Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to M. Abbott Charles
Subject(s): Brent, Charles Henry, 1862-1929, Cardinals, Catholic Church, Clergy, Entertaining, Etiquette, O'Connell, William, 1859-1944, Roosevelt, Edith Kermit Carow, 1861-1948, Roosevelt, Kermit, 1889-1943, Spalding, John Lancaster, 1840-1916
Click on image to zoom in
Theodore Roosevelt thanks M. Abbott Charles for the kind and interesting letter. Although he did not write the article in The Outlook, he agrees with it. While Spalding and Kane cannot be made cardinals, the writer likely meant that men of their “stamp” should be ordained. Roosevelt sincerely wishes the Catholic Church well. He has only been able to work with a few Protestant clergymen. The clergymen he admires, both Catholic and Protestant, have a combination of serene, lofty spirituality, broadminded charity, and a sincere desire to do good. Archbishop O’Connell is opposite this, and Roosevelt’s non-Catholic friends use him to illustrate the folly of his attitude toward the Catholic church. Despite differences in theology, individuals of different religions can work together for the country’s good. Roosevelt invites Charles to lunch with the editors of The Outlook.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1911-11-20
Creator(s)
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Recipient
Language
English
Period
Progressive Party Candidate (1911-1912)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
3
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 M. Abbott Charles. [November 20, 1911]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o221157. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to M. Abbott Charles. [20 Nov. 1911]. Multi-image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. January 23, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o221157.
APA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919., [1911, November 20]. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to M. Abbott Charles.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o221157.
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 23, 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.
