Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Morley
Subject(s): African Americans, Books and reading, Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925, Burns, John, 1858-1943, Byzantine Empire, Calvin, Jean, 1509-1564, Carlyle, Thomas, 1795-1881, Democracy, Encyclopedias and dictionaries, England, Europe, Eastern, Frederick II, King of Prussia, 1712-1786, Godkin, Edwin Lawrence, 1831-1902, Hampden, John, 1594-1643, Harrison, Frederic, 1831-1923, History, India, Lecky, William Edward Hartpole, 1838-1903, Luther, Martin, 1483-1546, Macaulay, Thomas Babington Macaulay, Baron, 1800-1859, Mongols, Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821, New York (State), Presidents--Election, Prophecies, Revolution (France : 1789-1799), Russia, Spain, Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930, Timoleon, approximately 411 B.C.-337 B.C., Washington, George, 1732-1799
Click on image to zoom in
President Roosevelt was recently reading a volume of John Morley’s work Critical Miscellanies, and wished to write to him about a number of the issues he raises, and critiques several other historians and works of history. Roosevelt pivots to talking about the recent election in the United States as he identifies it as having taken place under circumstances similar to those identified by Baron Thomas Babington Macaulay–with a recent financial panic and a demagogue opposing William H. Taft–but because of the moral superiority of the Republican party, Taft became president-elect. Roosevelt believes that foolish optimism can get in the way of sane optimism, but also believes that there is cause to hope in the future. He would like to see Morley when he visits England in 1910.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1908-12-01
Creator(s)
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Recipient
Language
English
Period
U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
7
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 John Morley. [December 1, 1908]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o205488. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Morley. [1 Dec. 1908]. Multi-image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. January 30, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o205488.
APA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919., [1908, December 1]. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Morley.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o205488.
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 30, 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.
