The presidential yacht Mayflower was initially meant to remain at anchor while Roosevelt waved the fleet away. He instead ordered it to follow the battleships for much of the day before presidential duties forced his return. The decision suggests how completely the voyage embodied his ambition for the United States to be recognized on the world stage. The brief scene gives the policy a human dimension beyond the departure ceremony.
Notable Point · 31:56-32:51
Roosevelt follows the fleet aboard Mayflower
Roosevelt had Mayflower follow the departing battleships down Chesapeake Bay, turning the sailing into a personal expression of his naval and diplomatic vision.