Your TR Source
Theodore Roosevelt thanks P. J. Haag for a picture of mothers and children in Wisconsin. Roosevelt compliments the women on their work to build up the country and comments on the quality of citizenship in Wisconsin.
1911-09-19
President Roosevelt thanks William Sturgis Bigelow for the book by the naturalist C.G. Schillings. Roosevelt tells Bigelow that he will look at the pamphlet about starting trouble with Japan, but that he has his doubts. Roosevelt is glad that all is well in Nahant, but hopes that Bigelow gets better soon.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-26
Lewis Russ outlines his military career to Theodore Roosevelt and describes how he was dishonorably discharged after being accused of drinking liquor on duty. His citizenship is threatened and he hopes Theodore Roosevelt can help him fight the charges.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-19
L. B. Greene wonders if the government could purchase a portion of the Cattaraugus Reservation to develop into an Army base. He describes the area and encloses a map of a nearby trolley road and a sketch to see if Theodore Roosevelt finds the idea feasible. If so, he asks Roosevelt to forward it to the proper authorities.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-19
Mario S. Geigel recalls shaking Theodore Roosevelt’s hand in Puerto Rico and always reads his writing in The Outlook. He would like to meet with Roosevelt and discuss American citizenship for Puerto Ricans.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-15
This article, published in The Outlook, seeks to present the principles which “should, and eventually will, determine the whole question of the treatment of the Oriental races in this country.” Considering specifically the case of California, where Japanese children were being excluded from public schools, the article highlights three issues: the prerogative of the states to control and make decisions about public schooling, the right of the Federal Government to determine who may enter into the country, and the power of Congress to make naturalization laws to determine who may become a citizen. After explaining these, the article then applies them to the situation in California.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-29
Louisa Lee Schuyler was deeply touched by President Roosevelt’s tribute to her recently deceased brother, Philip Schuyler, in the midst of Roosevelt’s busy public schedule. Schuyler says that her brother’s death was a blow; it would have been no surprise if he had died while serving in the Army of the Potomac during the Civil War, but he lived to serve his country for many more years.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-15
George von Lengerke Meyer writes to President Roosevelt about troubles in Russia, including the mutiny of the battleship Potemkin and marines in Libau who rebelled. Meyer notes that as soon as Czar Nicholas II of Russia makes a move in the right direction he is countered with obstacles in the press or in bureaucracy. He is “surrounded by men who are not in sympathy with needed reform.” Meyer feels education, freedom of the press, and a representative government will raise standards for citizenship.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-07-01
Theodore Roosevelt expounds on the importance of Americanism, civic duty, military service, and military preparedness. He ends with a discussion of the infeasibility of “peace at any price.”
1917-01-10
President Roosevelt sends George W. Penniman a brief note, saying that moral and spiritual education is more important than traditional education in making good citizens.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-01-10
President Roosevelt praises Emmet O’Neal for his article on T. R. Roulhac whose death is a loss to good citizenship.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-12-14
President Roosevelt tells Ambassador to Italy Griscom that his and Elizabeth Bronson Griscom’s son, Bronson W. Griscom, has a chance to become president. Although he was born in a foreign country, Griscom can become president because his father was serving the United States as a diplomat.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-11
President Roosevelt informs Governor Carter that he is preparing the district attorney matter and is happy with Carter’s handling of the “Japanese business.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-04-08
President Roosevelt tells Caspar Whitney he would rather not place foreign-born citizens in the United States consular service; although it happens occasionally it should be avoided when possible. Roosevelt explains that Mr. Muller has only been a citizen for 10 years and became a citizen later in life, therefore his chances of getting an appointment will be slim. He instructs Whitney not to share this private information with Muller.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-30
President Roosevelt will read Professor Jeremiah Whipple Jenks’s book on “Citizenship and the Schools” with great interest.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-13
President Roosevelt thanks Hawaiian Territorial Governor Carter for the “interesting and helpful letters,” which addressed both citizenship for inhabitants of the islands, and the question of dividing up land.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-21
President Roosevelt believes the United States should pass the citizenship bill for Puerto Rico, and asks for Speaker of the House Cannon’s help in helping pass it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-26
President Roosevelt informs U.S. Representative Cooper that he has asked Tulio Larrinaga, Commissioner from Puerto Rico, to speak with Cooper about the bill giving citizenship to the people of Puerto Rico. Roosevelt feels that it is indefinsible to not give them citizenship as “they are our fellow-citizens in fact and they ought to be so declared by law.” Roosevelt has recently appointed Larrinaga as delegate from the United States to the Pan American conference, explains his reasoning for doing so, and hopes for speedy action on the citizenship question so that Larrinaga can attend the conference as a full citizen.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-03-26
President Roosevelt tells Senator Foraker that he has appointed Tulio Larrinaga as one of the American delegates to the Pan American Congress, and urges Foraker to act on the Puerto Rican citizenship bill during this session of congress before the delegation departs.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-03-26
President Roosevelt thanks Joseph Garter for the letter and gift that he sent his daughter Alice Roosevelt. He says that the political party a person belongs does not matter as long as they are good Americans.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-02-05