Theodore Roosevelt knows that Ethel Roosevelt Derby and Richard Derby are having a difficult time, but he thinks of them often and is proud of their efforts. Roosevelt is sick of the Wilson administration’s neutrality and has said so in an article. Richard Derby Jr. has been a great comfort and they call him “Littlejohn Bottlejohn.” As Roosevelt expected, the Progressive Party went down in an “utter and hopeless defeat.” He does not believe that the Progressives can remain a party for much longer, and he will be relieved when the party disbands. They are concerned about Kermit and Belle Roosevelt and hope the newlyweds boarded the earliest possible ship.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1914-11-04

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Recipient

Derby, Ethel Roosevelt

Language

English

Period

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

Repository

Harvard College Library

Page Count

4

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 Ethel Roosevelt Derby. [November 4, 1914]. Harvard College Library.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o286207. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.

MLA:

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Ethel Roosevelt Derby. [4 Nov. 1914]. Multi-image.
Harvard College Library. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. January 29, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o286207.

APA:

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919., [1914, November 4]. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Ethel Roosevelt Derby.
Harvard College Library. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o286207.

Cite this Collection

Chicago:

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

MLA:

Harvard College Library. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. January 29, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/harvard-college-library.

APA:

Harvard College Library. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/harvard-college-library.