Your TR Source

Diplomatic etiquette

Search by Date Range

Clear Filters

521 Results

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Whitelaw Reid

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Whitelaw Reid

President Roosevelt believes Ambassador Reid has acted admirably in every case, and treated William Jennings Bryan well while he visited England. Roosevelt reflects on the Democratic party and Bryan’s role in it, and believes that Bryan will be the party’s presidential candidate in 1908. Because of Bryan’s travels around the world, however, he has been “broadened,” and “would be a far less dangerous man now then he would have been ten years ago.” While Roosevelt feels that Bryan is shallow, he admits that he is also kind and well-meaning, and while he would be a poor president, he would not be such intentionally. Roosevelt additionally thanks Reid for the consideration he paid Silas McBee during his visit to England, although he wishes there were not so many Americans who were enthusiastic to meet royalty.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-07-27

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Jacob H. Schiff

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Jacob H. Schiff

President Roosevelt confidentially tells Jacob H. Schiff that the United States has already “gone up to the very verge of receiving a rebuff that would put us in a very undignified and unpleasant position” in its effort to do as Schiff suggests. Roosevelt does not wish to put the particulars in writing, and would not like to be quoted on the matter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-26

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Whitelaw Reid

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Whitelaw Reid

President Roosevelt was only concerned about the letter he had sent Ambassador Reid because of its nature, but permits him to show any portions he deems proper to King Edward VII of Great Britain or Sir Edward Grey. He also recommends Reid make Roosevelt’s dislike of British Ambassador H. Mortimer Durand known, emphasizing that if he had been a man Roosevelt liked, he would have consulted with him more. Roosevelt reflects on the strategies he uses in foreign relations, particularly with the Germans and German Emperor William II, but also with the English and Japanese, which he describes as “to be scrupulously polite, to show a genuine good-will toward her, but to keep our navy in such shape” so as to deter any aggression. He sends his greetings to Reid’s wife, Elisabeth Mills Reid, and remarks that he enjoyed reading about the social news from England.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-27

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Alice Roosevelt Longworth

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Alice Roosevelt Longworth

President Roosevelt writes to his recently-married daughter Alice Longworth advising her that if she and her husband Congressman Nicholas Longworth plan to stop at Vienna, Austria, they should also stop in Budapest, Hungary, so that it does not appear they are showing preference to one side of the dual monarchy. Roosevelt also advises her to visit Cincinnatti when she returns, because it is important for the people of the city to feel that she takes an interest in her husband’s hometown. Roosevelt is glad to hear that the Longworth’s have been having a good time on their trip so far in London, and briefly shares his amusement at the distress Alice’s visit has caused to some people who had married titled Europeans who were not invited to their gatherings. Life at Sagamore Hill is going well.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-24

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles S. Francis

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles S. Francis

President Roosevelt tells Ambassador Francis that Francis’s predecessor, Bellamy Storer, had been derelict in his duty, and advises him on several actions he could take to begin repairing the damage Storer caused. Roosevelt is not happy about how the Austrian government is handling immigration to the United States and advises Francis to take an interest in immigration and naturalization matters. He also advises Francis to remember that he is ambassador to both Austria and Hungary, and to make sure to not neglect the Hungarian side of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and to carefully contact Count Albert Apponyi to begin reaching out.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-25

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Silas McBee

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Silas McBee

President Roosevelt has written to Ambassador Whitelaw Reid as Silas McBee has requested, but cautions that he has had to put the letter in “somewhat tentative fashion,” as there may be difficulties in scheduling an audience with King Edward VII of Great Britain. Roosevelt encloses the letter so that McBee can give it to Reid personally.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-14

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Elihu Root

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Elihu Root

President Roosevelt tells Secretary of State Root that French Ambassador J. J. Jusserand can extend his thanks to Roosevelt while playing tennis, or during any number of other physical activities the two undertake together. Roosevelt in turn will give his compliments to France, “and all of the necessary formalities will thereby have been accomplished.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-25

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Anna Roosevelt Cowles

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Anna Roosevelt Cowles

President Roosevelt updates his sister Anna Roosevelt Cowles on the progress of several bills moving through Congress. The railroad rate bill has passed “in fine shape,” but he anticipates a struggle over the Panama Canal. Secretary of State Elihu Root will host an Indian prince and princess who Ambassador Whitelaw Reid wrote to him about, but Roosevelt is still navigating diplomatic considerations with England, who “would like us to be attentive to them, but not too attentive.” Roosevelt recently received a gift of samurai armor from the Japanese Emperor. He enjoyed the recent visit of Cowles’s son, William Sheffield Cowles, and gives some details on his own young sons, Archibald B. Roosevelt and Quentin Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-20

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick W. Whitridge

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick W. Whitridge

President Roosevelt sends an amusing telegram he received to Frederick W. Whitridge, Special Ambassador to Spain for the wedding of King Alfonso XIII. Whitridge appears to have made a strong impression on King Edward VII of Great Britain, and Roosevelt hopes that he got on well with German Emperor William II as well. Roosevelt asks Whitridge to “give my regards unofficially and heartily to Mrs. Whitridge; and much less heartily but more formally to the King of Spain.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-12

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Robert Bacon

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Robert Bacon

President Roosevelt has received portraits of Pope Pius X and Merry del Val, and would like to send them pictures of himself in return. He asks Assistant Secretary of State Robert Bacon whether it would be possible to have Ambassador Henry White deliver the pictures. He concedes it may be wise to ask Secretary of State Elihu Root before making a final decision.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04-30