Draft

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to T. Herbert Warren

While president, Theodore Roosevelt advocated for the “Swiss system of universal service” but was mostly ignored. He has been attempting to teach Americans the lessons of the war and now has a considerable following. Roosevelt reminisces about John Hay and fondly recalls a gift Hay gave to him, a ring with a strand of Abraham Lincoln’s hair. He also appreciated a gift he received from King Edward VII, a miniature of John Hampden. The gift displayed King Edward’s refinement and nicely contrasted with the gift from Emperor William II, a massive bronze bust of himself that ended up in the basement of an art gallery.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-06-07

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Miles Poindexter

Theodore Roosevelt found Algernon Lee’s article on preparedness interesting. However, he cannot give it specific approval as he receives many preparedness articles. Roosevelt agrees with Lee’s statements on the golden rule and that “universal service represents the real democratic idea.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-06-03

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry B. Joy

Theodore Roosevelt appreciates Henry B. Joy’s article about universal service and hopes it will have a wide distribution.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-05-08

Colonel Roosevelt’s speech at Police Lieutenants Benevolent Association dinner – Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York – February 23rd, 1918

Theodore Roosevelt says to be successful in the present, America must model herself after the leaders of the past such as Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. There are two ways to do this, he says, by embracing Americanism and military preparedness, which are also exemplified by the New York Police Force (for whom the speech was prepared). All American citizens, regardless of ethnicity or national origin, must give their undivided loyalty to America. The country will be better prepared in the future if it institutes a universal military draft. Note: This speech was not delivered due to illness.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1918-02-24

Colonel Roosevelt’s speech to be delivered at Detroit, Michigan, Feb. 14, 1918

Theodore Roosevelt calls for all Americans, no matter their ethnicity or home country, to have a spirit of Americanism and be loyal only to the United States. Otherwise, he says, they are traitors to their country. He says America must make every effort to “speed up” the world war and must be better prepared in the future by instituting universal military service. Note: This speech was not delivered due to illness.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1918-02-14

Nebraska speech, at Lincoln, Nebraska, June 14th, 1917

Typed draft with handwritten edits of Theodore Roosevelt’s speech at the semi-centennial celebration of Nebraska’s statehood. Roosevelt recalls America’s two wars up to the present, the Revolutionary and the Civil Wars, and says that they were good for the country because they established liberties for its citizens. He warns that World War I is threatening those liberties due to pacifists and a lack of military preparation by the United States. He calls for loyalty to America from its immigrant population and for voluntary service in the military and aid organizations.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1917-06-14

Nebraska speech

Typed draft of Theodore Roosevelt’s speech at the semi-centennial celebration of Nebraska’s statehood. Roosevelt recalls America’s two wars up to the present, the Revolutionary and the Civil Wars, and says that they were good for the country because they established liberties for its citizens. He warns that World War I is threatening those liberties due to pacifists and a lack of military preparation by the United States. He calls for loyalty to America from its immigrant population and for voluntary service in the military and aid organizations.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1917-06-14

Nebraska speech, Colonel’s copy

Theodore Roosevelt’s copy of his speech at the semi-centennial celebration of Nebraska’s statehood. Roosevelt recalls America’s two wars up to the present, the Revolutionary and the Civil Wars, and says that they were good for the country because they established liberties for its citizens. He warns that World War I is threatening those liberties due to pacifists and a lack of military preparation by the United States. He calls for loyalty to America from its immigrant population and for voluntary service in the military and aid organizations.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1917-06-14

Colonel Roosevelt’s speech delivered at Forest Hills, L. I.

Theodore Roosevelt questions American immigrants’ loyalty to the country during the World War. He accuses politicians of not wanting to enter the war in order to appease German voters and accuses “pacifists” that support Germany as traitors. He calls for allegiance to America by anyone living in the country and lists several examples of German-born Americans who are loyal citizens. He calls for universal service as an act of patriotism.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1917-07-04

Kansas City speech – September 24, 1917, Why we are at war

Theodore Roosevelt thanks members of the Armed Forces for their service during World War I and praises men willing to fight for their country. He condemns the actions of Germany and says that the war is being fought for the greater good of America and for humanity. He gives several examples of Germany’s cruelty and ruthlessness, including the sinking of the Lusitania. He denies claims of the war being a “rich man’s” war but says that anti-war movements are backed by the wealthy for commercial reasons. Roosevelt calls for better preparedness in the future as well as the implementation of universal service.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1917-09-24

Minneapolis speech – September 28, 1917, true democracy and the conscientious objector

Theodore Roosevelt speaks on the nature of conscientious objectors during World War I. He says that the majority of objectors are either lazy or pro-German and gives arguments for why religious groups like the Society of Friends should participate in the war. He says that true objectors can still serve in other capacities. He calls for more representation of working men and farmers in Washington and for universal military service.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1917-09-28

Colonel Roosevelt’s speech to be deilivered under the auspices of the Labor Loyal Legion – Minneapolis, Minn. – Friday evening, September 28th, 1917

Printed copy of Theodore Roosevelt’s speech in Minneapolis released to newspapers. Roosevelt speaks on the nature of conscientious objectors during World War I. He says that the majority of objectors are either lazy or pro-German and gives arguments for why religious groups like the Society of Friends should participate in the war. He says that true objectors can still serve in other capacities. He calls for more representation of working men and farmers in Washington and for universal military service.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1917-09-28

Speech at Bridgeport, evening November 3rd, 1917

Theodore Roosevelt speaks on behalf of Schuyler Merritt, who is running for Congress in Connecticut. Roosevelt says that the United States military was poorly prepared for the first World War and that it must take steps to be better prepared in the future. The country must also work on its industry, he says, to make businesses profitable and to ensure that workers are treated fairly. He calls for Americans of all ethnicities to be united and for the United States to instate universal military service.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1917-11-03

Princeton lecture, National strength and international duty

Handwritten draft of Theodore Roosevelt’s lecture at Princeton. Roosevelt compares the ethics of a nation to ethics on an individual level. He calls for a balance between taking care of oneself (or nation) and paying one’s duty to others (at an international level). He points to Germany’s actions during the first World War as an extreme example of caring only for the individual. Roosevelt discusses the current state of the American military and the war with Germany, including reports from the government and newspapers. He presents a list of America’s shortcomings in not being prepared for the war and advises the young university men to learn from the lessons of the past and become leaders in the future.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1917-11-16

Princeton lecture, National strength and international duty

In his lecture at Princeton, Theodore Roosevelt compares the ethics of a nation to ethics on an individual level. He calls for a balance between taking care of oneself (or nation) and paying one’s duty to others (at an international level). He points to Germany’s actions during the first World War as an extreme example of caring only for the individual. Roosevelt discusses the current state of the American military and the war with Germany, including reports from the government and newspapers. He presents a list of America’s shortcomings in not being prepared for the war and advises the young university men to learn from the lessons of the past and become leaders in the future.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1917-11-16

Speech at Toronto, Ontario, November 26, 1917

Theodore Roosevelt commends Canada and other nations in the British Empire for their actions and bravery during World War I. He says that nations must work together to secure peace and proposes a court to settle disputes between Canada and the United States, composed of judges from Canada and United States Supreme Court justices. He calls for universal military service to help guarantee better preparedness in the future.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1917-11-26

Colonel Roosevelt’s speech at the Ohio Society of New York dinner – January 12, 1918

Theodore Roosevelt advocates “speeding up” the end of World War I and the need for America’s military preparedness, which could be addressed by instituting universal military service.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1918-01-12

Address of Hon. Theodore Roosevelt, delivered at the luncheon of the National Security League, Hotel Astor, New York, January 19, 1918

Theodore Roosevelt thanks the members of the National Security League for their work and praises the young men at military training camps across the country. He says the United States was unprepared to participate in the world war and discusses his experiences during the Spanish-American War. Roosevelt calls for the need to “speed up” the current war and to be better prepared in the future by instituting universal military service.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1918-01-19

Colonel Roosevelt’s speech to be delivered at Boston, Mass. February 6, 1918, under the auspices of the Chamber of Commerce and the Pilgrim Publicity Association

Theodore Roosevelt says the two things facing America now are the need for “Americanism” and military preparedness. He says that the United States was unprepared to participate in the world war and that she is still weak in Europe because of it. In order to be patriotic, Americans regardless of ethnic background must be united and loyal to their country. The key to being better prepared in the future, he says, is to institute universal military service.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1918-02-06

Colonel Roosevelt’s speech at Des Moines, Iowa, February 11th, 1918

Copy of Theodore Roosevelt’s speech to be delivered at Des Moines, Iowa. Roosevelt says the United States was unprepared for war and at present is still lacking its own guns and other supplies. The country, he says, must work to be better prepared in order that it does not repeat the mistakes it has made during this war. He says the government must “interfere” with the wage-worker and farmer to secure social and industrial justice for its citizens. The United States, he says, must unite as one country with citizens loyal to her and must be better prepared for future wars by instituting universal military service. Note: This speech was not delivered due to illness.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1918-02-11