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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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908
German language edition of the 1912 Progressive Party platform.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1912-08-07
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-06-02
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-05-27
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-05-22
Theodore Roosevelt will not appeal to President Wilson as he feels this would influence Wilson to do the reverse of what Roosevelt suggests. Roosevelt believes that Wilson is favoring Germany in order to secure the German American vote and because Wilson is afraid of Germany.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-11-03
Woodrow Wilson, at his summer home Shadow Lawn, is shown being menaced by a number of a shadows, including ones labeled “German American Vote,” “T.R.,” “Wilson’s Mexican Policy,” “Democratic Extravagance,” “R.I.P. Principle of Arbitration,” “Military Impotence,” “Poor Appointments,” “Pork,” “Women’s Vote,” and “Daniels.”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1916-09-08
Print shows the ghost of the British Lion reacting with fear at finding an “Irish American” and a “German American” in a bed labeled “Anti Anglo-American Alliance.”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1899-05-03
Governor Roosevelt declines a visit to the Cowles’s residence, as he must work on state business every day until after his next trip out West. Roosevelt describes aspects of the political campaign that he finds frustrating and difficult, although he believes his ticket will win the election in the end.
1900-08-18
Letter noted as “Not Sent.” President Roosevelt would like to speak with Emil von Schleinitz regarding the attitude of German Americans towards the Roosevelt administration. Roosevelt is sure that Schleinitz supports treating foreign powers courteously and upholding American interests against any foreign power.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-02-10
His secretary sends Theodore Roosevelt’s thanks and acknowledgements to George Lucas and the German-American Republican Club. Roosevelt only wishes he could schedule another visit with them to meet more of the members and hopes that New Jersey will join the other Republican states.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-05-24
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-01-19
Theodore Roosevelt believes that there is growing public sentiment in favor of his views on the war. He would like to encourage this sentiment but does not want an “open fight” or to be considered a political candidate. Roosevelt does not trust the supposed change of German Americans. The decent German Americans will eventually support Roosevelt but the “professional hyphenated German-Americans” will only do so because they respect an “open and efficient foe” and not President Wilson’s “timid and treacherous make-believe friend.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-12-21
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-11-30
The Wilson administration has behaved “infamously,” and Theodore Roosevelt considers President Wilson to be a timid man who will “avoid war at all hazards.” Wilson is favoring Germany and attempting to keep the German American and pacifist vote. Roosevelt breaks down American opinion into four sections; German Americans, professional pacifists, the majority who are not interested in international affairs, and a small percentage that think like him. Three of Roosevelt’s sons have finished training at the Plattsburgh camp, and they all did well. He has his volunteer division sketched out and guarantees it will do its duty. Roosevelt is distressed at Russia being “terribly smashed,” and he hopes the allies can stay together as they can win the war together.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-09-02
Theodore Roosevelt thanks Lawrence Godkin for publishing Dr. White’s statement. Roosevelt states the German American propaganda reflected poorly on President Wilson’s administration.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-09-01
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-02-26
Theodore Roosevelt enjoys Lawrence F. Abbott’s response to a pro-German letter. He agrees with the pro-German on the sentimentality of our people. However, Roosevelt believes the pro-German has erred, deifying brutality, and simply getting facts wrong.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-02-22
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-02-18
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 Woodrow Wilson and Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan are catering to them. Archibald “Archie” B. 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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-02-13