at Pearl Harbor), changed the landscape of American military strategy and recognition. His attempts to modernize the military while struggling with the changing nature of warfare during his time lends particular resonance with and insight into today's rapidly changing military state.

456 pages, Hardcover

Published June 1, 2018

Reviews

[Craig Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for letting me read and review 'In Command'. 'In Command' tells the story of Theodore Roosevelt's relationship with the military before, during, and after his Presidency. Most readers would be aware of his exploits during the Spanish American War with the Rough Riders. The author, Matthew Oyos, has written extensively about it. TR's ego was seemingly unbounded and he was always looking for ways to use military action and hardware to increase his need for involvement and destiny. The politics of the era could be written by and about politicians of today. TR had to contend with senior military officers and politicians who were more concerned about re-election and promotion than war preparation and efficiency. TR himself was not above ignoring best practices if his actions kept his name in the public eye. He is shown in this book to be very much the hero history has given us to love and the precursor of today's politician we hate.

[Gregory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four takeaways
1. There was much opposition to reform of the military. Old line officers resisted, Congress did not want to lose patronage, and public was indifferent. So creating publicity and being in the fight was more important for TR sometimes than the outcome.
2. He was much guided much by his personal experiences as assistant secretary of the navy and by his combat in Cuba. Relied heavily on his friends and promoted people he personally knew. There is a whiff of cronyism, or, atlas, that is what his detractors charged.
3. Mix of 19th century morality and war as heroism and patriotism mixed with 20th century ideas of professionalism, fear of over-civilization, and modernism.
4. TR was a dabbler. He got involved in many, many things (design of bayonet, for example) but could lose interest and direction in other matters (such as the general staff).

[Shrike58 · Rating 3 out of 5]

What one has here is a workmanlike military life of Teddy Roosevelt and how this tied into the behavior of Teddy Roosevelt the politician. Although there remains much to admire about the man, his self-righteousness, his attitude of "do as I say not as I do," and an addiction to being the center of attention leads one to be often exasperated with his behavior. This is particularly the case when running interference for the atrocities inflicted during the U.S. conquest of the Philippines or Roosevelt's command interference in regards to "Brownsville Incident," where 167 African-American soldiers were summarily dismissed without having their day in court. Also, there is no second-guessing whether Roosevelt's drive for world power and influence was all it was cracked up to be. Still, even Oyos wonders whether if the Cuban adventure of 1898 had gone on a bit longer that might have put a dent in Teddy's enthusiasm for martial adventure; let's just say that real war was a shock even to Roosevelt's romanticism.

Originally written: January 8, 2019.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Command is a fascinating look at the militaristic tendencies of Theodore Roosevelt. Matthew Oyos offers Roosevelt and military buffs both lots of detail and analysis in this well documented book. I was not aware of all these important moments in Roosevelt's life and just how differently things might have turned out had he governed in war time rather than in peace. In Command is written rather conversationally, which made it easy for me to follow and understand Professor Oyos' conclusions. I very much recommend this important historical account.