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Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit about the unhappiness of Archie, Quentin and Theodore Roosevelt regarding their circumstances in the war right now. He talks of taking a trip to Washington with Edith to visit Alice and Nick Longworth. He says Tommy Hitchcock thanked him for helping shore up conditions in the military training camps.
1918-01-27
Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit to report that Tommy Hitchcock was taken prisoner by the Germans and Archie Roosevelt was injured by shrapnel in the legs. He also broke his arm and was awarded the Croix de Guerre by a French general.
1918-03-17
Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit regarding transferring Kermit from the British army to the American army. He has been sending cables to the British Minister of War Lord Derby and General Peyton March. Roosevelt says how proud he is of all his sons and how he cannot wait for them to return. Tommy Hitchcock is still a German prisoner of war and slightly wounded and there have been many complimentary letters about Archie Roosevelt.
1918-04-21
Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit to marvel at all Kermit has done in 28 years and say he is sending him a copy of his new book. He mentions visits from Major Potts and Captain Tommy Hitchcock, who took Roosevelt up in a plane. He adds that General Leonard Wood complains about the lack of supplies for the drafted men.
1917-09-16
Theodore Roosevelt responds to a letter Mrs. Louise Eustis Hitchcock wrote to Edith Roosevelt. He worries about her health and hopes she will go to Colorado Springs to recuperate. He plans to stop by for a visit once he is cleared by the doctor as a result of an accident. Roosevelt plans to respond to her after he finds out more about the National Security League from Leonard Wood.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-05-29
Theodore Roosevelt has been receiving letters from all his sons, except Quentin Roosevelt. However, Quentin’s movement have been tracked through the use of outside sources and information from Flora Whitney. Roosevelt is pleased that Quentin will be near Tommy Hitchcock and he dined with Hitchcock’s parents yesterday. Ethel Roosevelt Derby and Richard Derby will be returning at the end of the week. Richard is fretting at his inability to get overseas and Roosevelt is going to speak with Surgeon General Gorgas to see if anything can be done. Roosevelt has been kept busy with speeches and articles but feels that now is a time when only action counts.
1917-09-10
A letter from Banner Shull, who had served in the motor company commanded by Quentin Roosevelt, was printed in an Indiana newspaper and was very complimentary of Quentin’s leadership. A copy was sent to Flora Whitney. Theodore Roosevelt has been working to have Tommy Hitchcock transferred to the American aviation service. Roosevelt has been on a three day speaking trip to Cincinnati, Ohio and the army camp at Chillicothe, Ohio. He was once again impressed by the officers and enlisted men but noticed an obvious lack of equipment.
1917-12-18
Theodore Roosevelt and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt spent four days in Washington, D.C., with Alice Roosevelt Longworth and Representative Nicholas Longworth. Roosevelt was very busy meeting with politicians, journalists, and military officers. It was difficult for Edith as many of her old friends had grown old or died. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hitchcock visited and are very proud of their son, Tommy. Hitchcock had written his parents that he has been practicing shooting all the time, and Roosevelt asks if Quentin has been able to practice. Quentin’s recent letters have been interesting, and Roosevelt encourages Quentin to write regularly to his mother and to Flora Whitney.
1918-01-27
Theodore Roosevelt is “getting on splendidly” but will be in the hospital for another week. Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt is spending some time with Ethel Roosevelt Derby and her children. Roosevelt has been pleased with what he hears about Quentin Roosevelt and is proud of his sons. He thinks that Tommy Hitchcock has “turned out cracker-jack.”
1918-02-28
Theodore Roosevelt was depressed to hear that Tommy Hitchcock was captured by the Germans. Various information has been received regarding Archibald Roosevelt. It appears that he has been wounded and received the Croix de guerre from the French. Roosevelt encourages Quentin Roosevelt to write to Flora Whitney and her family to ask if Flora could go overseas to marry him. Roosevelt approves of them getting married, even with the potential for death and serious injury. He is confident that Flora wants to marry Quentin under any conditions. William Beebe has returned from France where he was allowed to do some “flying and bombing.”
1918-03-17