Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft
Subject(s): Doyle, Alexander Patrick, 1857-1912, Jusserand, J. J. (Jean Jules), 1855-1932, Presidents--Portraits, Sperry, Charles S. (Charles Stillman), 1847-1911, United States. Navy. Atlantic Fleet. Battleship Force, Wentworth, Cecile de, 1853-1933
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President Roosevelt warns President-Elect Taft not to let the “horrid female creature” Cecile de Wentworth paint his portrait. In a moment of weakness, Roosevelt let her “make believe” painting his portrait that she then tried to hang in the Paris Salon. She tried to get the American ambassador in France to convince the French that it was disrespectful to Roosevelt not to hang the “awful daub” in a good place. Roosevelt has also directed Rear Admiral Charles S. Sperry’s fleet to stop, and thinks that Sperry is an “old jack” to get misled about it.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1908-11-21
Creator(s)
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Recipient
Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930
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 William H. Taft. [November 21, 1908]. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o205338. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft. [21 Nov. 1908]. Multi-image. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. November 26, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o205338.
APA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919.: , [1908, November 21]. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o205338.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. 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 Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. November 26, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
APA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
