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Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to W. Frank James

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to W. Frank James

Theodore Roosevelt thanks W. Frank James for the speeches and tells him that he is in agreement with his positions. Roosevelt expresses his support for obligatory military service and also for those who wish to volunteer for military service to fill in the gaps before enacting a draft. He compares President Woodrow Wilson leading the country in war to fighting the Civil War under James Buchanan

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1917-06-01

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Kermit Roosevelt

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Kermit Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt reports on the achievements of Quentin, Archie, and Ted at the Plattsburgh military training camp, noting that they received good recommendations from their officers. To Roosevelt’s delight, Archie was placed in a position above Ted. Archie and Ted also traveled to Montreal, Quebec, to view the military preparations. The Plattsburgh camp has been very successful, and other camps are being formed across the country. Roosevelt criticizes President Wilson for his policy toward Germany and Mexico.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1915-08-28

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John H. Parker

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John H. Parker

Theodore Roosevelt is impressed with Major Parker’s article and describes it as an “exhaustive study.” However, the article is too long to be used in the press. Roosevelt is also concerned that the public would not understand the article and that its publication could risk a court-martial. He suggests that the article only be discussed among experts. Roosevelt believes in universal military service and thinks that Parker’s plan could work alongside such a policy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-12-09

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Bryce

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Bryce

Theodore Roosevelt argues in favor of a military draft and suggests that the lack of a draft has limited Great Britain’s strength. Roosevelt believes that President Wilson is motivated by fear of pacifist and German-American voters. Wilson also has the “Jeffersonian Buchanan tradition” of avoiding all physical danger. If he had been president, Roosevelt would have taken action after the invasion of Belgium or the sinking of the Lusitania and he believes the country would have supported him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-11-30

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George Van Horn Moseley

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George Van Horn Moseley

Theodore Roosevelt is interested in the suggestions Captain Moseley has on training U.S. military forces. Roosevelt does not agree with Moseley’s two types of training, one for those with a college education and one for those without, as he would wish his own sons to “serve with the colors.” Roosevelt does, however, agree about the immigrants and favors the term “universal training” over “conscription.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-11-17

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous

Theodore Roosevelt was pleased to hear that British Army Captain Frederick Courteney Selous is at the front. He compares Selous’s position as an older officer to General von Hindenberg, the most successful German general, who is over the age limit for generals. Roosevelt regrets to hear that Selous’s corp was treated poorly in East Africa. He encloses two articles he wrote supporting universal military service and rigorous application of military law. Roosevelt has been distressed at the misconduct of the United States and the activities of the “professional pacifists.” If Germany keeps sinking ships carrying Americans, the public may demand a declaration of war.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-08-28

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Brown Scott

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Brown Scott

Theodore Roosevelt corresponds with James Brown Scott on the issue of American defense, approving his changing views on the necessity of defending the Panama Canal and bemoaning America’s lack of response to German aggression. Roosevelt notes how his own views on universal military service have changed. Additionally, he mentions an article Edith Roosevelt had read to him, written by the popular conservative essayist Agnes Repplier, another advocate of military preparedness.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-08-26

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Huelin C. O’Neill

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Huelin C. O’Neill

Theodore Roosevelt conveys his deepest sympathies to Huelin C. O’Neill on the death of his son. Roosevelt agrees with O’Neill about how unprepared the United States is to meet the threat of World War, and he believes that there should be compulsory universal military training. Roosevelt has had enough of “peace-at-any-price apostles” who will bring “only dishonor and disaster.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-06-16

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-01-29

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Gifford Pinchot to Theodore Roosevelt

Letter from Gifford Pinchot to Theodore Roosevelt

Gifford Pinchot provides a forecast to Theodore Roosevelt on an upcoming vote in the United States Senate on the issue of selective service. Henry Cabot Lodge believes that James Wolcott Wadsworth will “vote right” and that only Robert M. La Follette and Asle J. Gronna among the Republicans will fail to do so. The Harding Amendment is expected to pass. Pinchot is trying to arrange a voice for Roosevelt with Jean Jules Jusserand and Joseph Joffre, French officials consulting with Congress on the incorporation of American forces into the war. Lastly, Pinchot is glad that Roosevelt spoke out against the brewers and distillers, as grain is needed for the war effort.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1917-04-26

Creator(s)

Pinchot, Gifford, 1865-1946

Notes from Gifford Pinchot on Woodrow Wilson’s appeal of October 25, 1918

Notes from Gifford Pinchot on Woodrow Wilson’s appeal of October 25, 1918

Gifford Pinchot drafts notes on President Wilson’s appeal for the return of a Democratic Congress in the 1918 midterm elections. Pinchot believes that Wilson’s interference is threatening the core principles of democratic government. He also notes that the Republicans have been leading, not following the administration’s war efforts, and that by returning a Republican Congress the American people would be showing their determination to fight through to “complete victory.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1918-10-25

Creator(s)

Pinchot, Gifford, 1865-1946

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Arthur Leland

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Arthur Leland

Theodore Roosevelt believes that Colonel Leland can do the most good at his current munitions position under Prime Minister David Lloyd George. Roosevelt admires Lloyd George’s work and the recent differences between the United States and Great Britain are that the British have Lloyd George and the United States has no one. He has been surprised at the resilience of the Central Powers and feels that Germany is currently “on the whole victorious.” Roosevelt is pleased that Leland supports conscription and Roosevelt has been working in support of obligatory American military training and service. He believes the British were too harsh on the leaders of the Irish Easter Rising and should not have used capital punishment. Roosevelt is disgusted at the policies of the Wilson administration and has been waging a lonely war in favor of military readiness and against hyphenated Americanism. He does not expect to be a presidential nominee and believes the Republicans will nominate Justice Hughes.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-06-07

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919