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Faithfully yours

William N. Tilchin recalls his friendship with William J. Vanden Heuvel. Tilchin quotes from their correspondence, and he notes that they shared a belief that Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin D. Roosevelt shared similar outlooks on domestic and foreign policies. Tilchin asserts that Vanden Heuvel devoted much of his work to linking the two presidents, as well as healing the rift between the two branches of the Roosevelt family.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

2021

TRA announcements

The Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA) announces that this issue of its journal is dedicated to the memory of William J. Vanden Heuvel who served the TRA in a variety of capacities as a member of the Board of Trustees and the Advisory Board. The announcement highlights aspects of Vanden Heuvel’s career and notes that he was a recipient of the Theodore Roosevelt Distinguished Service Medal. A text box lists the President and Chief Executive Officer of the TRA, along with those responsible for assembling its journal, guidelines for submitting manuscripts, and information regarding the governance of the TRA.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

2021

Officers of the Theodore Roosevelt Association

Listing of the leadership of the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA) including the members of the Executive Committee, the Board of Trustees of the classes of 2022, 2023, and 2024 and the members of the Advisory Board for the classes of 2022, 2023, and 2024. The categories of Trustees for Life and Honorary Trustee are also included.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

2021

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal – Summer, 2021

Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.’s nomination by President Theodore Roosevelt to serve on the United States Supreme Court is the subject of an article and of this issue’s “Presidential Snapshot” column. Holmes also appears on the issue’s front and back covers. A speech by William J. Vanden Heuvel, a report on a previously unknown oral history collection, and an update on the Theodore Roosevelt Association’s (TRA) scholarship fund for dependents of USS Theodore Roosevelt crew members complete the issue.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

2021

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal cover

The front cover of this issue features a letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry L. Stimson in which Roosevelt introduces and endorses the reporter Oscar K. Davis. A photograph of George W. Perkins, a leader in the Progressive Party campaign of 1912, appears on the back cover.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1925

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal index, 2019 – 2020

Comprehensive index to the Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal for 2019 and 2020. The index contains a listing of persons as subjects and authors, including authors of articles and book reviews, as well as a listing of the authors of the books under review. The index also includes a listing of topics covered in articles and announcements. A guide to the pictures found in the issues makes up parts of the last two pages of the index. Each alphabetical entry is followed by its corresponding volume, issue, and page number(s). A text box at the end of the index lists the other volumes in which indexes have been published, and it includes recognition of those who have compiled this and the previous six indexes. An additional text box lists the social media platforms of the Theodore Roosevelt Association.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

2021

Book review

Natalie A. Naylor offers a detailed survey of the contents of Cove Neck: Oyster Bay’s Historic Enclave and less in the way of analysis or scrutiny though she admits that the book demonstrates “the value of local history.” In her review, Naylor demonstrates how the book places Theodore Roosevelt’s life at his home, Sagamore Hill, in a larger context of his neighbors and relatives who lived nearby in the village of Cove Neck. Naylor relates information about numerous Roosevelt family members and highlights the prominence of Sagamore Hill to the history of the area.

Four photographs, a drawing, and a map, all taken from the book, join the work’s front and back covers in illustrating the review.

The exemplary and still highly relevant statecraft of Theodore Roosevelt

In his address at the National War College, James N. Mattis stresses both the inspirational power of Theodore Roosevelt and the United States. Mattis provides examples of presidents whose actions fit Roosevelt’s mantra of leadership, and he relates the story of a captured solider in Iraq who hoped to somehow immigrate to the United States. Mattis asserts that Roosevelt knew the value of power, but he also cultivated the diplomacy of inspiration, and Mattis concludes that inspiration trumps intimidation. Mattis also contends that the post-World War II “Greatest Generation” of American leaders took their cue from the example set by Roosevelt.

Four photographs, and a page devoted to pictures of Mattis with a brief biography, populate the address.

An excellent 2020 TRA annual meeting in Washington, D.C., despite the pandemic

Gregory A. Wynn chronicles the 2020 annual meeting of the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA) at the National War College (NWC) in Washington, D.C. Wynn highlights the difficulties encountered and overcome with carrying out the meeting in the midst of a pandemic, and he praises the staff of the NWC for employing technology to allow for online participation. Wynn notes the various panels and speakers, and he lists the winners of various TRA awards from book awards to the USS Theodore Roosevelt Junior Officer Leadership Award, the Bertha B. Rose Award, and a special TRA Medal of Honor for Public Service to James N. Mattis.

Five photographs, a book cover, and the front and back covers of the meeting program illustrate the report.

Presidential Snapshot (#38): Excerpt of a letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Owen Wister

In a letter to his friend and novelist Owen Wister, President Roosevelt reviews his recently won election victory in the presidential contest of 1904. Roosevelt highlights some of the accomplishments of his first term and notes that his Democratic opponent, Alton B. Parker, proved to be a poor candidate. Roosevelt expresses gratitude for members of his Cabinet, and he believes that he won the election because of the support of ordinary citizens.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1904-11-19

Letter from Oscar K. Davis to George Perkins about assassination attempt on Theodore Roosevelt

In a letter to George Perkins, Oscar K. Davis, a reporter and the secretary of the Progressive National Committee, details the assassination attempt on Theodore Roosevelt in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on October 14, 1912. Davis covers Roosevelt’s decision to leave his presidential train for a hotel in Milwaukee, the subduing of the would be assassin, and Roosevelt’s refusal to go immediately to the hospital. Davis highlights Roosevelt’s insistence on giving his scheduled speech, his dramatic turns at turning away aid, and his subsequent examination and x-ray at a Milwaukee hospital. Davis notes that he wrote the account to counter false stories about the assassination attempt that would appear in newspapers.

The letter is preceded by two introductions by Gregory A. Wynn and William N. Tilchin. Wynn provides the background and context for the letter while Tilchin discusses how he prepared the letter for publication in the Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. Reprints of one page of the original letter and a page from Roosevelt’s bullet damaged speech join a photograph of Roosevelt’s eyeglass case in illustrating the group.

The New Nationalism

Theodore Roosevelt makes the case for a “New Nationalism” in a speech at Osawatomie, Kansas, on August 31, 1910. Roosevelt invokes and quotes Abraham Lincoln frequently in his speech which is peppered with references to the Civil War and the veterans of the Grand Army of the Republic. Roosevelt calls for greater federal government supervision of corporations, and he repeatedly rails against the power of special interests which he argues should be subordinated to the national interest. Roosevelt argues in favor of wealth and inheritance taxes, and he admits that his stances will get him labeled as a Communist or revolutionary. He briefly addresses the topics of international relations, conservation, and policies to help farmers. Roosevelt concludes his address by asserting that good laws and good administration of the laws will be of little value if people do not cultivate traits of character.

William N. Tilchin provides an introduction to Roosevelt’s speech, and a poster promoting the speech, a photograph of Roosevelt giving his address, and a political cartoon supplement the text.

The new nationalism: Theodore Roosevelt’s twentieth-century vision of a third founding and its contemporary relevance

James M. Strock identifies nationalism as the bedrock principle of Theodore Roosevelt’s political philosophy which he contends overrides categorizing Roosevelt as either conservative or progressive. Strock identifies, explains, and provides examples of the ten planks of Roosevelt’s nationalism, including patriotism, social mobility, service, and building the ranks of the middle class. The essay is populated by many excerpts from Roosevelt’s writings and speeches, especially the “New Nationalism” speech of August 31, 1910. In keeping with the content of that address, Strock includes many references to Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War.

A photograph, political cartoon, and painting of Roosevelt join another political cartoon in illustrating the book excerpt.

In the table of contents the title of the essay or column is provided along with the author’s name and the page numbers assigned to each piece. This issue has ten entries, including two items related to Theodore Roosevelt’s 1910 “New Nationalism” speech, three items for a 1912 letter regarding the assassination attempt on Roosevelt, two items from the 2020 Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA) annual meeting, a regular feature, a book review essay, and an index.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

2021

Faithfully yours

William N. Tilchin thanks Shirley Hudders and Marie Hewett for their many years of service in compiling indexes for the Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal, and he notes that with their retirement he is in search of new indexers. Tilchin also comments on the death of former Secretary of State George P. Schultz, and he classifies Schultz as a “Rooseveltian statesman.” Tilchin recalls interviewing Schultz for a research project in 2000.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

2021

The Theodore Roosevelt Association Sustaining Benefactors Society and John A. Gable Legacy Society

Listing, in alphabetical order, of the twelve members of the Dr. John A. Gable Theodore Roosevelt Association Legacy Society. The notice includes contact information for two members of the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA) leadership and names the sole member of the TRA Sustaining Benefactors Society.