Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous
Subject(s): England, Frederick II, King of Prussia, 1712-1786, Germany, Great Britain. Army. Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment), Militarism--Moral and ethical aspects, Military campaigns--Participation, British, Military policy, Military service, Voluntary, Offensive (Military science), Russia, Selous, Marie Catherine Gladys, 1874-1951, Soldiers--Health and hygiene, United States. Army. Volunteer Cavalry, 1st, War--Moral and ethical aspects, World War (1914-1918)
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Theodore Roosevelt is saddened that Frederick Courteney Selous has been unable to reach the warfront and believes an exception should be made. Several Rough Riders were considered unsound or too old but they performed above average. Roosevelt understands Selous’s concerns about the war and is unsure if the Russians, whose troops have endurance and are abundant, but inferior, can effectively mount an offensive against Germany. He admires and respects Germans but cannot ignore that Germany has spent fifty years developing a foreign policy that has made them a menace to all their neighbors. Roosevelt abhors German militarism that has created “contempt for international morality and such appalling ruthlessness in war.”
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1914-12-04
Creator(s)
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Recipient
Selous, Frederick Courteney, 1851-1917
Language
English
Period
Post-Presidential Years (1913-January 6, 1919)
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 Frederick Courteney Selous. [December 4, 1914]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o210893. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous. [4 Dec. 1914]. Multi-image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. January 30, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o210893.
APA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919., [1914, December 4]. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o210893.
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.
