Army Quote by William Howard Taft
“We should have an army so organized and so officered as to be capable in time of emergency, in cooperation with the National Militia, and under the provision of a proper national volunteer law, rapidly to expand into a force sufficient to resist all probable invasion from abroad and to furnish a respectable expeditionary force if necessary in the maintenance of our traditional American policy which bears the name of President Monroe.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Presidential Address on National Defense, William Howard Taft, 1910
The U.S. should maintain a well‑organized volunteer army ready to expand quickly for defense and expeditionary needs.
In simple terms: America needs a ready, expandable volunteer army for defense.
Key Takeaway
Support a flexible national militia.
Themes
defense
policy
military
national security
Mood
strategic
concerned
Type
political
policy
When to use this quote
- war emergencies
- disaster response
- foreign interventions
Key Concepts
volunteerism
strategic planning
Questions to Reflect On
- What are the risks of a volunteer‑only force?
- How can readiness be ensured without a large standing army?
A Different Perspective
Balancing a standing army with volunteer forces is complex.
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