Holleben, Theodor von, 1840-1913

John Hay sends Theodore Roosevelt part of a letter from Harry White that gives information about German relations and the Russian Emperor. White says that German Ambassador Metternich asked for his opinion on whether relations between Germany and the United States had improved. White also reports that the King (apparently the British King) said that “the German Emperor does and thinks exactly what the Russian Emperor thinks,” and that “the Russian Emperor’s refusal of all reforms … may very likely cost him his throne.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-10

If he does not think it will offend Emperor William II, President Roosevelt asks Ambassador White to recommend his good friend Hermann Speck von Sternburg to fill the position of German Ambassador to the United States.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-12-13

Theodore Roosevelt found Adolph W. Callisen’s letter to Richardson about William Roscoe Thayer’s “Chapter of Diplomacy” regarding the Venezuela incident interesting. He asks Callisen to write him more fully about it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-05-03

President Roosevelt asks Ambassador Tower to give former German Ambassador Theodor von Holleben a photograph of himself. Roosevelt recalls having “a sincere liking” for Holleben, and hopes he is doing well.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-07

President Roosevelt would like Hugo Münsterberg to inform Baron von Holleben that Roosevelt did not advocate for Holleben’s removal and was surprised by his departure.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-01-17

President Roosevelt would like Ambassador White to speak to Emperor William II about sending Hermann Speck von Sternburg back to the United States. Roosevelt feels that Sternburg has provided very useful information in the past and “thoroughly knows” the American people.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-12-17

German Ambassador Sternburg thanks President Roosevelt for his letters. He has been gravely ill but hopes to return to his duties in October. He is upset over the accusation that poor information from him to Emperor William II caused the incident with Ambassador David Jayne Hill. Sternburg asks Roosevelt not to say anything about his illness. He congratulates Roosevelt on the Great White Fleet’s accomplishments, which are “unique in the history of the world’s navies.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-16

Hermann Speck von Sternburg congratulates President Roosevelt on the nomination of William H. Taft as the Republican candidate for president. He also reports that he has made some preparations for Roosevelt’s proposed trip to German East Africa. Sternburg tells Roosevelt about some of internal politics of the German foreign service, says that there appears to have been some pressure for his removal, and worries about possible troubles for him in the future.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-15

Ambassador Tower tells President Roosevelt he delivered the photograph to Theodore von Holleben.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-27

Serge Ricard argues that there were two sides to Theodore Roosevelt’s foreign policy: “a sort of Jekyll and Hyde” approach that mixed professional diplomacy with imperialism. Ricard notes the shift in the historiography of Roosevelt’s diplomacy during the 1980s with an emphasis on placing Roosevelt’s actions in the context of his time that is more complimentary to his reputation. Ricard praises some aspects of Roosevelt’s foreign policy record, but he contends that Roosevelt could not entirely escape the racist and imperialist thinking of his time that led him to belittle nations like China and Colombia.

A photograph of Roosevelt with a large globe and a text box listing the members of the executive committee of the Theodore Roosevelt Association accompany the text.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Stefan H. Rinke explores the relationship between Theodore Roosevelt and Hermann Speck von Sternburg, the German ambassador to the United States from 1903 to 1908. Rinke notes that the two became friends in the 1880s, and that they shared mutual interests in the outdoors, hunting, and the study of war. Rinke says that Roosevelt’s friendship for Sternburg led to the President’s lobbying the German government to have Sternburg appointed ambassador, but he believes that Sternburg could not significantly improve the relationship between Germany and the United States because Roosevelt was so partial to Great Britain and France.

Photographs of Sternburg and Rinke appear in the article as do two text boxes. One has a listing of the officers of the Theodore Roosevelt Association and the other notes that this issue of the Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal is dedicated to Captain Charles S. Abott and the men of the USS Theodore Roosevelt.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Edmund Morris examines in great detail the negotiations that led to the resolution of the Venezuelan debt and blockade crisis of 1902 between the United States and Germany. Morris agrees with historian Frederick W. Marks that much of the correspondence and records of the negotiations have been destroyed, and he provides five pages of tables to show the different versions of the negotiations as remembered by Theodore Roosevelt and recorded by various journalists, historians, and biographers. Morris argues that Roosevelt saw Germany as a threat to American interests and the maintenance of the Monroe Doctrine, and he asserts that Roosevelt behaved like a gentleman who was keen to prevent the humiliation of Emperor William II. Morris demonstrates that Roosevelt acted in keeping with his belief of speaking softly while deploying American naval assets under the command of Admiral George Dewey. Morris asserts that this combination of deft diplomacy and the employment of military power led to a successful resolution of the crisis.

A photograph of Roosevelt standing next to a large globe and another showing him on horseback with Emperor William II of Germany appear in the article. A listing of the officers of the Theodore Roosevelt Association along with the members of its executive committee also appears in the article.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Theodore Roosevelt discusses the duties of the United States within this hemisphere. He also justifies the building of the Panama Canal, as well as highlighting problems with the Republic of Venezuela.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-04-02

Ambassador Theodor von Holleben has sent his “last letter of leave taking” to President Roosevelt and Secretary of State Hay. As Holleben’s departure was controversially abrupt, Hugo Mu¨nsterberg encourages Roosevelt to support Holleben by making his response public, particularly indicating the hope that Holleben can visit the United States again.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-04-24

Ambassador von Holleben is leaving the United States with appreciation and gratitude for the kindness showed to him by President Roosevelt. He does not believe the rumors that Roosevelt requested his withdrawal in favor of Hermann Speck von Sternburg. Hugo Mu¨nsterberg has been working to convince German periodicals that they should support the Roosevelt administration. Director Heinrich Conried of the Irving Place Theatre would like Roosevelt to attend a performance of Alt Heidelberg.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-01-14

There is some confusion over the offer of a statue of Frederick the Great from Kaiser Wilhelm II and President Roosevelt’s response to the offer.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-05-16

There is a dispute between two champagne manufacturing companies, Sohnlein and Moët & Chandon, pertaining to whose product was used to christen Kaiser Wilhelm II’s yacht, the Meteor. Moët & Chandon was used. However, Sohnlein at first claimed their product was used and when this was proven false, claimed that they had an agreement that Sohnlein was supposed to be used but was not. George A. Kessler, Moët’s American representative, filed suit against Sohnlein for their actions.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-05-05

Frederick William Holls denies the rumor that he authored a report claiming that Ambassador von Holleben would need to be recalled. Holls speculates that the “blackmailer and forger” Mr. Witte may be behind the rumor.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-03-12

Emil Witte, attaché at the German Embassy in Washington, claims to have secret information against Ambassador von Holleben and accuses Hugo Münsterberg of being a secret agent for Germany. Münsterberg accuses Witte of blackmail and slander, and speculates that this material is forged. He defends Ambassador von Holleben’s integrity.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-02-22

August P. Kinne, Chancellor of the German Embassy, requests a meeting between Ambassador von Holleben and President Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-02-15