Theodore Roosevelt writes to the men who have volunteered for service in the firing lines during World War I to discuss his disappointment at being unable to join them, after President Wilson said Roosevelt could not reform the Rough Riders. Each man who was to be involved in the regiment can now join the military another way or serve his country in civil life. The funds that have been used for the regiment will be withdrawn and applied to another purpose. All four divisions would have sailed by September 1. Roosevelt challenges Wilson’s belief that the regiment would have only had a political impact and not contributed to the success of the war.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1917-05-20

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Publication Date

2011-11-10

Language

English

Period

Post-Presidential Years (1913-January 6, 1919)

Original Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Collection

Repository

Harvard College Library

Page Count

7

Production Method

Handwritten

Record Type

Multi-image

Resource Type

Letter

Rights

Electronic copy sponsored by the Theodore Roosevelt Center at Dickinson State University. For reproduction or publication permission, contact the Theodore Roosevelt Collection, Houghton Library. See the Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library Terms of Use for further copyright information.

Citation

Cite this Record

Chicago:

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to men who have volunteered for service in World War I. [May 20, 1917?]. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o280118. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.

MLA:

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to men who have volunteered for service in World War I. [20 May. 1917?]. Multi-image. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. October 30, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o280118.

APA:

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919.: , [1917, May 20?]. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to men who have volunteered for service in World War I. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o280118.

Cite this Collection

Chicago:

Harvard College Library. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/harvard-college-library. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.

MLA:

Harvard College Library. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. October 30, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/harvard-college-library.

APA:

Harvard College Library. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/harvard-college-library.