Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Kean Roosevelt
Subject(s): Aggression (International law), Allegiance, Belgium, Germany, Great Britain, International obligations, International relations--Moral and ethical aspects, International trade--Moral and ethical aspects, International trade--Political aspects, Japan, Kitchener, Horatio Herbert Kitchener, Earl, 1850-1916, Military readiness, Naval art and science, Naval strategy, Neutral trade with belligerents, Neutrality, War--Moral and ethical aspects, War, Maritime (International law), Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924, World War (1914-1918)
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Theodore Roosevelt understands that the United States could help stop the war by prohibiting the shipment of supplies. However, he argues this would be dishonorable as it would mostly harm the allies and benefit Germany. Roosevelt is “plain United States” and wants the country to do their duty towards other nations and to themselves. To do this, the country must be prepared and should have started months ago. The United States needs to prepare for self defense, judge other nations by their conduct, live up to their obligations, and “not be neutral between right and wrong.”
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1915-03-03
Creator(s)
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Recipient
Roosevelt, John Kean, 1889-1974
Language
English
Period
Post-Presidential Years (1913-January 6, 1919)
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 Kean Roosevelt. [March 3, 1915]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o211920. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Kean Roosevelt. [3 Mar. 1915]. Multi-image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 13, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o211920.
APA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919., [1915, March 3]. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Kean Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o211920.
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. March 13, 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.
