A very important moment of history for the United States Navy, the assembled mass of naval might is on formal review by President William Howard Taft and his Secretary of the Navy while on progress down the Hudson River into New York Harbor. The last of the Armed Cruiser Class met the first of the American Dreadnaught Battleships, U.S.S. ARKANSAS and WYOMING, on this epic occasion on October 14, 1912. More than 100 navy vessels from auxiliary ships to the largest of battleships were on display.
President Taft, a huge man prone to be somewhat reactionary in his decisions, if history in hindsight is allowed to make such judgements, was impressed with the direction of the country's naval growth. He inherited the policies of President Theodore Roosevelt, and expanded the American presence throughout the hemisphere. In the midst of having decided not to campaign against Roosevelt and eventual winner Woodrow Wilson, President Taft chose to go aboard ARKANSAS (BB-33) and cruise to inspect the newly begun canal zone in Panama.
Showing his unique artistic style, Hayley Lever made a sensational impact in New York City starting in 1911 with his interpretive Post-Impressionism of such aggressive texture, brushwork and coloration. On hand to witness this epic moment, the New York Times wrote that the event was "the greatest assemblage of naval strength ever assembled."
