Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Owen Johnson
Subject(s): Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925, Douglas, Stephen A. (Stephen Arnold), 1813-1861, Greeley, Horace, 1811-1872, Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865, Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924, Yancey, William Lowndes, 1814-1863
Click on image to zoom in
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
Publication Date
2021-01-14
Language
English
Period
Post-Presidential Years (1913-January 6, 1919)
Original Collection
Theodore Roosevelt Papers
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?]. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. 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. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. October 29, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o290204.
APA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919.: , [1916, April 17?]. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Owen Johnson. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o290204.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. 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 Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. October 29, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
APA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
