American Civil War (1861-1865)

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.

Samuel L. Morris shares his opinion of the Aldrich Central Bank legislation with Theodore Roosevelt, stating the banks are declining new loans and demanding payment of existing loans, building up their reserves. Morris asks why the banks must be given the power to issue money when the government might repeat what was done during the Civil War and increase circulation under proper regulation of the Comptroller and depositories. Morris would like to hear Roosevelt’s view on the subject.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-16

Frank E. Barney asks Theodore Roosevelt to grant him a favor and using Roosevelt’s influence to get Barney a special act of Congress which would allow him to receive his pension. Barney gives examples of his patriotism such as singing patriotic songs and naming his son after Abraham Lincoln. Barney hopes Roosevelt can help him because even though he made mistakes, he has spent a lot of time making up for them.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-18

Luther F. Eggers tells Theodore Roosevelt he has been a lifelong Republican, fought in the Civil War, and lived among the Rough Riders in Arizona before leaving to practice law in California. Eggers judges that the all Western states will support Roosevelt, unlike William H. Taft, and urges Roosevelt to accept the nomination.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-17

Lulu Mae Kipp Carlin tells Theodore Roosevelt it is time for him to speak under the auspices of the Daughters of Veterans in Chicago and help them raise money by doing so.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-16

Gustavus M. Middleton reminds Theodore Roosevelt he sent Roosevelt a pamphlet titled Sketches of South Carolina. Middleton also recently published an article on the Civil War in the Charleston News and Courier, and received a letter from Roosevelt. The letter and pamphlet were both sent to John Douglas Sutherland Campbell, Duke of Argyll and Middleton would now like to send the Duke a good description of the White House, if Roosevelt can point him in the right direction.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-04

George W. Geer encourages Theodore Roosevelt to accept the nomination and become the next president. Geer explains his ancestors were the earliest settlers in America, fighting in every war, including the Civil War where he and his two brothers were injured. Geer plans to get every veteran to vote for Roosevelt. In his postscript Geer mentions his son, J. Eugene Geer, who traveled with Roosevelt during his first presidential campaign in 1904.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-18

Rebecca B. Swezey, or Sister Rebecca, appeals to Theodore Roosevelt again to help her uncle, Albert Field, receive his full pension for his time fighting in the Civil War. Sister Rebecca says that school teachers receive three times the amount soldiers do, and on the fiftieth anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War, its time to make sure the men are made comfortable.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-16

This military biography of General Howard details his career, including his role in the Civil War and Indian Wars.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Diana M. Tillyes for the comfort bag including items that her late husband had carried in the Civil War. He tells her that either himself or one of his sons will “carry the bag on the other side.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1917-06-02

Theodore Roosevelt thanks W. Frank James for the speeches and tells him that he is in agreement with his positions. Roosevelt expresses his support for obligatory military service and also for those who wish to volunteer for military service to fill in the gaps before enacting a draft. He compares President Woodrow Wilson leading the country in war to fighting the Civil War under James Buchanan

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1917-06-01

President Roosevelt will read Gaillard Hunt’s book with interest. He agrees that men from the South who fought for the Union during the Civil War are most deserving of credit and yet receive none. Recently, Roosevelt renamed a torpedo boat “Drayton” in honor of South Carolinian Union officer Percival Drayton.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-07

President Roosevelt is glad Rear Admiral Evans is writing on the navy. He praises Evans’s career as one of honor, and hopes his book will be widely read for, “it can not but tend in favor of a growing and lofty patriotism.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-17

President Roosevelt sympathizes with the Catholic War Veterans’ Benevolent and Memorial Legion, of which John D. McHenry is president. Roosevelt believes that every “good citizen” must sympathize with its goals of honoring those who have died with a proper memorial service.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-11

President Roosevelt regrets that he cannot attend the reunion of Civil War veterans. He asks Senator Warner to extend his best wishes to the veterans, for without their service, “there would be neither country, nor President, nor flag—nothing for Americans to take pride in now.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-24

President Roosevelt regrets to inform the Committee of Arrangement for the Celebration of the Hundredth Anniversary of the Birth of General Robert E. Lee that he will not be able to attend their celebration. However, he would like to join them in honoring Lee’s life and career as a “great soldier and high-minded citizen whose fame is now a matter of pride to all our countrymen.” He reflects on Lee’s life, character, and accomplishments and describes a man who “in the closing years of his life, served those who sorely needed what he so freely gave.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-16

James Timothy Flint knows that Theodore Roosevelt admired the work of his grandfather Timothy Flint, and wonders if Roosevelt has read John E. Kirkpatrick’s account of the elder Flint’s life. Flint also hopes that Roosevelt will provide a quotation or positive review for his forthcoming book of “Reminiscences,” which largely related to the Texas frontier during the Civil War.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-11

Emily Tyler Carow describes her experiences in Egypt, including her concern about an “undercurrent of hostility” that seems to be present in the Egyptian Arab people. Carow tells Roosevelt about her conversations with Lord Evelyn Baring Cromer and his dinner guests, which have been about topics such as the British occupation of Egypt, the American occupation of Cuba and the insular possession of the Philippines, whether Roosevelt will run for president again, and the natural beauty of the desert.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-01

Judge Dickinson writes President Roosevelt to thank him for his kind words on the centenary of the birth of Robert E. Lee. He commends Roosevelt for bowing to neither sectionalism nor party in his commendation of a dutiful man.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-22

James Jeffrey Roche shares his views on a range of topics with President Roosevelt, including Roosevelt’s handling of Bellamy Storer’s “indiscretion” in Rome, the public’s response to the Brownsville case, and Roche’s support for Roosevelt’s simplified spelling idea.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-28