Theo Roosevelt Great White FL (H)

For some strange reason I want to give this one 4 & 1/2 stars although I can find no faults with it. The book perhaps could be called "The Rise of T.R. & the G.W. Fleet". Actually I think I may be confused as I think I read the "Rise of T.R." at the same time and now have a hard time remembering each book separately. Anyhow it's a good book and gives a good overview of naval considerations from 1880 to 1900 as well as telling the story about the 1898 war w/ Spain. It doesn't go into extreme depth but then it's only 200 pp or so.

Wimmel has put together an impressive account of the rebirth of the US Navy under the guidance of Teddy Roosevelt. No other US president before or since has had such an impact on the Navy and its role in US foreign policy. Wimmel charts the course from the depths of naval ruin in 1880 (when Peru had a bigger Naval presence then the US) until the capstone adventure of the world tour of the 16 battleships composing the Great White Fleet in 1907. While I do find that Wimmel story line occasionally wanders, he has a habit of bring you right back on track. It is a story full of TR and the men who helped him shape the Navy (Sims, Mahan, Long et all). An amazing story about an amazing future and then serving US President. This is also a very readable work that saves the scholarly details for the appendix, a good source of further study in its own right peppered with comments by the author on those sources. A must for TR buffs and Navy fans alike.

Wimmel's "Great White Fleet" reveals a little-known facet of Theodore Roosevelt's unmatched influence on American history. Well researched, this account of the USA struggle to become a viable sea power is a surprising history lesson.Not surprising is Kenneth Wimmel's ability to present facts in a refreshing, clear, but always interesting manner. This book will not disappoint those who have enjoyed "The Alluring Target", Mr. Wimmel's first book.