5 Great Presidential Quotes on the Merchant Marine

August 9th, 2007 · Comments - by tim -

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President John Adams, Memoirs
No group of individuals did more for establishing our country than the American Merchant Seamen and Privateers. Their record speaks eloquently of their devotion and sacrifices.
President FDR
President Franklin D. Roosevelt, public statements on the U.S. Merchant Marine
“[Mariners] have written one of its most brilliant chapters. They have delivered the goods when and where needed in every theater of operations and across every ocean in the biggest, the most difficult and dangerous job ever undertaken. As time goes on, there will be greater public understanding of our merchant’s fleet record during this war [World War II].”

President Theodore Rooevelt

President Theodore Roosevelt, Last Annual Message to Congress
To the spread of our trade in peace and the defense of our flag in war a great and prosperous merchant marine is indispensable. We should have ships of our own and seamen of our own to convey our goods to neutral markets, and in case of need, to reinforce our battle line.

President Coolidge

President Calvin Coolidge, Message to Congress
The maintenance of a merchant marine is of the utmost importance for national defense and the service of our commerce.

President William Howard Taft, Inaugural address, March 4, 1909
Unless we have a merchant marine, our navy if called upon for offensive or defensive work is going to be most defective.