Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Morris Whiton
Subject(s): Coin design, Coin design--Law and legislation, Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865, Mottoes, Respect--Religious aspects, Saint-Gaudens, Augustus, 1848-1907, United States. Congress, Washington, George, 1732-1799
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President Roosevelt thanks James Morris Whiton for the letter. In response, he sets forth the provisions that authorize using “In God We Trust” on coins, which Congress repealed, but may now revive. Roosevelt hopes it is not revived, believing such use of the phrase “promotes levity and irreverence in the use of a beautiful and solemn religious sentiment.” He favors simple coin design without excess lettering. Including the phrase is a customary, not legal, practice instituted after Abraham Lincoln’s presidency.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1907-11-15
Creator(s)
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Recipient
Whiton, James Morris, 1833-1920
Language
English
Period
U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
2
Production Method
Record Type
Multi-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 James Morris Whiton. [November 15, 1907]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o200765. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Morris Whiton. [15 Nov. 1907]. Multi-image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. January 16, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o200765.
APA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919., [1907, November 15]. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Morris Whiton.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o200765.
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. January 16, 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.
