Topic 36 
SPEED ON THE TRIGGER

OF the many traditions that grew up about Theodore Roosevelt was that of his being instant on the trigger.  Indeed, enemies have not hesitated to accuse him of going off at half cock.  Nothing could be farther from the facts.  Of all the men I have known, in and out of public life, I have known none of any consequence whatever who was more careful of his premises before moving than he.  Compared to him the man who first laid down the principle, "Be sure you are right, then go ahead," was a speed maniac.

The tradition was and is mainly due to the Colonel's ability, almost uncanny, to see months in advance of most mortals, to his fondness for work, and his habit of practising the preparedness he preached.  In public matters it was not unusual for him to have a speech on some phase of the situation likely to be uppermost ready weeks or months in advance.  When the time seemed ripe — pop! and the Colonel had his say in speech, public statement, or letter answering some correspondent.

As I write I have before me two typewritten manuscripts.  One, labelled "tentative draft for letter protesting against the establishment of a civilian engineer corps in the navy," is incompletely dated, and the salutation is left blank by the typist.  In the Colonel's distinctive hand appears the name "Mr.  Reuterdahl," and a few words from his pen and his signature are at the end.  This was a document presented by one interested in the matter.  To help the cause along, the Colonel made the draft his own, and sent the completed letter to his naval artist friend.

Another typewritten manuscript left the typist as a statement on a "Naval Training Cruise." As it left the Colonel it was a draft for a complete letter, his hand supplying date line, an address, and a few words in closing before his signature.  This went to a Mr.  Slocum, after a secretary had typed it, while copies of the letters and a memorandum on the cruise, written by the Colonel, went to the press.  At the moment the navy's needs were important and, as usual, he was ready.

Yet another instance.  While the Colonel was putting in his hardest licks for preparedness he one day read the "cabinet" a speech he intended to deliver when opportunity offered.  A fortnight passed, then in came a letter from St.  Louis.

"Here," said the Colonel, "is where I make use of that speech I read you the other day.  I will send it to this man in answer to his letter."

Next day, not more than forty-eight hours after he had written Colonel Roosevelt, the man in St.  Louis read in his morning paper perhaps a column of a letter answering him.  The following day the letter itself, three to four columns long, reached him.  It would be difficult to convince that man that Colonel Roosevelt on receipt of his letter did not drop all other business and proceed to answer him.  His friends, knowing some of the facts, would think as he did.  Sure the Colonel was quick on the trigger!

But only in the sense that the forehanded gunner, waiting with gun in hand for the ducks to rise, is quick.