Roosevelt’s goal was just the opposite: he pays lip service to the accomplishments of the French academics, but makes it clear their book learning is of only secondary importance in the production of national greatness: “I speak in a great university which represents the flower of the highest intellectual development; I pay all homage to intellect and to elaborate and specialized training of the intellect; and yet I know I shall have the assent of all of you present when I add that more important still are the commonplace, every-day qualities and virtues.”
