The slogan "Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute" originated with what event?

"Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute" is a slogan associated with the XYZ Affair. It concerned a political and diplomatic episode in 1797 and 1798. Early in the administration of President John Adams, the XYZ Affair involved key business and political issues between the United States and the country of France.

It was Robert Goodloe Harper who was best remembered for the phrase, "Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute." Harper was a veteran of the American Revolutionary War, Congressman from South Carolina, U.S. Senator from Maryland, Major General in the War of 1812, and a 1816 and 1820 Candidate for Vice President of the Federalist Party.

President John Adams himself called three French agents, X, Y and Z; they had met three Americans in France. In exchange for getting a meeting with Talleyrand, the French foreign minister, the agents demanded a $12 million dollar loan for France, a personal bribe of $250,000 for Talleyrand, and a formal apology from President Adams for insults to France. These demands left the American delegates outraged, and they left France without conducting any formal negotiations.

At a dinner in 1798 in Philadelphia honoring John Marshall, a group of U.S. Congressmen were discussing the French demands. As toasts were made, Harper made his own defiant reply to the French with the toast: “Millions for defense but not one cent for tribute.” The slogan at that point truly epitomized a feeling found in all America.