Digital Library

National Service Night, October 5, 1917, The duty of the hour

Theodore Roosevelt points to several excerpts from the book Out of Their Own Mouths that he says illustrate Germany’s aggressive attitude toward the United States during and prior to World War I, providing justification for the U.S. to enter the war. While there are rumors of peace in Europe, Roosevelt says the only true peace will come with the overthrow of the German government.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1917-10-05

Speech at Bridgeport, evening November 3rd, 1917

Theodore Roosevelt speaks on behalf of Schuyler Merritt, who is running for Congress in Connecticut. Roosevelt says that the United States military was poorly prepared for the first World War and that it must take steps to be better prepared in the future. The country must also work on its industry, he says, to make businesses profitable and to ensure that workers are treated fairly. He calls for Americans of all ethnicities to be united and for the United States to instate universal military service.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1917-11-03

Princeton lecture, National strength and international duty

Handwritten draft of Theodore Roosevelt’s lecture at Princeton. Roosevelt compares the ethics of a nation to ethics on an individual level. He calls for a balance between taking care of oneself (or nation) and paying one’s duty to others (at an international level). He points to Germany’s actions during the first World War as an extreme example of caring only for the individual. Roosevelt discusses the current state of the American military and the war with Germany, including reports from the government and newspapers. He presents a list of America’s shortcomings in not being prepared for the war and advises the young university men to learn from the lessons of the past and become leaders in the future.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1917-11-16

Princeton lecture, National strength and international duty

In his lecture at Princeton, Theodore Roosevelt compares the ethics of a nation to ethics on an individual level. He calls for a balance between taking care of oneself (or nation) and paying one’s duty to others (at an international level). He points to Germany’s actions during the first World War as an extreme example of caring only for the individual. Roosevelt discusses the current state of the American military and the war with Germany, including reports from the government and newspapers. He presents a list of America’s shortcomings in not being prepared for the war and advises the young university men to learn from the lessons of the past and become leaders in the future.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1917-11-16

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Francis Rawle

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Francis Rawle for the genealogical information.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-12-17

Speech to the women

Theodore Roosevelt congratulates women in New York State on obtaining the right to vote. He asks that they fulfill the duties and obligations that come along with such a privilege and believes that women will do much to further social and industrial justice. He particularly asks for them to fulfill the duty of patriotism required during the war.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1917-11-20

Speech at Toronto, Ontario, November 26, 1917

Theodore Roosevelt commends Canada and other nations in the British Empire for their actions and bravery during World War I. He says that nations must work together to secure peace and proposes a court to settle disputes between Canada and the United States, composed of judges from Canada and United States Supreme Court justices. He calls for universal military service to help guarantee better preparedness in the future.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1917-11-26

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt recommends A. Piatt Andrew to whoever will read this letter. Roosevelt mentions Andrew’s experience at the United States Mint, the National Monetary Commission, and the American Red Cross Society.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-12-22

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Gorham Rice

Theodore Roosevelt is looking forward to reading William Gorham Rice’s book.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-12-22

Speech at Pennsylvania Society dinner, Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, Saturday, Dec. 8, 1917, 8 p.m.

Theodore Roosevelt welcomes the French ambassador and praises the French military’s actions during World War I. He says that America must support all of her allies, like France, and wage war on all of her enemies.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1917-12-08

Speech to be delivered by Colonel Roosevelt at Cincinnati, December 14, 1917 – at 8 p.m.

Theodore Roosevelt calls for Americans to unite as one people, regardless of ethnic background, and for better military preparedness in the future.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1917-12-14

Colonel Roosevelt’s specch for the Nassau County Christmas Drive for the American Red Cross, delievered at Hampstead, L.I. December 16, 1917, 8 p.m.

Theodore Roosevelt asks for donations and membership on behalf of the Nassau County Christmas Drive for the Red Cross and discusses the work of the Red Cross at home and abroad during the war.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1917-12-16

Colonel Roosevelt’s speech at Miss Price’s school at Philadelphia, January 9, 1918

Theodore Roosevelt compares war to the world of business and laments America’s lack of preparedness for the first World War. He discusses Americans’ duties in speeding up the war and bringing it to a successful close.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1918-01-09

Colonel Roosevelt’s speech at the Ohio Society of New York dinner – January 12, 1918

Theodore Roosevelt advocates “speeding up” the end of World War I and the need for America’s military preparedness, which could be addressed by instituting universal military service.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1918-01-12

Colonel Roosevelt’s speech on January 19, 1918, under the auspices of the League for Political Education, Carnegie Hall – 11 a.m.

Theodore Roosevelt compares the job of school teachers in training the minds of the future to that of soldiers. He insists upon “Americanism” from all citizens, loyalty to the United States regardless of ethnic background, and laments the lack of military preparedness for World War I.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1918-01-19

Address of Hon. Theodore Roosevelt, delivered at the luncheon of the National Security League, Hotel Astor, New York, January 19, 1918

Theodore Roosevelt thanks the members of the National Security League for their work and praises the young men at military training camps across the country. He says the United States was unprepared to participate in the world war and discusses his experiences during the Spanish-American War. Roosevelt calls for the need to “speed up” the current war and to be better prepared in the future by instituting universal military service.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1918-01-19

Colonel Roosevelt’s speech to be delivered at Boston, Mass. February 6, 1918, under the auspices of the Chamber of Commerce and the Pilgrim Publicity Association

Theodore Roosevelt says the two things facing America now are the need for “Americanism” and military preparedness. He says that the United States was unprepared to participate in the world war and that she is still weak in Europe because of it. In order to be patriotic, Americans regardless of ethnic background must be united and loyal to their country. The key to being better prepared in the future, he says, is to institute universal military service.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1918-02-06

Letter from Charles W. Eliot to Theodore Roosevelt

Charles W. Eliot suggests a statement be added to the Republican Party’s platform that establishes an American government in the Philippines that would transition into a Filipino-run government with American assistance.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-12

Alternative statements on the right of labor to organize

Four alternative statements regarding the rights of laborers to form organizations are offered. With various emphases, each statement recognizes the rights of labor to organize, provided the Constitution and laws are respected.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1918

Colonel Roosevelt’s speech to be delivered at St. Louis, Missouri. Saturday, Feruary 9, 1918

Theodore Roosevelt says that all Americans must be loyal to their country, regardless of their ethnic background or home country. He calls anyone who does not have undivided loyalty a traitor. He says the United States must continue to fight hard in the world war and make every effort to “speed up” the war. Note: This speech was not delivered due to sickness.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1918-02-09