Your TR Source
A collection of reprinted stories and editorials about Theodore Roosevelt’s successes during his presidency and political career, specifically diplomatic achievements. One editorial calls for Roosevelt’s nomination in the 1916 presidential election.
1916
Pamphlet of a speech given by Warren G. Harding to the Ohio Legislature on January 26, 1919 praising Theodore Roosevelt for his patriotism and Americanism. Harding comments on Roosevelt’s involvement in the Panama Canal, support for American involvement in the First World War, and his radical, yet noble views.
1920
This exhaustively illustrated account of the Spanish-American war seeks to present the official history of the war according to the United States War Records Office. It encompasses the events leading up to the war, the war itself, as well as its resolution and aftermath. While it mentions the various engagements taking place during the war, most of the focus is on Cuba and the action of the United States Navy and Army in fighting Spanish forces there in support of Cuban rebels. It additionally includes general information on the theaters of war, including Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines.
Smithsonian
1900
Terrence C. Brown updates members of the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA) on his travels around the country to witness some of the programs of the TRA in action. Brown notes the public speaking contests, the Teddy Bears for Kids program, and highlights the plans of two local chapters. He also recalls his first visit to Pine Knot in Virginia and plans to rebuild the ship’s museum aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt, and he highlights the work of TRA President Tweed Roosevelt. A photograph of Brown as an eleven year old boy appears in the column.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal
2011
In his review of Henry J. Hendrix’s Theodore Roosevelt’s Naval Diplomacy, William N. Tilchin examines each of the seven chapters of the book, highlighting both the issues where he disagrees with Hendrix and praising him for “a well-crafted narrative account” of diplomatic milestones in Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency. Tilchin challenges Hendrix on the latter’s account of the Venezuelan crisis of 1902 – 1903, and he takes exception with one of the conclusion’s assertions, but he finds great value in Hendrix’s chapters on the Panama Canal, the Ion Perdicaris affair, the Treaty of Portsmouth, and Roosevelt’s transformation of the United States Navy. Tilchin’s review includes a number of references to prior works on Roosevelt’s diplomacy, highlighting the historiographical debates which have marked issues addressed by Hendrix.
Three photographs of naval commanders under Roosevelt and two illustrations, including the book’s cover, supplement the text. An advertisement for chocolate bars from The Chocolate Lady of Oyster Bay, New York, appears at the end of the review.
Carl Cavanagh Hodge examines Theodore Roosevelt’s ideas and policies regarding naval policy in the context of international relations and a naval arms race in the first decade of the twentieth century. Hodge emphasizes Roosevelt’s reading and use of the ideas of naval strategist Alfred Thayer Mahan, and he compares American naval plans with those of Great Britain and Germany. Hodge frames Roosevelt’s policies within the context of friendly relations with Great Britain, an increasingly assertive Germany, and the rising power of Japan, especially in the wake of the Russo-Japanese War. Hodge highlights the acquisition and construction of the Panama Canal and the voyage of the Great White Fleet as key parts of Roosevelt’s overall naval strategy. He notes Roosevelt’s embrace of the battleship as a means of engaging other nations’ fleets abroad, and he asserts that Roosevelt saw the fleet as an important symbol of American power.
Eight photographs, including those of Roosevelt and Mahan, and one illustration supplement the article. A text with the mission statement of the Theodore Roosevelt Association appears in the endnotes.
Henry J. Hendrix argues that President Theodore Roosevelt did not see diplomacy and the deployment of the United States Navy as separate and unrelated actions, but rather he saw and used them as complements to one another, and Hendrix cites examples of episodes during Roosevelt’s presidency to bolster his argument. Hendrix cites the Venezuelan crisis of 1902, intervention in Panama in 1903, the kidnapping of Ion Perdicaris in 1904, and the mediation of the Russo-Japanese War in 1905 as examples of Roosevelt deploying assets of the United States Navy in support of his diplomatic efforts. Hendrix asserts that Roosevelt used a very hands on approach to his statecraft, in effect acting as his own Secretary of State and Secretary of the Navy.
Two photographs of Hendrix and one of Secretary of State John Hay appear in the article along with a text box containing the mission statement of the Theodore Roosevelt Association.
Edmund Morris examines in great detail the negotiations that led to the resolution of the Venezuelan debt and blockade crisis of 1902 between the United States and Germany. Morris agrees with historian Frederick W. Marks that much of the correspondence and records of the negotiations have been destroyed, and he provides five pages of tables to show the different versions of the negotiations as remembered by Theodore Roosevelt and recorded by various journalists, historians, and biographers. Morris argues that Roosevelt saw Germany as a threat to American interests and the maintenance of the Monroe Doctrine, and he asserts that Roosevelt behaved like a gentleman who was keen to prevent the humiliation of Emperor William II. Morris demonstrates that Roosevelt acted in keeping with his belief of speaking softly while deploying American naval assets under the command of Admiral George Dewey. Morris asserts that this combination of deft diplomacy and the employment of military power led to a successful resolution of the crisis.
A photograph of Roosevelt standing next to a large globe and another showing him on horseback with Emperor William II of Germany appear in the article. A listing of the officers of the Theodore Roosevelt Association along with the members of its executive committee also appears in the article.
Photograph showing President Theodore Roosevelt, seated center, Secretary of the Navy William H. Moody, left, Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt, right; standing Sir Thomas Johnston Lipton, Admiral George Dewey, C. Oliver Iselin, and General Adna R. Chaffee on the deck of the Mayflower off Oyster Bay, Long Island, New York.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1903
Collection of newspaper clippings of articles, photographs, and maps showing some of the actors, naval vessels, and events making up parts of the Spanish-American war. Includes some handwritten notes and hand-colored photographs.
1898
Holmes E. Offley suggests a template that Theodore Roosevelt could use to attest to his service in the United States Armed Forces from the United States Civil War to 1876, and state the value of his service.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-06-14
Boy Scouts of America’s April 17, 1911 newsletter contains seven articles. Ernest Thompson Seton compares the American Boys Scouts with the British Boy Scouts. The British scouts are more disciplined, whereas the American scouts are skillful at camping and have “greater lung power.” There is a discussion on doing a troop exchange. National Scout Commissioner Daniel Carter Beard discusses how scouts should regard men like Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone as heroes rather than Jesse James or Robin Hood-type characters. The Executive Board plans to establish a Scout Masters’ School at Silver Bay, New York, in conjunction with the Boys’ Workers Camp. The two new manuals are almost ready to be published. Lorillard Spencer is planning summer activities for New York scoutmasters. New Jersey scouts are cleaning up areas to prevent mosquitoes. Italian scouts are working on propagating universal peace.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-04-17
Drawings accompanied by text captions describe a number of prominent politicians: President Roosevelt, Secretary of War Elihu Root, Admiral George Dewey, Speaker of the House David Bremner Henderson, Rhode Island Senator George Peabody Wetmore, Secretary of State John Hay, Secretary of Agriculture James Wilson, and New York Senator Thomas Collier Platt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-14
Admiral George Dewey and President Roosevelt with his “Nobel prize” stand in the vessel, “The Forlorn Hope,” and release a dove that holds “peace notes to South America.”
Frederick Morgan’s cartoon depicts President Roosevelt and Admiral George Dewey, and refers to South American leaders, but a major figure behind the cartoon is not shown: Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany.
John Davis Long, former Secretary of the Navy, protests Henry Reuterdahl’s recent characterization of the Navy Department under his leadership in an article in Pearson’s magazine. By saying that President Roosevelt “was the navy department,” Reuterdahl ignores the contributions of the chiefs of the various bureaus within the Navy Department, as well as the numerous employees and officers that helped the department to run smoothly. Long acknowledges that Roosevelt, during his term as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, was efficient and active in his duty, but wishes to correct the record.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-19
An English translation of a flattering article about President Roosevelt published by the Danish magazine Varden. Berthold De Linde describes his first encounter with President Roosevelt as an infantryman in the Spanish-American War. He then details Roosevelt’s life and accomplishments, from his time at Harvard to his ascendance to the presidency. De Linde particularly emphasizes Roosevelt’s strong moral character and tireless battle against corruption.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-15
In this Danish magazine sent to President Roosevelt by Ambassador Maurice Francis Egan, a profile of Roosevelt by Berthold de Linde appears on pages 14-22. The article details President Roosevelt’s life and accomplishments from his time at Harvard through becoming President. It particularly focuses on his strong moral character and good qualities.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-15
David P. Barrows submits messages about Prescott Ford Jernegan’s School History and Adeline Knapp’s Story of the Philippines. Knapp’s book covers much of the same material as Jernegan’s book, but “in a much inferior way.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-03-08
Assistant Secretary of State Adee sends Benjamin F. Barnes a copy of a letter from Secretary of the Navy Charles J. Bonaparte for President Roosevelt to read. The letter includes a report from Edwards F. Leiper, who is the commander of a naval squadron at Santo Domingo.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-07-28
Admiral George Dewey and his wife Mildred Dewey recently visited Herkimer, New York, and were entertained by John W. Vrooman and his wife, Ann Vrooman. Both Deweys expressed pleasure at the greeting they received in town and the surrounding scenery. This article additionally contains a brief biography of Dewey, and recounts his actions in the Spanish-American War.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-17