A US senator in the 1890's believes that the US must build more battleships that any other nation. There is a good chance that this leader has been strongly impacted by the writings of which person.?

The US senator in the 1890s is likely influenced by the writings of Alfred Thayer Mahan, a naval officer and historian. Mahan’s seminal work, "The Influence of Sea Power upon History, 1660-1783," emphasized the importance of naval power in achieving national greatness and advocated for a strong navy to protect American interests and assert global influence. His ideas significantly shaped U.S. military policy during that era, leading to increased naval expansion.