Your TR Source
Theodore Roosevelt sends his sympathy to F. Berkeley Smith and Mrs. Josephine Van Deventer Smith regarding the death of Francis Hopkinson Smith. Roosevelt is proud of his American citizenship because Francis Hopkinson Smith was an American.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-05-13
Theodore Roosevelt defends his statements regarding the war and German conduct in Belgium. Roosevelt can feel goodwill towards Germany while also condemning their conduct. He has carefully read the German side of the case and was not convinced. Belgium was determined not to allow the violation of its neutrality by any other nation and only Germany decided to break faith, invade, and subjugate Belgium “against every rule of right and of humanity.” Roosevelt argues that no one can remain an American citizen while subordinating the “interests and duty of the United States to the interests of a foreign land.” He accuses George Sylvester Viereck of being wholeheartedly behind his birth country, Germany, and not his adopted country, the United States. Therefore, Viereck is being a poor citizen of both nations and should return to Germany, renounce his American citizenship, and join the German army.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-03-15
Theodore Roosevelt agrees with Albert A. Fine about naturalized Americans, but Fine’s statement is the direct reverse of Roosevelt’s statement about hyphenated Americans. Roosevelt is utterly against any “Native-American” movement in the same way he is against any “German-American” or “Irish-American” or “English-American” movement. Roosevelt is “just a plain ‘American.'”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-03-05
Theodore Roosevelt agrees with William Wingate Sewall’s views on President Wilson and Secretary of State Bryan. They shirked their duty regarding Belgium and their conduct in Mexico has been “atrocious beyond belief.” Roosevelt believes that the Wilson administration is attempting to court German American votes and he is angered that German Americans are using their American citizenship against the interests of the United States. Citizens should be “straight United States and nothing else.” Roosevelt is unsure about the future of the Progressive Party, and from a national standpoint, he would like to await developments.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-02-06
Theodore Roosevelt has not spoken publicly about German soldiers because the facts are not clear. From the information he has received, it appears that “very great barbarities” have been committed as part of a plan to terrorize civilians. These plans were “encouraged from high up.” The evidence is overwhelming that Germany had a long standing plan to invade Belgium upon the commencement of hostilities with France. Belgium desired to avoid war and would not have let France, Great Britain, or Germany violate her territory. Roosevelt wants citizens to act as good Americans and be “United States and nothing more.” The worst thing that can happen is the perpetuation of “division based on differences of creed or differences of racial origin.” Americans should strive for the betterment of mankind and judge each nation by its conduct.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-02-08
Theodore Roosevelt tells Josephine Pierce that the role of the American woman is most essential in the home, taking care of the children. Roosevelt also lets Pierce know that every citizen should be treated the same, regardless of race, class, or creed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-01-08
Theodore Roosevelt argues that Americans who view international relations from the standpoint of their “ancestral blood” are damaging the country’s “common American citizenship.” Roosevelt has used the case of Belgium to show what could happen to the United States after a German victory. However, he has other reasons, which he does not want to put on paper, to fear a showdown with a victorious Germany. The wrongs of the war were perpetrated by Germany against Belgium, and it is impossible not to think that wrongs could be committed against you if there is “sufficient interest to make it desirable.” There is no doubt that the German people believe in the righteousness of their cause and have responded accordingly. However, Southerners during the American Civil War felt the same. Roosevelt would like the United States to introduce universal military service and guarantee Germany against invasion and subjugation. Afterwards, the country could guarantee the borders of small states, such as Belgium.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-01-29
Theodore Roosevelt defends himself against accusations that he is slandering Germany and supporting England. Roosevelt seeks to treat all Americans alike, regardless of their nationality. Roosevelt has not slandered Germany but stated that the violation of Belgium’s neutrality was a “dreadful wrong.” He regrets losing Andrew Noll’s support but believes that nations should be judged by the same standard of conduct. Roosevelt receives many letters imploring him to support a certain country based on the letter writer’s nationality. However, he believes that foreign and domestic affairs should only be viewed from “the standpoint of simple American citizenship.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1914-12-03
Theodore Roosevelt writes to Lothar Faber about the importance of protesting Germany’s occupation over Belgium. Roosevelt discusses that Americans should act and respond regardless of their German, French, or English descent.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1914-11-11
President Roosevelt was pleased by Major Leonard’s letter. Roosevelt praises Leonard as a soldier and citizen, and thinks that he typifies “those qualities which we like to think of as characteristically American.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-10
President Roosevelt agrees with William Kent, and outlines the foreign policy stance he believes the United States should follow in its relationship with Japan. Roosevelt has come to see the matter of Japanese workers immigrating to the United States as “a race question.” He believes that Japanese citizens should not be permitted to settle permanently in America. However, Roosevelt does not want to provoke a war by offending the “sensitive” Japanese government and population. Current legislation in California and Nevada banning Japanese children from public schools frustrates him, because it is offensive to Japan and does not prevent immigration. Roosevelt wants to forbid Japanese immigration while treating the Japanese government politely and continuing to build up the American navy. He seconds Kent’s view that Japanese laborers should not work on Hawaiian sugar plantations. Roosevelt would prefer to send laborers from Spain, Portugal, or Italy, who could become naturalized United States citizens.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-04
President Roosevelt tells Senator Du Pont that he has already recommended citizenship for Puerto Rico, and that Du Pont should not speak to Roosevelt about it, but to his colleagues in the Senate.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-26
President Roosevelt tells Secretary of State Root that he hopes to defer the acceptance of a gift for several months until both Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt and Alice Roosevelt Longworth are in Washington, D.C. This will give them some time to determine what to do about the gift. Roosevelt says that if people were reasonable they would realize that refusing a gift from a foreign power is a delicate matter, but that people are often not reasonable. He reflects upon the various animosities and alliances that bind Europe, and that transfer to the United States’s different ethnic groups.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-02
William Loeb has brought John S. Rossell’s letter to President Roosevelt’s attention, and he will urge Congress to pass a bill conferring citizenship to Puerto Ricans in the next session.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-04
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