Your TR Source
Chronology of the daily life of Theodore Roosevelt from October 1858 to December 1870. Notable events include the Roosevelt family’s involvement in the American Civil War, Theodore Roosevelt meeting John Hay as a child, and the Roosevelt family’s first European trip.
Theodore Roosevelt Association
1985
German Emperor William II, wearing a large robe and carrying a large sword, walks arm in arm with a tall female figure labeled “Germania.” Behind him, the robe is carried by “Italy,” “Austria,” and others. Standing on a balcony, looking down, is Otto von Bismarck. In the lower right foreground, a female figure labeled “France” walks arm in arm with “Russia” who leads her away from the pageantry. She holds a treaty tightly in her right hand, as she casts a stern glance back over her shoulder at William II. At the head of the procession are three men blowing horns labeled “Press.” Caption: The proudest moment in Willy Hohenzollern’s life – He celebrates the 25th anniversary of the glorious victory of Sedan.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1895-09-04
William II, Emperor of Germany, is a knight holding a large sword labeled “Germany,” keeping guard over two female figures in chains labeled “Alsace” and “Lorraine” in the tower of a medieval castle, while across a body of water sits an angry knight, Félix Faure, holding a sword labeled “France.”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1898-02-16
Theodore Roosevelt will see F. V. Greene when he returns. He admires Greene’s enclosures but has two suggestions, which he discusses at length. First, Greene only needs to state that King of Prussia Frederick II’s approbation of George Washington seems to be a myth, as he never showed interest in Washington or the American Struggle. Roosevelt comments on Helmuth Moltke’s opinion of the Civil War and how France could have implemented similar cavalry tactics. His second suggestion is that it is incorrect to say that America’s action in the peace settlement of the Russo-Japanese War did not produce the current hostile relationships with Russia and Japan. He discusses the other factors involved.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-03-07
William G. Taylor posits the theory that France’s low birthrate is due to the Napoleonic Wars’ effect on the population.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-04-12
Louis W. Olms is sending President Roosevelt a cigarette case that belonged to Elliott Roosevelt which was once given to Olms for safe-keeping. Olms shares that he and Elliott Roosevelt used to chat in French about the Franco-Prussian War. Olms asks Theodore Roosevelt to give the case to Elliott Roosevelt’s daughter, the president’s niece, Eleanor, whom the President is giving away at her wedding to her cousin Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-03-13
Secretary of State Hay forwards to President Roosevelt a rough draft of a proclamation of neutrality following the precedent set during the Franco-Prussian War. Hay suggests Roosevelt will likely want feedback from Secretary of War William H. Taft or Attorney General Philander C. Knox before it is approved.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-02-10
Alvey A. Adee receives notice that the Franco-Prussian War proclamation takes note of declarations made by the French and German ministers. It is unknown if similar declarations have been made by the Russian or Japanese ministers.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-02-10
Mr. Gingal relates the success he and his unit’s regimental gunmaker, Mr. Kaeseberg, had with a modified French Chassepot rifle. Gingal and Kaeseberg were in the Prussian Army at the time and the rifle had been captured during the Franco-Prussian War. They modified the rifle to make it shorter and fire cartridges, which made it much more accurate. Gingal had considerable success with the rifle and believes that modern military rifles are missing what he calls “handiness.” He suggests that the Rough Riders’ success with a “short handy rifle” is the future of military rifles.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-07-24
Hermann Speck von Sternburg has recently traveled to India, and reports on the military strategies and maneuvers of English and German troops. Sternburg believes that in a “real” war, the English’s strategy would be disastrous against the Germans. He believes that only American soldiers could spread out and operate well in the way they describe. Sternburg describes the Germans’ military readiness, discipline, and training. Sternburg further believes that American workers are superior to Europeans, both in terms of labor and as fighters, due largely to their “brains, individuality, & skill using machinery.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-10-28