Your TR Source
Theodore Roosevelt appreciates the adaptation of Richard Grant White’s New Gospel of Peace. Roosevelt shares his frustration with the Wilson administration’s preparedness approach. Roosevelt also compares Wilson to William Jennings Bryan.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-02-01
Theodore Roosevelt has not received copies of Frederick Scott Oliver’s book yet, but he believes he will be in agreement with it. He bemoans the inaction of President Woodrow Wilson in response to Germany’s invasion of Belgium. He comments on the movement for universal disarmament and a League of Peace, which he believes wrong-headed and ineffective.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-06-29
Theodore Roosevelt has just finished reading Arthur Twining Hadley’s Undercurrents in American Politics, and he discusses Hadley’s conclusions, particularly as they relate to the records of American presidents through the Civil War.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-07-08
Theodore Roosevelt compliments Frederick Scott Oliver’s book, Alexander Hamilton. If the United States enters the war, Roosevelt hopes to raise a cavalry regiment similar to the Rough Riders and serve with his four sons. He argues that Great Britain would probably not have entered the war if Germany had respected Belgian neutrality and is distressed at his own country’s failures to defend international rights. Roosevelt has been annoyed at the activity of pacifists. English pacifists should be concerned about defeating Germany and American pacifists should be demanding that the United States follow through on the country’s international obligations. Pacifists are “playing Germany’s game” by demanding peace without regard to the terms of peace. Roosevelt believes a nation must be strong to preserve friendships and respect. He would like the United States and Great Britain to have a “peculiarly close degree of friendship.” Roosevelt is currently out of sympathy with the American public and commands little support.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-07-23
Theodore Roosevelt expects William Allen White, as a newspaper man, not to be deceived by false stories about Roosevelt and his opinions. Roosevelt defends his opinion that President Wilson is similar to James Buchanan. He compares Buchanan’s views towards succession to Wilson’s views on military readiness. Roosevelt believes the world war is of much greater significance then the American Civil War even though the United States is not a combatant. The war can “at any moment prove to be fraught with almost as much consequence” even to Americans. Roosevelt agrees with other leading Progressives that there is little political hope for the near future.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-08-03
Theodore Roosevelt discusses Progressive Party campaign strategy with Pennsylvania state senator William Flinn. Roosevelt believes Flinn should remain a member of the Progressive National Committee until the Republican National Convention concludes in 1916, and the Republican slate of candidates and platform are known.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-06-29
If it was right to originally sign the international arbitration treaties, then it should now be right to grant Germany’s request to have a commission of inquiry regarding the sinking of the Lusitania. However, President Wilson has succeeded in stalling and the public has forgot. Years of peace propaganda have created an “attitude of sluggishness and timidity.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-06-15
Theodore Roosevelt feels as Bert R. Dorr does about the justifications for the actions. Dorr discusses discontent among Republicans about President Woodrow Wilson and Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-06-16
Theodore Roosevelt agrees with William Dudley Foulke’s letter and confirms Foulke’s understanding of why Roosevelt declined to take part in a peace conference. Roosevelt feels that before the United States participates in a general international peace movement, it must first “attend to the affairs of our own household.” Roosevelt agrees with William Jennings Bryan only on the point of refusing arbitration with Germany.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-06-16
Theodore Roosevelt thanks Henry Lane Wilson for the article on China, but believes that the United States must make up its mind on the direction Woodrow Wilson is taking the country.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-06-16
Theodore Roosevelt cannot approve of William Hutchinson Cowles’s editorial and opposes universal arbitration. Each nation and community has issues which they would refuse to arbitrate. The Wilson administration has signed thirty arbitration treaties and refused to abide by the treaty with Germany when the Lusitania was sunk. The public approved of President Wilson’s decision. Promises should not be made that the nation, its leaders, or the public do not intend to keep. The nations of Europe are fighting for their existence and will justifiably ignore calls for arbitration and pacifism from America. The United States needs to prepare for war and learn to keep promises.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-06-17
Theodore Roosevelt’s approval of President Wilson’s source was simply his approval of not following William Jennings Bryan’s suggestion.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-06-17
Theodore Roosevelt has been impressed with the efficiency of Germany’s industry and military. He is distressed that the United States has not matched European nations in industrial and military matters. Roosevelt blames American leadership for this failure. If he had been president, an immediate stand would have been taken against Germany and the United States would likely now be fighting with Great Britain. Roosevelt is disgusted by American pacifists and President Wilson’s statement that the nation is “too proud to fight.” There should have been a “popular revolt” against Wilson. Roosevelt wishes he and his sons were in trenches and is already planning to raise a “division of mounted riflemen” similar to the Rough Riders. He concludes with updates on several Roosevelt family members.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-06-17
Theodore Roosevelt thinks it is ridiculous that William Jennings Bryan has resigned as Secretary of State, and President Wilson is the worst President since James Buchanan.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-06-22
Theodore Roosevelt will not accept the lecture proposition as misapprehensions always arise when he travels abroad to speak. Roosevelt is disgusted with the Wilson administration and its support from the American public. He feels that the public “will always do well or ill largely in proportion to their leadership.” Roosevelt also fears a future conflict with Japan. If the war is deadlocked he feels Japan will seek “tribute” in the form of Hawaii, the Panama Canal, and Alaska. Roosevelt has been heartsick over the sinking of the Lusitania.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-06-23
Theodore Roosevelt met with Owen Wister’s English pacifist friend and could not help telling him that Englishmen should be at home doing their duty. The prime duty of the English and Americans should be to prepare against disaster and stop making promises they do not intend to keep. Roosevelt expresses his displeasure at the policies of the Wilson administration and the influence of American pacifists.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-06-23
Theodore Roosevelt enjoyed Eric Fisher Wood’s book on military preparedness. He also is concerned about the present election and believes that Republicans are making the nation believe that they have to choose between Woodrow Wilson and William Jennings Bryan. Roosevelt writes that Bryan is “too silly” to be the “real danger to us,” but Wilson is the real danger.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-02-04
President Roosevelt is glad that Alfred Elliot Howell was able to see Clive Metcalfe. Roosevelt is pleased to hear Howell agree with him on the matter. “The standpat Republicans are at sea, and I wish the Wilson and Bryan Democrats were in the Irish Sea.” Roosevelt has forwarded Howell’s letter to Perkins.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-02-07
Theodore Roosevelt feels out of sympathy with American public opinion. The Republican strategy to defeat President Wilson by remaining neutral regarding America’s international duty may be politically sound but Roosevelt doubts if it will be good for the country. President Wilson has received press praise for his non-partisan politics and self-defense strategy. However, Roosevelt thinks his defense plan is nonsense. Wilson continues to pursue half measures and Republicans will not argue for true preparedness. Roosevelt believes many Progressives will support Wilson but, under the circumstances, he supports the Republicans.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-01-26
While Theodore Roosevelt agrees with what Henry Litchfield West has said about him, he has a few things to point out. Roosevelt thinks West should tell the Republicans that it would be a bad idea to stop people like Roosevelt from joining the movement to oust the Wilson administration. Furthermore, in response to West’s editorial, Roosevelt is not responsible for the state of current affairs and he is not repentant. If someone is to blame, it is those who misbehaved during the 1912 Republican convention and stole the nomination for William H. Taft.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-04-10