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German Americans--Ethnic identity

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Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Hugo Munsterberg

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Hugo Munsterberg

Theodore Roosevelt regrets losing his German friends because of his opinion on the war and feels that his views, compared to Hugo Münsterberg’s, are “as far apart as the poles.” Roosevelt is an American and nothing else. He opposes “hyphenated Americanism.” He believes English should be the language of the United States but Americans must also remain distinct from the people of Europe. Citizens should be treated equally but also held to a high standard of citizenship. Roosevelt judges each nation by their conduct and that is why he is opposing Germany and Austria-Hungary. He admires German ideals but their conduct during the war has been deplorable. Roosevelt’s main concern is that the United States is prepared to do its duty and maintain the nation’s honor.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-01-19

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Nicholas Longworth

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Nicholas Longworth

Theodore Roosevelt is opposed to “hyphenated Americans” as they tend to be “loyal only to what comes before the hyphen.” Representative Longworth made this distinction well in his recent speech and Roosevelt agrees that most Americans of German descent are among the best citizens. Roosevelt argues against Longworth running for Senate if he has to give up his seat in the House before the primaries. A Senate campaign will require two hard fights and considerable expenditure. Roosevelt believes that Longworth would strengthen the Senate and approves of a campaign if his House seat is not threatened.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-01-24

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Winthrop Chanler

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Winthrop Chanler

In the next issue of Metropolitan Magazine, Theodore Roosevelt goes after German Americans “without gloves.” If the United States goes to war with Germany, he believes he could raise enough men of German ancestry to “put down all the traitorous citizens at home and also fight the Germans abroad.” Roosevelt is feeling warlike and thinks there is “good fighting material” in the United States.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-03-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Arthur Hamilton Lee

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Arthur Hamilton Lee

Theodore Roosevelt does not understand Leopold James Maxse of the National Review who is being “severe” towards the United States and the role Jews play in British society. Maxse supported William H. Taft and is supporting President Wilson even though they do not want the United States to do its duty towards Great Britain. American public opinion is shifting towards Britain and the allies. Wilson is pursuing a policy that will appease the pacifists and not antagonize the allies. Roosevelt hopes Britain will not provoke the United States and other neutrals by violating the rules laid out in the Hague Conventions. He is anxious over German submarines disrupting commerce and chagrined at the German victory in East Prussia. However, Roosevelt believes that Germany will be defeated if the allies remain united.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-02-26

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Nicholas Roosevelt

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Nicholas Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt describes the attitude of the German American press as “infamous.” He regrets that large numbers of German Americans want to build up nationality groups in the United States and that President Wilson and Secretary of State Bryan are catering to them. Archibald Roosevelt is home for the holidays and is already worrying about what he is going to do after college. Roosevelt has been working for Metropolitan Magazine and hopes to continue working until Quentin Roosevelt is ready to be “launched in the world.” The war and the Mexican situation are the most interesting matters in the United States but the Wilson administration refuses to make any military preparations.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-02-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

Theodore Roosevelt believes the Wilson administration is the “worst and most disgraceful” in history. He has no doubt that the “frightful cases” in Mexico are true but has no way of authenticating them. The information might be included in Roosevelt’s next article on military preparedness. He has been attacking the efforts of German Americans to use the United States in the interests of Germany. Roosevelt asks Senator Lodge not to quote his political statements as he does not think the time is right for him to announce his position. He congratulates Lodge on the Shipping Bill.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-02-18

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Wingate Sewall

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Wingate Sewall

Theodore Roosevelt agrees with William Wingate Sewall’s views on President Wilson and Secretary of State Bryan. They shirked their duty regarding Belgium and their conduct in Mexico has been “atrocious beyond belief.” Roosevelt believes that the Wilson administration is attempting to court German American votes and he is angered that German Americans are using their American citizenship against the interests of the United States. Citizens should be “straight United States and nothing else.” Roosevelt is unsure about the future of the Progressive Party, and from a national standpoint, he would like to await developments.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-02-06

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Cecil Spring Rice

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Cecil Spring Rice

Theodore Roosevelt is humiliated by the Wilson administration and angered by the attitude of “professional German Americans.” However, there are many German Americans who do not sympathize with Germany. Americans do not understand foreign affairs and many will simply follow where the president leads. Roosevelt agrees that each nation must look out for itself but suggests that in twenty-five years Great Britain could be allying with Germany against Russia.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-02-09

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Fraser Metzger

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Fraser Metzger

Theodore Roosevelt does not think of Fraser Metzger as a German American any more than he thinks of himself as a Dutch American. He believes that, as a whole, German immigrants were better but compares Germany under Prussian militarism to the Southern slave-holding regime before the Civil War. Roosevelt enjoyed Agnes Repplier’s article and plans to send Metzger’s letter to her.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-01-09

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Ferdinand von Stumm

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Ferdinand von Stumm

Theodore Roosevelt does not approve of Germany’s “blood-and-iron policy” but favors it over the Wilson administration’s “milk-and water policy.” Roosevelt does not believe in being neutral in matters of right and wrong. As such, his statements regarding the war have angered his English and German friends. Roosevelt is attempting to act as a good American and is angered by German Americans or Irish Americans who, because of their birth origin, are trying to influence the United States to act counter to its interests in favor of the interests of Germany or Ireland.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-02-25

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Andrew Noll

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Andrew Noll

Theodore Roosevelt defends himself against accusations that he is slandering Germany and supporting England. Roosevelt seeks to treat all Americans alike, regardless of their nationality. Roosevelt has not slandered Germany but stated that the violation of Belgium’s neutrality was a “dreadful wrong.” He regrets losing Andrew Noll’s support but believes that nations should be judged by the same standard of conduct. Roosevelt receives many letters imploring him to support a certain country based on the letter writer’s nationality. However, he believes that foreign and domestic affairs should only be viewed from “the standpoint of simple American citizenship.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-12-03

German immigration to Pennsylvania

German immigration to Pennsylvania

Benjamin K. Focht addresses the Hummel family reunion. Focht discusses German immigration to Pennsylvania, starting with a history of Germany and leading to the contributions that German-Americans have made to public life in the United States. This is a published version of a speech that Focht gave August 28, 1907.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Ernest Brucken

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Ernest Brucken

Theodore Roosevelt agrees that Americans should be “Americans and nothing else” but criticizes Ernest Brucken for betraying this principle by organizing and threatening to use the German American vote. German American organizations and pacifists have joined together and forced the government into a policy of “abject tameness.” American citizens should be working to create an American culture common to everyone. German American organizations are preventing the development of a distinct American culture.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-06-02

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Thomas D. Schall

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Thomas D. Schall

Theodore Roosevelt commends Representative Schall for his patriotic speech on the navy and military readiness. Roosevelt has denounced the “agitators of the German-American alliance” but this makes him want to show his faith in the Americans of German descent. He feels that German blood is a strong addition to the United States but only when it “fuses with the other blood strains into the new American type.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-06-19

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Guy Thomas

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Guy Thomas

Theodore Roosevelt regrets possibly hurting Dr. Appleman’s feelings but Appleman should publicly repudiate the views of Professor Rohrbach. The published letter from Rohrbach called for German Americans to oppose military readiness in favor of the interests, and possible victory, of Germany and Japan. Appleman said nothing and needs to publicly announce that the interests of the United States come first.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-05-27

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick H. Bates

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick H. Bates

Theodore Roosevelt denies he advocated for war against Germany. He has stated that if he were president he would have gone to war, if necessary, to end the violence in Mexico and the murder of Americans at sea. Roosevelt only wants support from Americans, and if the German-American friends of Frederick H. Bates cannot support him because he is opposing Germany then they are not acting like Americans. Citizens should not vote based on their origin or the origin of their parents. Americans must vote and act only with regard to their duty towards the United States.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-05-22