This Day in History September 2, 1901

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By GG Bain [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

"Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far"  That is a famous quote made by the then Vice-President Theodore Roosevelt on this date in 1901.  He was speaking at this time at the Minnesota State Fair.  According to Roosevelt, the saying/proverb is of West African origin, but that seems to be unsubstantiated.

Twelve short days later, President McKinley was assassinated, and Theodore Roosevelt, not quite 43 years old, became president.  And his Big Stick Policy became his guiding principle in issues of foreign policy during his presidency.

For more information, please check out:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/theodoreroosevelt/
http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/index.php?date=2012/09/02
http://www.factfixx.com/2011/09/02/who-said-that-speak-softly-and-carry-a-big-stick/
http://www.almanac.com/calendar/date/2012-09-2
http://www.historyextra.com/milestone/theodore-roosevelts-speech-minnesota-state-fair
http://famousdaily.com/history/speak-softly-and-carry-a-big-stick.html