Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Scott Oliver
Subject(s): Belgium, Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925, Bryce, James Bryce, Viscount, 1838-1922, Butler, Nicholas Murray, 1862-1947, Germany, Great Britain, Grey of Fallodon, Edward Grey, Viscount, 1862-1933, Hamilton, Alexander, 1757-1804, International obligations, International relations, International relations--Moral and ethical aspects, Military service, Voluntary, Neutrality, Pacifism, Pacifism--Moral and ethical aspects, Pacifists, Peace, Politicians--Public opinion, Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930, United States. Army. Volunteer Cavalry, 1st, War, War crimes, War--Moral and ethical aspects, Wars, Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924, World War (1914-1918)
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Theodore Roosevelt compliments Frederick Scott Oliver’s book, Alexander Hamilton. If the United States enters the war, Roosevelt hopes to raise a cavalry regiment similar to the Rough Riders and serve with his four sons. He argues that Great Britain would probably not have entered the war if Germany had respected Belgian neutrality and is distressed at his own country’s failures to defend international rights. Roosevelt has been annoyed at the activity of pacifists. English pacifists should be concerned about defeating Germany and American pacifists should be demanding that the United States follow through on the country’s international obligations. Pacifists are “playing Germany’s game” by demanding peace without regard to the terms of peace. Roosevelt believes a nation must be strong to preserve friendships and respect. He would like the United States and Great Britain to have a “peculiarly close degree of friendship.” Roosevelt is currently out of sympathy with the American public and commands little support.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1915-07-23
Creator(s)
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Recipient
Oliver, Frederick Scott, 1864-1934
Language
English
Period
Post-Presidential Years (1913-January 6, 1919)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
16
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 Scott Oliver. [July 23, 1915]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o212597. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Scott Oliver. [23 Jul. 1915]. Multi-image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 6, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o212597.
APA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919., [1915, July 23]. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Scott Oliver.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o212597.
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 6, 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.
