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President Roosevelt has received a letter from Dean Wells at Groton School protesting against Kermit trying to complete two years in one at home before going to Harvard. Roosevelt says he agrees but wrote to Dean Wells that he gave his permission anyway. Roosevelt adds that he went to Mount Vernon and will ride his new mare the next day with Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt.
1906-05-06
President Roosevelt writes his son Kermit to say he is happy with his marks this month but still does not feel he should be leaving Groton School before his sixth year as Ted did. Roosevelt is allowing it because he does not want Kermit to feel he is favoring Ted over Kermit, but Roosevelt has already told Archie that Archie will do six years. Roosevelt says Edith hurt her leg riding, and developed an abscess and is in a wheelchair. Roosevelt’s rate bill went through the Senate and he now turns his attention to the fight over the canal.
1906-05-20
President Roosevelt writes to his son Kermit to say that he is glad Ted visited Kermit at Groton, and, if Kermit works hard, he can finish school at home next year. Roosevelt says he is having problems with the Panama Canal because of clashes between Secretary of War Taft and Chairman Shonts. Massachusetts is going crazy over the tariff as well. Roosevelt says he is getting plenty of tennis, rides, and scrambling walks. He adds that Edith has been reading a lot to Archie and Quentin and the next day African hunter Frederick Selous is visiting.
1905-11-12
President Roosevelt is sorry to hear that his son Kermit Roosevelt has decided to leave Groton School but he will get him a tutor if that is what he really wants. Roosevelt closes by saying Laura Richards and her brother Henry Howe visited.
1906-04-25
Emma M. Stimson attaches a poem and writes to Theodore Roosevelt, a stranger, about her family’s personal troubles and poverty, as well as her family’s reluctance to give up their house which has become difficult to manage. Stimson had attempted to reach out for assistance, including writing to Andrew Carnegie’s “Hero Fund” to see if her “invalid” father could receive some form of pension, but they were denied outright. Currently her family is receiving aid from a local support group, but while Stimson appreciates the kindness, she is anxious about not having a permanent solution if the aid suddenly stops. Finally, Stimson gives Roosevelt a list of references for who could validate her story, and asks if there is anything he could do for her family.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-08-31
Theodore W. Christian tells Theodore Roosevelt about his life. Christian was named after Roosevelt and would like to follow in his footsteps. He wants be president but knows he never can be, and he asks Roosevelt for advice for when he grows up. He hopes that his mother will buy him a gun so that he can go hunting just as Roosevelt hunts.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-02-08