Theodore Roosevelt long held that the United States' bid to become a world power would depend upon the goverment's commitment to building a strong navy. When William McKinley became president in 1897, Roosevelt lobbied to be appointed Assistant Secretary of the Navy. When the U.S. battleship Maine was blown up in Havana, Roosevelt seized the opportunity to put the American Navy to the test.

To watch this clip in the context of a multi-step media gallery about Roosevelt's foreign policy, check out President Theodore Roosevelt: Foreign Policy Statesman or Bully?