Did you know that Theodore Roosevelt won the Nobel Peace Prize?

By Susan Roth

          Well, he did, in 1906. Roosevelt Middle School in Eugene, Oregon is named for this great Peacemaker. Our Thinkquest Team was inspired by his legacy in the development of the modern peace movement and this project. His was the first Peace Prize awarded to a politician and the first prize given for a particular action for peace accomplished in the previous year, as opposed to involvement in peace over a prolonged period of time.

          The prize was awarded to President Roosevelt for his intercession for peace between Japan and Russia, who had been fighting a bloody war. The war had started in February 1904 with many impressive Japanese victories. Unfortunately for Japan, this left them overextended in Asia and low in funds. Russia was in a very bad situation as well. Their fleet was destroyed and their main army forced north of Mukden. At home they faced revolution. As a result, both Russia and Japan were anxious for peace, but neither wished to make the first move. What was necessary was intervention from a third, and impartial, party.

          The United States was ideal. It was now a recognized Great Power from its victory over Spain, and it had no alliances in the area. Teddy Roosevelt was privately asked by Japan in 1905 if he would facilitate negotiations. Roosevelt first asked Russia if it would accept a peace treaty from Japan. When assured they would, he invited both countries to begin negotiations for peace, and offered to set up the time and place himself.

          Roosevelt was a good man for the job. He had served as civil service commissioner, police commissioner of New York City, and assistant secretary of the navy. During the war with Spain, he had led volunteer cavalry (the Rough Riders) to fight in Cuba. He had served as governor of New York and had been elected vice president under McKinley in 1900. When McKinley was assassinated, Roosevelt succeeded him and later, in 1904, was elected president in his own right. His part in the mediation between Russia and Japan is an excellent example of his diplomatic skills.

          It was essential that there should be absolutely no difference between the treatment received by the two delegations. For the first meeting of the parties, Roosevelt invited them to his yacht in Oyster Bay for lunch. Both side were brought separately in American warships. When they reached the yacht, they were served at a round table. The first toast was offered by Roosevelt in honor of both nations, and to the peace between them, thus honoring neither country above the other.

          Even afterwards, when the negotiations were moved to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Roosevelt stayed involved with the proceedings. He helped in various ways, among them personal appeals to the imperial rulers at times, but always staying in the background. The Peace Treaty of Portsmouth was signed in September 1905.           When Roosevelt received the Peace Prize, he stated that "there is no gift I could appreciate more." Roosevelt gave his Nobel address in 1910, after he was no longer president and was touring Europe. He said that what he had done was only possible because he was president, and therefore he planned to use the money to start a foundation in the United States for industrial peace. This dream would never be realized. During World War I, the money was given back and given to several wartime charities.

          Not that Roosevelt was all good. He often censured people who believed in "peace at any price". He included people who were against large armament expenses in that epithet as well. When he won the Prize, a New York Times article called him "the most warlike citizen of these United States...." The Philadelphia Ledger called him "the militant champion of a large army and navy...."

          On the other hand, Roosevelt supported arbitration and the Hague Conferences. The League of Nations was originally his idea. It was modified by Woodrow Wilson shortly after World War I, and was promoted by him; it did not ultimately happen, however.
Bibliography:
THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE AND THE LAUREATES
Irwin Abrams (G.K. Hall & Co. : Boston)


Click here to read about how the first Teddy Bear was inspired by Theodore Roosevelt. (The original Teddy Bear can be found at the National Museum of Natural History)

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