Step 1 : Introduction to the question "Which leader is linked with the proverb, "Speak softly and carry a big stick"?"
On September 2, 1901, at the Minnesota State Fair, Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt first used in a public speech a saying that would later be universally associated with him: "Speak softly and carry a big stick, and you will go far." This famous line emphasized his policy towards foreign affairs. It is still quoted by politicians and columnists in different countries—not only in English but also in translation to various other languages. Roosevelt attributed the term as "a West African proverb", and was seen at the time as evidence of Roosevelt’s "prolific" reading habits.
