Gifts

Creation Date

1909-03-05

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

Creation Date

1916-06-07

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Gouverneur Morris

Theodore Roosevelt is touched by a letter from Gouverneur Morris. Roosevelt thinks it “very unlikely” that he will be nominated for President, but if he is he will ask for support from Morris. Roosevelt and his wife are saddened by the death of Richard Harding Davis. Roosevelt looks forward to a present from Harry La Montagne.

Collection

Creation Date

1916-04-26

Remarks of President Roosevelt in accepting the memento presented by the citizens of Anaconda, Montana, at Butte, Montana, May 27, 1903

Theodore Roosevelt thanks the people of Butte for the “beautiful gift.”

Collection

Creation Date

1903-05-27

Remarks of President Roosevelt in accepting the loving cup presented to him by the citizens of Butte, Montana, May 27, 1903

Theodore Roosevelt thanks the people of Butte for the loving cup.

Collection

Creation Date

1903-05-27

Remarks of President Roosevelt in accepting a claret urn presented by the citizens of Sacramento, California, May 19, 1903

Theodore Roosevelt thanks the citizens of Sacramento for the claret urn.

Collection

Creation Date

1903-05-19

Puck Christmas 1896

Santa Claus holds a tankard and sits on a large chair with Puck, who holds the “Christmas Number,” sitting next to him. Their feet rest on a sack of toys.

Collection

Creation Date

1896-12-09

With the compliments of the season

President-elect William McKinley sits in a chair, reading a magazine, with a Christmas tree in the background. Puck is standing at the door on the left, with a lithographic pen and a sign that states “Public Office is a Public Trust” that he is presenting to McKinley for his office in the White House. Caption: Puck–Allow me, Major, to congratulate you on your coming inauguration, and to offer you this little Christmas gift, to decorate your private office in the White House.

Collection

Creation Date

1896-12-23

Our Christmas tree

Print shows Uncle Sam and Columbia taking Christmas presents off a Christmas tree and distributing them to Native children labeled “Hawaii, Samoa, Puerto Rico, Cuba, [and] Philippine.”

Collection

Creation Date

1899-12-27

A moment of anxiety – who is going to get left?

President Cleveland, as Santa Claus, stands in front of a fireplace where stockings are hung from the mantle. He has a large sack of toys labeled “Navy, Treasury, Interior, Justice, State, [and] War Dept.” on his back, and a cat that looks like John Kelly lies at his feet. Watching from around the room are “Bayard, Randall, Cox, Barnum, McDonald, Slocum, Lamar, Morrison, [Garland], Tilden, Carlisle, Hewitt, Watterson, [and] Thurman,” and asleep in a cradle labeled “Independence” is either Carl Schurz or Joseph Pulitzer.

Collection

Creation Date

1884-12-24

Letter from George B. Cortelyou to William Roscoe Thayer

President Roosevelt would be pleased to act upon William Roscoe Thayer’s suggestion but does not have anything on hand to contribute.

Collection

Creation Date

1902-01-09

Always look a gift-horse in the mouth

Nelson W. Aldrich stands next to a horse labeled “Central Bank” which he is offering to Uncle Sam who is inspecting the horse’s teeth labeled “Wall St. Interests.”

Collection

Creation Date

1909-12-22

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Dora Watkins and Thomas Watkins

The Roosevelts spent Christmas in Rome and there were many presents. They ascended Mount Vesuvius and Roosevelt stuck an alpine stick into a small crater which caught the stick on fire. The route down from Vesuvius was very rough.

Collection

Creation Date

1870-01-06

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Dora Watkins

President Roosevelt sends a recent photograph of himself and asks Dora Watkins what she would like for Christmas. He often tells his children about Watkins and wishes that she could see Ted Roosevelt.

Collection

Creation Date

1904-11-29

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Mrs. John Mott

President Roosevelt appreciates Mrs. John Mott’s kindness to Dora Watkins. As way of thanks, he encloses a photograph and ten dollars to be used on Christmas gifts for the Mott children.

Collection

Creation Date

1904-11-29

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Dora Watkins

President Roosevelt encloses a $50 check and instructs Dora Watkins to purchase a Christmas gift for herself.

Collection

Creation Date

1904-12-05

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Dora Watkins

President Roosevelt wishes Dora Watkins a merry Christmas and encloses a check for her to use on a gift. He wishes that Watkins could see his children play at the White House and describes their recent “romps in the snow.”

Collection

Creation Date

1905-12-19

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Corinne Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt is sending Corinne Roosevelt a book of poetry.

Collection

Creation Date

1879-03-28

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Corinne Roosevelt Robinson

President Roosevelt encloses ten dollars for Dora Watkins and asks Corinne Roosevelt Robinson to send it to her as a Christmas gift. Roosevelt wishes he could spend Christmas with the Robinsons.

Collection