Boxing

President Roosevelt and Judge Alton Brooks Parker meet as boxers in a boxing ring, shaking hands before the start of the match. Uncle Sam, as the referee, stands in the background.

comments and context

Comments and Context

With the dust settled from President Roosevelt’s active administration after William McKinley’s assassination, Democratic Party wrangling between factions favoring and opposing William Jennings Bryan — by mid-summer 1904, the rival presidential candidates were chosen, and the campaign could begin.

President Roosevelt as a boxer sits on a stool with his arms resting on the ropes in the near corner of a boxing ring, waiting for a challenger to enter the ring and sit in the vacant chair in the “Democratic Corner.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

In this 1904 cover cartoon by Joseph Keppler, Puck takes a breath from its near-obsession with the upcoming presidential race, focusing on the Democrats’ scramble for the nomination. William Jennings Bryan, William Randolph Hearst, Alton Brooks Parker, Arthur Pue Gorman, David Bennett Hill, Grover Cleveland, and Richard Olney were among the candidates and power brokers receiving attention in Puck‘s cartoons.

Mark Hanna stands in the doorway of a room labeled Roosevelt’s Presidential Training Quarters. Theodore Roosevelt has been practicing on a 1904 Practice Dummy. Cartoon is regarding the 1904 President Election.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-03-25

Theodore Roosevelt wishes John Lawrence Sullivan success in his lectures on temperance. Roosevelt believes that as an honest fighter he will be a good citizen in endeavors outside the boxing ring as well. Roosevelt also believes that young men will listen to Sullivan more than they would to professional lecturers about the consequences of drinking.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-08-26

The William Barnes libel suit was an important victory for Theodore Roosevelt and for “decent government.” Roosevelt has started reading the biography Charles G. Washburn wrote about him and is impressed. He would like to discuss the biography with Washburn and comment on aspects of the biography he liked or might change. Roosevelt states that the story of him boxing while wearing glasses is a myth popularized by Curtis Guild.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-05-29

As originally stated in his autobiography, Theodore Roosevelt continues to support boxing and considers it a “first class sport.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-03-01

Theodore Roosevelt writes to Director of the Secret Service Flynn on behalf of Arthur Donovan, son of Professor Mike Donovan, for a position in the secret service. Roosevelt explains Arthur Donovan’s boxing career and his qualifications and believes that he will be as good as some of the agents who protected him, including Frank H. Tyree, Stephen A. Connell, and James E. Sloan.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-02-13

Theodore Roosevelt asks Mike Donovan to send the enclosed letter after making any necessary changes. He agrees that they need to get Arthur out of boxing since it is, in Roosevelt’s view, a game and not a “life profession.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-02-13

Theodore Roosevelt refuses to write a letter concerning a bill. Instead, he suggests that Daniel T. Callahan’s friend send Roosevelt a quote from his Autobiography about boxing, asking whether he still holds to “the doctrine there preached.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-01-13

President Roosevelt introduces General Wood to William Sikamith, whom he has been boxing with and whose physical regimen he admires. Roosevelt hopes that Wood will allow Sikamith to demonstrate his exercise system.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-20

President Roosevelt would like Commissioner West to look into incorporating William K. Sixsmith’s exercise regime, including boxing, into the District of Columbia schools.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-28

President Roosevelt highly recommends William K. Sixsmith’s exercise regime and would like them to be mandatory for the military and in the schools for the boys and girls to participate in. Roosevelt attaches the recommendations from Captain Frederick B. Hennessy and two Surgeons General of an experimental class using Sixsmith’s exercises among the enlisted men at Fort Myer, Virginia. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-28

President Roosevelt does not recall the exact matter or letter that he had written about his boxing record at Harvard, but tells Thornton H. Simmons the results of some searching that he had done previously when a similar matter came up. Roosevelt states that he had never been light-weight champion, and tries to clear up questions about his athletic record. He cautions, however, that he does not want this matter published.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-14

President Roosevelt asks Kermit Roosevelt when he plans to have his friends stay at the White House so he knows when to invite Seth Bullock and Martha Marguerite Eccles Bullock. He is also happy to hear that Kermit has taken up boxing. Roosevelt describes his voting day experience in Oyster Bay and is overall pleased with the results of the election.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-07

President Roosevelt writes to Charles E. Matthews, known as “Billy Smith” to say that he is afraid he is too old to box now. He was pleased to appoint Matthews as a Deputy United States Marshal, and is always glad when he can help a former Rough Rider.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-13

President Roosevelt frankly informs James R. Branch that every witness statement from the Navy Department contradicts Branch’s statements about the fight between Minor Meriwether and his son, James R. Branch, which resulted in the younger Branch’s death. Secretary of the Navy Charles J. Bonaparte’s letter recommending clemency for Meriwether will be made public.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-02-12

President Roosevelt was glad to hear from Mike Donovan and hopes that it will not be long before they are boxing together.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-13

Although President Roosevelt appreciates Philip Battell Stewart’s praise and optimism about his son Ted’s future football career, Roosevelt believes that he is “not good enough to be of the slightest account” to make the varsity team at Harvard. However, he agrees that Ted showed good spirit in the game.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-23

President Roosevelt shares his concerns about grades with his son, Kermit. Roosevelt encourages Kermit to concentrate less on homesickness and more on his work, and everything will be well. Roosevelt describes a recent trip to Philadelphia, and a hand-to-hand combat match between U. S. Grant and  Professor Yoshiaki Yamashita.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02-24

President Roosevelt tells Kermit Roosevelt he has been out horse-riding, despite the cold weather. He details a recent ride with Dan Moore, whose horse ran away, and it took time to find him. The family is well overall. Although, his cousin Granville “Roly” Fortescue acquired “a most gorgeous pair of black eyes” after boxing with Roosevelt. The Senate continues to frustrate Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02-05