Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles J. Bonaparte
Subject(s): American essays, Japan, Literature and morals, Soldiers, Soldiers as literary characters, Soldiers in literature, War stories, American
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President Roosevelt asks if the Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte can circulate Elbert Hubbard’s “message to Garcia” to every officer and enlisted man, as the Japanese Government has already done so.
Comments and Context
A Message to Garcia is a fictional essay depicting a brave and competent soldier who delivers an important message from President William McKinley through the Cuban wilderness to General Garcia. Published by Hubbard in 1899, it became a widely known moral lesson about taking initiative in difficult circumstances, with the popular phrase “getting the message to Garcia” denoting this type of action.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1906-10-01
Creator(s)
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Recipient
Bonaparte, Charles J. (Charles Joseph), 1851-1921
Language
English
Period
U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
1
Production Method
Record Type
Image
Resource Type
Rights
These images are presented through a cooperative effort between the Library of Congress and Dickinson State University. No known restrictions on publication.
Citation
Cite this Record
Chicago:
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles J. Bonaparte. [October 1, 1906]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o196657. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles J. Bonaparte. [1 Oct. 1906]. Image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 13, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o196657.
APA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919., [1906, October 1]. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles J. Bonaparte.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o196657.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 13, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
APA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
