The Great Illusion · Character

Theodore Roosevelt

Former American president whose militarism and imperial confidence represent the habits of mind Angell's economic case is written against.

supporting

Also known as Mr. Roosevelt, ex-President Roosevelt, Roosevelt

First appearance: the great illusion

As a supporting figure in The Great Illusion, Theodore Roosevelt is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Listed among those from Aristotle to the German Emperor who have left no doubt about the premises of statecraft.

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Roosevelt appears among the influential figures whose assumptions about national greatness and force Angell seeks to unsettle. His presence signals that the illusion of war's profitability is not confined to European chancelleries but flourishes in popular Anglo-American opinion. For the reader, he embodies the respectable, energetic worldview that Angell must show to be built on a miscalculation.

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Character Web

11 connections

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Relationship types

Rivalry
Professional
Other

Character groups

Naval Power Advocates
Protagonist

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This is the dramatic climax because it marks the psychological turning point where the pacifist argument shift…

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Relationships

Norman Angell
rivalry · negative
Roosevelt championed military strength and 'the strenuous life,' directly opposing… How this plays out →
Moltke
professional · ambivalent
Baron Karl von Stengel
professional · positive
John M. Robertson
rivalry · negative

Norman Angell
Roosevelt championed military strength and 'the strenuous life,' directly opposing Angell's anti-war economic arguments.
Moltke
Both were military figures, with Moltke's strategic writings likely influencing or being compared to Roosevelt's views on war.
Baron Karl von Stengel
Both were advocates of national power, with Stengel's German militarism resonating with Roosevelt's imperialist stance.
John M. Robertson
Robertson, a liberal rationalist, likely criticized Roosevelt's aggressive foreign policy and militarism.

Relationship notes

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In the story

Theodore Roosevelt appears across 8 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

The Axioms of Modern Statecraft
Listed among those from Aristotle to the German Emperor who have left no doubt about the premises of statecraft.
Foreign Trade and Military Power
Mentioned in the context of a correspondent's question about Japan's advantages from victories.
The Psychological Case for War
Quoted from speeches and writings, expressing the view that war is necessary to acquire virile qualities and that nations must perform deeds of blood and valor.
Unchanging Human Nature
Quoted on the necessity of resenting insults to national honor, which Angell contrasts with the extinction of the duel.
IV: Do the Warlike Nations Inherit the Earth?
His phrase about 'war alone' developing necessary qualities is cited as a central militarist argument that the chapter seeks to refute.
The Diminishing Factor of Physical Force: Psychological Results
Quoted as an example of the 'rule of thumb' approach to policy, advocating being 'moderately' peaceful or warlike, which the author criticizes as verbal mystification.
I: The Relation of Defence to Aggression
Mentioned as a critic (implied) who fails to grasp the platitude underlying the relation of defence to aggression.
IV: Methods
Mentioned indirectly through the reference to President Wilson's lobbyists, though not directly named in this excerpt.

Chapter companion notes

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