President Theodore Roosevelt's approach to foreign policy was often summarized by the phrase:

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"Speak softly and carry a big stick". Theodore Roosevelt adopted the West African proverb "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far" as his guiding principle in foreign affairs. This approach meant that the United States would negotiate diplomatically ("speak softly") but back up its diplomacy with the threat of military force (the "big stick"), particularly through the expansion of the U.S. Navy. Roosevelt applied this philosophy during the construction of the Panama Canal, mediation of the Russo-Japanese War, and his Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine.

"A war to end all wars" (""A war to end all wars"") is a phrase associated with President Woodrow Wilson and World War I, not Theodore Roosevelt. "The business of America is business" (""The business of America is business"") is attributed to President Calvin Coolidge in the 1920s, reflecting his laissez-faire economic philosophy. "Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute" (""Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute"") originated during the XYZ Affair of 1797-1798 under President John Adams, over a century before Roosevelt's presidency.

Roosevelt's "big stick" diplomacy marked a significant expansion of American power in the Western Hemisphere and the Pacific. His Roosevelt Corollary (1904) declared that the United States would intervene in Latin American countries to maintain stability and prevent European interference, effectively making the U.S. an international police power. This interventionist approach shaped American foreign policy for decades and contributed to both admiration and resentment of the United States throughout Latin America.

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