Liking Tillman's ship proposals does not make him a sympathetic figure in this account. He collected damaging information on allies and opponents alike and used it as a political operator. He could trade support on treaty questions for backing of favored construction. Naval procurement in this example depends on Senate power and personal bargaining as well as engineering requirements.
Notable Point · 2:38:02-2:42:21
Tillman linked political leverage to naval construction
Tillman's collection of personal information, Senate influence, treaty bargaining, and preferred warship programs could become parts of the same political transaction.