Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Bryce

In an unofficial letter to British Ambassador Bryce, President Roosevelt expresses dismay at the decision of the British Embassy in Washington, D.C., to issue a formal statement regarding the controversy at the Olympics in London. Roosevelt strongly believes that no good can come from the British and American governments getting involved in the controversy, and says that he will not allow the American government to respond. However, the American Amateur Athletic Union wants to respond to the British statement, which feels like an official action from the government. Using as an analogy the animosity between Harvard and Yale resulting from a controversial football game, Roosevelt suggests that the two governments allow the matter to drop.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-25

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Recipient

Bryce, James Bryce, Viscount, 1838-1922

Publication Date

2021-08-05

Language

English

Period

U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)

Original Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Papers

Repository

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Page Count

4

Production Method

Typed

Record Type

Multi-image

Resource Type

Letter

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 Bryce. [November 25, 1908?]. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o205380. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.

MLA:

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Bryce. [25 Nov. 1908?]. Multi-image. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. October 30, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o205380.

APA:

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919.: , [1908, November 25?]. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Bryce. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o205380.

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. October 30, 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.