Putnam's artillery dissuaded che Bricish from kedging a frigace in co che Ease River and preventing John G lover's Marblehead boatmen from lifting rhe continental army off the Brooklyn shore co fighc again. The chronology ends with the 1997 departure of the US Coasc G uard and che island facing a brave new civilian future under che direction of the Governors Island Preservation and Educacion Corporacion, with a large portion operating as a National Park Service Landmark Hiscoric Discricc. Added sections, termed "Island Highlights," expand on selected copies such as "Early Island Engineers" and "Island Music." The evolution of engineering challenges and their solucions represem an imporram theme in the hisco ry of rhe island. Dozens of rare phocographs and illustrations bring rhe island and its garrisons alive. Its coffee table fo rmat is a triumph of the publisher's craft and explain the hefty price. For anyone imeresred in Governors Island or New York harbor, this is the one. }OSEPH
F.
MEANY, PHD
Annapolis, Maryland
Theodore Roosevelt's Naval Diplomacy: The US Navy and the Birth ofthe American Century by Henry J. Hendrix (Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, 2009, 272pp, illus, notes, biblio, index. ISBN 978 -159 11 4-363-6) In the interest of full disclosure, Theodore Roosevelt is this reviewer's favo rite US president and his heroics as a rancher, Under-Secretary of the Navy, Rough Rider, Commander-in -Chief, and posrpresidenrial explorer of The River ofDoubt are my favorite parts of his multifaceted life scory. I have read it from the pens of David McCullough and Edmund Morris, and cherish my first edition of Roosevelt's The Rough Riders, bur CD R Henry J. Hendrix, USN, brings cogerher the naval aspect of this many-sp len dored renaissance man in a fresh, easily-readab le, fast-moving way char successfully links up all the pieces. In sum, Hendrix splendidly weaves the scory of Roosevelt's effect on the US Navy at rhe turn of the 20th century, and the navy's impact on Theodore Roosevelt's legacy. Borcom line: H endrix poims our,
at the rime of [Roosevelt's] entry imo public life, the United States was a rhirdrate power with a fifth-rate navy. When h e left the presidency in March 1909, the Uniced States scood firmly in the first tier of Grear Powers, and almost by sh eer force of will , Roosevelt had created the second most powerful navy o n earth ." Along rhe way, CDR Hendrix tells us how Theodore Roosevelt became fascinated with ships and the sea, and how his overarching doctrine of congruent naval and global power emerged . In an episode reminiscent of Kennedy's Cuban Missile Crisis, we learn from fresh sources unearthed by H endrix of Roosevelt's use of the threat of naval fo rce and shrewd diplomatic maneuvering during eleven days in December 1902 co reaffirm the Mo nroe Doctrine in resolving the Venezuelan Crisis over Germany's attempt at colonial expansion. In the process, Hendrix sprinkles his narrative with littl e-known facts such as Kaiser Wilhelm II's thought of invading Long Island as a bargaining chip co use in his lust for a foothold in the Western Hemisphere.
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Baltimore's Historic Maritime TV Series Produced by Helen Bentley at WMAR-TV from 1950-1965
60th Anniversary Commemorative DVD presented by
The Baltimore Museum of Industry Featuring 2 hours of historic 16m.m.film., not seen since 1965 •A 1955 History of the Port of Baltimore's 250 years • Highlights from programs on Black & Decker, Haussner's, McCormick Spices, Glenn L. Martin, Bendix & more • Helen Bentley interviewed by Alan Walden, illustrated with historic film of the port & its p e ople
Available at the Baltimore Museum of Industry 1415 Key Highway Baltimore, MD 21230
Call 410-727-4808 x 132 or order on our web site
www.thebmi.org T UGBOATS• SKIPJACKS •LIBERTY SHIPS• OLD B AY LINE N. S . SAVANNAH & MORE
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SEA HISTORY 130, SPRING 20 10