American Civil War (1861-1865)

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to J. J. Jusserand

Theodore Roosevelt greatly wishes he could have been president during the Mexican Revolution and the First World War. Roosevelt also wishes that the documents sent to him by Jean Jules Jusserand could be widely circulated. Roosevelt further states that he hopes the English and French governments will treat the Wilson administration the same way Abraham Lincoln’s administration treated the English and French governments during the American Civil War, when the official classes were hostile to the United States.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-02-06

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Alfred E. Pease

Theodore Roosevelt hopes Sir Alfred E. Pease has acquired a copy of his book, America and the World War. Roosevelt is disappointed in the manner in which President Woodrow Wilson and Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan have responded to the World War. Roosevelt attributes their actions in response to the German occupation of Belgium to physical fear, a desire to placate the German vote, and a “twisted flabbiness of principle.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-02-06

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Juliet Barrett Rublee

Theodore Roosevelt advises against joining the peace organization and describes their platform of principles as “silly and base.” He compares the current peace advocates to the Copperheads of the American Civil War. Roosevelt views the peace movement as futile. Roosevelt is also distressed that the peace advocates make no mention of the wrongs committed against Belgium. He wants the United States to stop these wrongs. Roosevelt would like everyone to refuse to have anything to do with such a “foolish and noxious” movement.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-02-09

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George Otto Trevelyan

Theodore Roosevelt asks George Otto Trevelyan if he has read his book America and the World War. Roosevelt wishes there was more he could have done than express his views.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-02-06

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edward Grey

The crux of the war for Theodore Roosevelt is Belgium and he will judge other nations by their conduct. Therefore, he opposes Germany for its actions in Belgium and praises Great Britain’s and France’s actions as a model for good faith and international morality. American public opinion has recently shifted in favor of the allies, but pro-German feeling had been growing for several months before this change. Roosevelt attributes the growth of this sentiment to the “lavish attentions” shown to American war correspondents by the Germans. He suggests the allies be more open and accommodating to correspondents. A closer view of the allied side will be beneficial to American public opinion and is unlikely to negatively interfere with military operations. Roosevelt also warns against being too strict with contraband. American trade is vastly more beneficial to the allies and could become a vital factor in the war. The allies must maintain these advantages and should be careful not to incite the American government or public. Roosevelt hopes that “every possible consideration” will be shown to the American flag and position.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-01-22

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Kuno Meyer

Theodore Roosevelt was interested in Kuno Meyer’s letter even though he disagrees with much of it. Roosevelt’s position is based on the need for the United States to defend itself and to judge other nations on their conduct. He champions Belgium, as Belgium has been “dreadfully wronged.” Roosevelt will not guess at the outcome of the war, but if Germany is victorious her actions towards Belgium indicate that the United States will eventually have to defend itself. He does not believe that the “righteousness of a cause and the final issue may both with safety be deduced from the spirit of the nation fighting.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-01-07

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Fraser Metzger

Theodore Roosevelt does not think of Fraser Metzger as a German American any more than he thinks of himself as a Dutch American. He believes that, as a whole, German immigrants were better but compares Germany under Prussian militarism to the Southern slave-holding regime before the Civil War. Roosevelt enjoyed Agnes Repplier’s article and plans to send Metzger’s letter to her.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-01-09

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Horatio Nelson Jackson

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Horatio Nelson Jackson for the book he sent about General William Wells.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-01-04

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt argues that Americans who view international relations from the standpoint of their “ancestral blood” are damaging the country’s “common American citizenship.” Roosevelt has used the case of Belgium to show what could happen to the United States after a German victory. However, he has other reasons, which he does not want to put on paper, to fear a showdown with a victorious Germany. The wrongs of the war were perpetrated by Germany against Belgium, and it is impossible not to think that wrongs could be committed against you if there is “sufficient interest to make it desirable.” There is no doubt that the German people believe in the righteousness of their cause and have responded accordingly. However, Southerners during the American Civil War felt the same. Roosevelt would like the United States to introduce universal military service and guarantee Germany against invasion and subjugation. Afterwards, the country could guarantee the borders of small states, such as Belgium.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-01-29

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Cecil Spring Rice

Theodore Roosevelt is glad that Cecil Spring Rice liked his article in The Outlook. If he had been president, Roosevelt would have called attention to the guarantee of Belgium’s neutrality and accepted the Hague treaties as imposing a serious obligation that must be enforced by the United States and other neutral nations. He would have backed up this statement with force and believes the American people would have followed him. However, as people tend to follow the president in a crisis, the majority are now with President Wilson. Roosevelt compares the situation to the negotiations to end the Russo-Japanese War, which required explicit assurances from both nations and months of negotiations, and the presidential election of 1864, where many who favored peace voted against Abraham Lincoln.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-10-03

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Francis J. Heney

Theodore Roosevelt relitigates the circumstances surrounding the language and inclusion of the trust plank in the Progressive Party platform. Roosevelt states that he is planning to propose Francis J. Heney as Meyer Lissner’s proxy on the executive committee of the Progressive Party and expresses frustration about the tension between the moderate and radical wings of the party leading to dysfunction.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-12-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Mark Sullivan

Theodore Roosevelt asserts to Mark Sullivan that all the money was paid to Panama and France regarding the creation of the Panama Canal. None of Roosevelt’s personal friends bought securities or speculated on the Canal. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-11-29

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Joseph L. Buckley

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Civil War Veteran Joseph L. Buckley for his support. He is grateful to have had the support of Union veterans in the campaign.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-11-29

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George U. Crocker

Theodore Roosevelt responds to George U. Crocker about why he named his doctrine “recall of judicial decisions” and the problems it caused. He then explains that he does not care if the form of recall of decisions applies to voters deciding if Supreme Court interpretations of the Constitution are right or wrong or to voters deciding they want an act to become law regardless of the Constitution. Although, he thinks that deciding ad hoc changes to the Constitution is easier and safer. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-11-19

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Annie M. Smith

President Roosevelt thanks Annie M. Smith, who described herself as “a little lady of sixty-three, a widow of a civil war veteran,” for the letter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-02

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Albert Shaw

President Roosevelt tells Albert Shaw, editor of the Review of Reviews, that he believes that the deeds and words of great people of the United States, as well as the character of the President, are assets to the United States in representing good citizenship. Roosevelt cites a letter by President Abraham Lincoln to Lydia Bixby, who had lost all five of her sons during the United States Civil War, as an example of the sort of character people should have, both in Lincoln’s writing a personal message in the midst of war, and in Bixby’s patriotism and sacrifice.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Daniel Bartlett Sargent

President Roosevelt realized after reading the pamphlet that Daniel Bartlett Sargent fought on the Kearsarge in the Civil War. He notes that his uncle, James Dunwody Bulloch, fought on the Alabama, and that his former naval aide, Cameron McRae Winslow, is a nephew of John Ancrum Winslow, who commanded the Kearsarge.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-06

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Basil Wilson Duke

President Roosevelt asks if General Duke is interested in the position of commissioner to mark Confederate graves, as Colonel William Elliot has passed away.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-12-07

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Whitelaw Reid

The political cartoon Ambassador Reid sent greatly amuses President Roosevelt. He inquires if he can obtain the original, in addition to other Punch cartoons, including one depicting him and Emperor William II, which was banned in Berlin. Unsurprisingly, people have responded negatively to the financial crisis. Roosevelt remembers a similar reaction during the Spanish-American War. He has a better understanding of what Abraham Lincoln faced and what future presidents will experience in the case of a great national crisis.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-14

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George Otto Trevelyan

President Roosevelt finished George Otto Trevelyan’s recent volume on the American Revolution, and sincerely praises it as “one of the few histories which can deservedly be called great.” Although biased, Roosevelt places the American Revolution among the great historical events. Trevelyan treats it well, and Roosevelt compares him to other authors of military history. He especially appreciates the justice Trevelyan gives Charles Grey, 1st Earl Grey, as he believes in giving men credit regardless of their allegiance. Roosevelt rejoices in interesting books like Trevelyan’s, particularly when he has much to worry about. He will send a volume of his speeches.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-11