Courage

Letter from Jennie Allender Rightmire to Theodore Roosevelt

Jennie Allender Rightmire heard Theodore Roosevelt is on the Board that decides who wins the Carnegie Prize for heros and is writing to Roosevelt regarding her step-son, Robert A. Rightmire, an electrical lineman in Hutchinson, Kansas. His father is a Civil War veteran who came home from the war disabled and when his mother died, Robert was forced to grow up quickly. Jennie Rightmire believes Robert Rightmire would use the prize worthily and not waste it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Hays Hammond

President Roosevelt tells John Hays Hammond that he does not believe the matter required courage; in the first place, he assumes that everyone thought the Brownsville Affair was carried out under his direct orders, and in the second place, he made sure everyone knew that he took responsibility for the affair.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-08

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Daniel Carter Beard

President Roosevelt agrees to lend his name to the Sons of Daniel Boone for use with a notch. He suggests that it be related to good deeds of heroism and daring, and provides some examples of what he means.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-22

The neglected foundations of character

David P. Barrows argues that fear is the most primal human emotion, and that even children understand the importance of overcoming fear, although adults do not help them do so. He discusses the importance of cultivating courage in people of all ages.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-02-06

Address of President Roosevelt at the Northfield Summer School, Northfield, Mass.

President Roosevelt discusses the importance of righteousness in developing young minds into good American citizens. Roosevelt mentions that even seemingly positive traits can become evil without a given set of virtues, such as honesty and courage. The speech has masculine undercurrents throughout its entirety.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-09-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George W. Dowell

Theodore Roosevelt praises George W. Dowell for the courage and wisdom he has displayed in the situation in Illinois.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-07-30

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to J. Y. Chisholm

Theodore Roosevelt praises J.Y. Chisholm for the courage and wisdom he has displayed in the situation in Illinois.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-07-30

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frank G. Allen

Theodore Roosevelt praises Frank G. Allen for the courage and wisdom he has displayed in the situation in Illinois.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-07-30

Letter from Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt to Jennie Allender Rightmire

On behalf of Theodore Roosevelt, his secretary informs Jennie Allender Rightmire that Theodore Roosevelt has no involvement with the granting of Carnegie prizes for bravery. They suggest she write to the secretary of the Carnegie Foundation in New York City.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Mrs. John C. Graham

Theodore Roosevelt compliments Mrs. John C. Graham for her bravery and for being the daughter and mother of brave men. Roosevelt loathes war but would be ashamed if his sons shirked war, just like he would be ashamed if his daughters shirked motherhood. He argues that the best way to avert war is to be prepared.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-03-05

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Thomas A. Edison

Theodore Roosevelt wishes Thomas A. Edison a merry Christmas and commends him for his work, especially his determination to repair the buildings that were destroyed in a recent fire.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-12-22

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Albert L. Mills

Theodore Roosevelt compliments Albert L. Mills on his courage to speak out.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-12-17

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Victor Murdock

Theodore Roosevelt is sorry but compliments Victor Murdock on his courage.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-11-09

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James B. Connolly

President Roosevelt commends James B. Connolly’s characteristic “cool courage” during the sinking of the Republic, and has made several letters about his actions public.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-31

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to French Ensor Chadwick

President Roosevelt thanks French Ensor Chadwick for the letter, and compares the fight at San Juan to the boxing match between James J. Corbett and John Lawrence Sullivan, where the beginning of the fight was very difficult, but eventually the Americans gained the momentum and were assured of victory. Roosevelt sends Chadwick a copy of his book The Rough Riders, and asks him to look at the notes and letter in the last appendices. He agrees with Chadwick that Pascual Cervera y Topete acted with courage, but does not rank him quite so high as Chadwick does.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Jeffrey Roche

President Roosevelt likes Consul Roche’s poem and does not consider it either disrespectful to the equator or nature faking. Roosevelt is also amused by the New York Herald accusing him of lacking courage, calling the Herald an expert on the subject.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-27

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles A. Arms

President Roosevelt awards Charles A. Arms a medal for daring.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-06-08

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Daniel Carter Beard

President Roosevelt responds to Daniel Carter Beard’s invitation for Roosevelt’s name to be used by the Sons of Daniel Boone for an award. Roosevelt wants the award to honor deeds of heroism, but he does not want the organization to use his name for any promotional materials.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-22

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Horace Porter

President Roosevelt found General Porter’s article interesting, although he does not agree with Porter’s conclusion that moral courage is more important than physical courage. Roosevelt believes that both types are worthless without the other. He cites Senator Eugene Hale as an example. Hale has moral courage but lacks physical courage, which makes him “the enemy of the honor and honesty of America” in regards to foreign relations and military matters. He also notes that some Rough Riders who had immense physical courage lack moral courage and have been “utterly worthless” since returning to civilian life.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-03-10

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George H. Poell

President Roosevelt commends George H. Poell and tells him he has been awarded a medal of honor for his bravery in risking his own life to save the life of a child.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-12-21