Your TR Source
Theodore Roosevelt apologizes to the Richmond Hill Republican Club for not being able to attend their event and sends his best wishes, encouraging them to support the Republican Party and good citizenship.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-12
Theodore Roosevelt congratulates Mr. and Mrs. E. C. Johnson.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-07-26
Theodore Roosevelt praises the Boy Scouts of America in developing citizenship and leadership among boys. Roosevelt emphasizes such teachings incorporate the Ten Commandments and the Golden Rule to instill honor, respect, courage, and fair dealing. Roosevelt relates how scouts from two troops in Manila assisted firefighters in a devastating fire in the Philippines.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-07-20
Theodore Roosevelt believes that Gerrit J. Kollen represents “the best type of American citizenship,” but he cannot make the address.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-05-15
Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary thanks Charles A. Otis for sending Roosevelt the remarks Charles E. Adams made about citizenship. Roosevelt was very interested in the remarks and read them with pleasure.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-04-26
The first two pages of a letter in which Theodore Roosevelt regretfully informs James E. West that he will not be able to speak at the banquet for the Boy Scouts of America National Council on February 14. Roosevelt goes on to discuss the values he believes should be instilled in American boys to make them grow up to be good citizens. The later pages of this letter are missing.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-02-10
Theodore Roosevelt thanks Booker T. Washington for the favorable article published in The World’s Work.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-02-07
Theodore Roosevelt feels exactly the way Major Luria does about Americanism. Roosevelt does not care where a man is born if he has got the right spirit in him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-11-17
Theodore Roosevelt asserts that he has “as much German blood as English blood,” and that he must condemn wrong acts by either country. Roosevelt urges that one should change citizenship only with great hesitation and only when prepared to “cast their lot” with their adopted country.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-10-20
Theodore Roosevelt advises Steve Kwiathkowski to work hard at school and when he is older he can decide on an occupation. Roosevelt would also like him to be a soldier and fight for his country.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-10-29
Theodore Roosevelt congratulates William Lustgarten on having started a society among American citizens of foreign birth who are against hyphenated Americanism. Roosevelt holds that the naturalized American of the right type is precisely as much an American as any other citizen of the right type whose ancestors came to America, and he regrets that there are many native-born Americans who are hyphenated Americans. Roosevelt thinks Americanism is a matter of soul and spirit. Roosevelt supports Lustgarten’s work against “that most sinister and evil of all movements” which would destroy national unity.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-10-18
“He ought to wear a pig tail; it would be appropriate.” Theodore Roosevelt privately responds to a letter from Fred Cardway of the Packard Motor Car Company regarding the views of Henry Ford. Roosevelt goes as far as saying that Ford should have no business having American citizenship.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-10-16
Theodore Roosevelt thanks international law expert Professor Scott for sending him a book on Germany. He especially appreciates receiving the imperial and state citizenship law (most likely a copy or analysis of the German Imperial and State Citizenship Law of July 22, 1913). Roosevelt expresses surprise that the American people are not demanding protest of this law.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-09-03
Theodore Roosevelt wishes that the younger men had the same level of spirit as former Senator Scott of West Virginia.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-08-04
Theodore Roosevelt is not interested in votes from people who “cannot act as a plain United States citizen.” People who are not “American and nothing else” have no business voting.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-02-04
Theodore Roosevelt comments on a recent article he wrote and provides his opinion on instances where a country, particularly the United States and France, force military service on individuals that are only nominally citizens, such as a child of French parents who happened to be born in the United States.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-06-01
Theodore Roosevelt is opposed to “hyphenated Americans” as they tend to be “loyal only to what comes before the hyphen.” Representative Longworth made this distinction well in his recent speech and Roosevelt agrees that most Americans of German descent are among the best citizens. Roosevelt argues against Longworth running for Senate if he has to give up his seat in the House before the primaries. A Senate campaign will require two hard fights and considerable expenditure. Roosevelt believes that Longworth would strengthen the Senate and approves of a campaign if his House seat is not threatened.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-01-24
Theodore Roosevelt appreciates Mr. Hempstead’s devotion but he will not alter his position on the war or military readiness. If readiness is unpopular, it is imperative that Roosevelt work harder to show Americans the dangers of being unprepared and wake them up to the country’s needs. He understands that his recent political positions make him an unacceptable candidate. Roosevelt is not seeking to do what is easy or popular but to safeguard the nation and convince citizens to act as Americans and nothing else.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-02-08
Theodore Roosevelt agrees that President Wilson has no conviction and would declare war if he thought it would secure his reelection. Roosevelt criticizes the Wilson administration’s policies on dual nationality and its failure to defend American citizens that are being held in foreign nations. In a postscript, Roosevelt regrets that his decision not to run in the California primary might have embarrassed Governor Johnson. Roosevelt is trying to get the country to do its duty and convince Republicans and Progressives to work together. These causes will be damaged if the public thinks he is attempting to further his own ambitions.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-04-03