Boxing

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1917-11-01

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Recipient

Geer, Alpheus, 1863-1941

President Roosevelt writes Mark Sullivan, of Collier’s, in response to Jack London’s article recently published in the magazine. London’s article incorrectly quotes Roosevelt on multiple accounts. Although Roosevelt thoroughly disagrees with London, his disappointment lies with Collier’s for publishing such a poorly constructed and argued piece.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-09

Paul B. Jenkins knows that Theodore Roosevelt is unlikely to recognize him despite their previous meetings, but wants to inform Roosevelt of news from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He tells Roosevelt that a recent editorial in the Outlook condemning prize-fighting inspired Socialists in Milwaukee to speak against prize-fighting.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-15

The Boston Globe covers a Harvard boxing match in which Theodore Roosevelt participated. Roosevelt won over William W. Coolidge, but lost to Charles Stedman Hanks in the championship bout.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1879-03-28

Joseph Bucklin Bishop writes a humorous letter to President Roosevelt regarding a casual boxing match in Washington between the President and fighter Mike Donovan.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-30

Boxer Mike Donovan explains that President Roosevelt’s invitation to him was leaked to the press by one of his boxing students. Donovan gave no interview on the subject, though it seems that some newspapers have published the story as if he had. He hopes Roosevelt is not offended that the newspapers learned of it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-28

Boxer Mike Donovan writes to accept President Roosevelt’s invitation to visit the White House. Donovan has contacted his gloves maker to make two sets for Roosevelt. Donovan has also found a sparring partner for Roosevelt in Washington, D.C.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-18

President Roosevelt–dressed in Americana boxing gear–punches a man labeled “Railroads” squarely in the face.

comments and context

Comments and Context

What makes this cartoon by J. H. Donahey significant to posterity is the date of its publication, immediately preceding the Wall Street Panic.

President Roosevelt is decked out with boxing gloves, prepared to hit a boxing bag with a face on it. In the foreground is a large weight labeled, “R.R. statistics,” and a teddy bear about to swing a club at a train. A man checks the calendar and three men are pictured on the wall, including J. Pierpont Morgan, Edward Henry Harriman, and likely James J. Hill.

comments and context

Comments and Context

Following the meeting between President Theodore Roosevelt and J. Pierpont Morgan, representing major railroad executives, on March 12 in the White House, and many other discussions since January on matters of concern to the industry, the president was understood to be preparing a speech on the subject.

President Roosevelt, dressed in a Harvard boxing uniform, hits a boxing bag labeled “States’ Rights.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

President Roosevelt’s recent speech to the Harvard Union: ostensibly on athletics, although largely devoted to football, was enough of a thread for the cartoonist “June,” whose real identity is lost to posterity, on which to hang a political-cartoon idea.

President Roosevelt sits dazed in a boxing ring with stars coming out of his head, “Through, not thru,” “Woe, not wo,” “Gauge, not gage,” “Though, not tho,” “Axe, not ax,” “Rhyme, not rime,” and “Kissed, not kist.” A strong man depicted with a dictionary head looks on as a monkey counts, “1-2-3-4-5.” In the seats sit two men, “R.R. Trusts” and “Meat Trusts.” The latter says, “And I thought he was invincible.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

This cartoon for the Detroit News, where cartoonist Fred Leipziger drew for his entire career, combines subjects — President Roosevelt losing a battle with the Public Printer and the House of Representatives over the adoption of Simplified Spelling words in government publications; and his battles against trusts.

“Russia” and “Japan” stand in the boxing ring. Japan is not hurt while Russia has several bandages and his arm in a sling. President Roosevelt watches from the side and puts his hand up to indicate “stop.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-14

President Roosevelt writes his son Kermit to ask when Kermit wants Seth Bullock and his family to visit. Roosevelt is glad that Kermit has taken up boxing. Roosevelt talks about seeing family when he went to Oyster Bay to vote and reports on election outcomes in certain states.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1907-11-07

President Roosevelt thinks Kermit Roosevelt has been spending too much time counting down the days until his return and that is why his marks are not where he wants them to be. Roosevelt visited Philadelphia to make a speech at the University of Pennsylvania and had lunch with the Philadelphia City Troop. Roosevelt also talks about boxing with Grant and wrestling and doing jiujitsu with Professor Yamashita.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1905-02-24

President Roosevelt writes to Kermit Roosevelt to say that he spoke to the Rector and it is all set for Kermit to come for the inauguration. Ted broke his nose again and the doctor said he cannot box anymore. Roosevelt is having a horrible time with the Senate about his arbitration treaty and has been making too many speeches. Roosevelt will take a hunting trip in April or May.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1905-02-11

President Roosevelt talks of riding horses with Dan Moore and Ted. Ted has a boil on his neck but is still teaching his Sunday school class. Roosevelt has also been boxing with Granville Fortescue. Ethel has been sick, but Alice, Archie, and Quentin are fine. Edith feels the strain of the social season and Roosevelt is driven nearly mad by the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives Joseph Gurney Cannon.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1905-02-05

President Roosevelt reports that members of the Electoral College have arrived to cast their votes and the Elector from Montana is his old friend Arthur William Merrifield. Roosevelt had Merrifield and his wife to lunch and tea. Roosevelt and Ted continue to box with Grant the wrestler. Little Corinne Robinson and friends have arrived for the diplomatic dinner, and Archie and Quentin have the grip. One of the horses will have to retire to Wilmer’s farm.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1905-01-23

President Roosevelt reports he sent a letter to the Rector. Roosevelt and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt have been riding the horses. He has also been boxing with Ted and a wrestler named Grant. Ted and Hoover went to see Grant box. The new dog Jack is as devoted as the old dog Jack.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1905-01-19

President Roosevelt realizes that boxing is not for him after he wrenched his thigh again while trying it with Ted, Church, Granville Fortescue, and Dan Moore. He went for a ride with Edith, Ted, and Senator Lodge and cousin Christine is visiting.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1904-12-11

Theodore Roosevelt wants his sister Anna to read the enclosed and, if she does not think he is “taking too great a liberty,” she should send it to William Astor, the boxer.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1878-10-09