Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Owen Johnson
Subject(s): Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925, Debates and debating, Douglas, Stephen A. (Stephen Arnold), 1813-1861, French newspapers--Sections, columns, etc., Greeley, Horace, 1811-1872, International relations, Lincoln-Douglas debates (1858), Lincoln-Douglas Debates (Illinois : 1858), Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865, Political science--Decision making, Press and politics, Radicals, Slavery--Political aspects, Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924, World War (1914-1918), Yancey, William Lowndes, 1814-1863
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Theodore Roosevelt offers Owen Johnson commentary on his recent article in L’Illustration. Roosevelt believes that President Woodrow Wilson is trying to position himself as the sane politician between the extremes of Roosevelt and William Jennings Bryan. Roosevelt compares the situation to building a bridge: you either build it or do not build it; there are no half-way measures. While some have suggested that a debate between Roosevelt and Bryan would be like the Lincoln-Douglas debates, Roosevelt compares Douglas to the more extreme pro-slavery politician William Lowndes Yancey and suggests that men who seem to be moderates are more dangerous.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1916-04-17
Creator(s)
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Recipient
Language
English
Period
Post-Presidential Years (1913-January 6, 1919)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
1
Production Method
Record Type
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 Owen Johnson. [April 17, 1916]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o290204. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Owen Johnson. [17 Apr. 1916]. Image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. December 18, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o290204.
APA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919., [1916, April 17]. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Owen Johnson.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o290204.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. 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. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. December 18, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
APA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
