Your TR Source
President Roosevelt tells Silas McBee that it was a pleasure to see him and comments that the French ambassador “is an awfully good fellow.” Roosevelt believes in the movement McBee wrote about, but cannot endorse it without being expected to endorse many others.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-05-12
President Roosevelt describes his jumping Roswell over a big hurdle to his son, Theodore Roosevelt. He is glad that Theodore is assistant manager of the crew team. He notes that Louis Adams Frothingham visited yesterday. Archibald B. Roosevelt caught tadpoles, turtles, and a small alligator that he put in the bathroom.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-05-12
President Roosevelt informs Kermit Roosevelt about the unseasonal weather they have been experiencing in Washington. He updates Kermit on his physical activities, including riding and tennis, and the family bulldog Pete, who they might rehome due to his behavior. Roosevelt hopes to complete five speeches before his visit to the Jamestown Ter-centennial, when he can take a short break.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-04-07
President Roosevelt asks Lucian B. Swift if the enclosed was satisfactory. Roosevelt inquires if Swift’s wife Ella Lyon Swift would like to receive personal letters Roosevelt has written to various United States ambassadors.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-28
President Roosevelt appreciates the books on the Seven Years’ War which Richard P. Waddington gave him. Roosevelt enjoyed their visit and hopes Waddington will visit again.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-08
President Roosevelt discusses various Anglo-American diplomats and the current state of affairs between the two countries. He also mentions diplomacy with other countries such as Canada and Jamaica.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-05
President Roosevelt finds “quiet but deep satisfaction” in the Samuel Gompers and Sydney Emanuel Mudd affair. He updates Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte on Clarence C. Pusey taking office and gives guidance on handling Mary Tayloe Key. In a postscript, Roosevelt comments on the situation in Cuba and discusses presenting a naval medal of honor.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-25
President Roosevelt believes it wise for Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte to accept the offer of serving on the honorary committee in France. He informed Clarence C. Pusey he is to take office on November 15. Roosevelt will briefly consider the use of “passed” or “past.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-21
President Roosevelt was only concerned about the letter he had sent Ambassador Reid because of its nature, but permits him to show any portions he deems proper to King Edward VII of Great Britain or Sir Edward Grey. He also recommends Reid make Roosevelt’s dislike of British Ambassador H. Mortimer Durand known, emphasizing that if he had been a man Roosevelt liked, he would have consulted with him more. Roosevelt reflects on the strategies he uses in foreign relations, particularly with the Germans and German Emperor William II, but also with the English and Japanese, which he describes as “to be scrupulously polite, to show a genuine good-will toward her, but to keep our navy in such shape” so as to deter any aggression. He sends his greetings to Reid’s wife, Elisabeth Mills Reid, and remarks that he enjoyed reading about the social news from England.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-27
President Roosevelt thanks John S. Kennedy for the salmon, and says that while unfortunately First Lady Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt recently went to Roosevelt’s home at Oyster Bay, he is dining with French Ambassador J. J. Jusserand and his wife, Elise Richards Jusserand, and will have it served for them.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-26
President Roosevelt tells Secretary of State Root that French Ambassador J. J. Jusserand can extend his thanks to Roosevelt while playing tennis, or during any number of other physical activities the two undertake together. Roosevelt in turn will give his compliments to France, “and all of the necessary formalities will thereby have been accomplished.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-05-25
President Roosevelt was interested in his son Theodore Roosevelt’s commentary about Charles Dickens in a recent letter he wrote to his mother, Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt. He comments that “Dickens’ characters are really to a great extent personified attributes rather than individuals,” and offers several examples of the memorable examples Dickens created. Roosevelt provides a brief update on the progress of legislation, where he has been successful in passing a rate bill, but anticipates a fierce fight over the Panama canal bill. He has been too busy to get much exercise, but has occasionally been able to go horseback riding and play tennis.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-05-20
President Roosevelt was very interested to read Ambassador White’s letter and appreciates the view it gave him of what when on at the Algeciras conference. He promises to send a summary of what discussions had happened in the United States relative to the conference. Prior to the conference Roosevelt had felt that France was behaving better than Germany was, but their behavior during the conference has made him believe that neither one was particularly straightforward. He is jealous that White met several senior Italian figures and asks him to pass along his compliments. Roosevelt is glad to hear White’s news about Samuel R. Gummere and will take his advice and ask Secretary of State Root to send him to Morocco.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-30
President Roosevelt introduces Frederick W. Whitridge to Edward VII, King of Great Britain. Roosevelt additionally comments on the Algeciras Conference. Henry White spoke highly of Arthur Nicolson, British representative at the conference, but came to feel that the French and German representatives were not straightforward. Be that as it may, Roosevelt feels that the French and German Ambassadors to the United States, J J. Jusserand and Herman Speck von Sternburg, are good men.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-25
President Roosevelt asks Alexander Lambert if he and his wife, Ellen Cheney Lambert can come visit from April 21 to April 23. If he can, Roosevelt promises that he, Lambert, French Ambassador J. J. Jusserand and Assistant Secretary of State Robert Bacon will all take a walk together.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-11
President Roosevelt thanks Victor Geza Fischer for the book, Hudibras. Senator Henry Cabot Lodge and French Ambassador J. J. Jusserand were very impressed with it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-12-26
President Roosevelt has explained to French Ambassador J. J. Jusserand, who is listening to him dictate this letter, what Phi Beta Kappa is. Jusserand will respond to Frederic Jesup Stimson himself, although Roosevelt does not think he will be able to deliver the requested address. He hopes that Stimson will use his influence to prevent Harvard president Charles William Eliot from abolishing football at Harvard.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-25
President Roosevelt agrees with his son Kermit’s thoughts on Nicholas Nickleby, and says that in general, he prefers novels that have joyous and noble aspects, rather than ones that are depressing and have sorrow, shame, and suffering in them. He updates his son on the activities at the White House, including a visit from African big game hunter Frederick Courteney Selous, and Quentin Roosevelt’s birthday celebrations.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-19
President Roosevelt discusses various aspects of his efforts to make peace between Japan and Russia at length with Cecil Spring Rice. He also discusses the current strained relations between England and Germany, and informs Rice that he does not intend to take on the role of regular peacemaker between other countries. It is necessary for him to focus on the affairs of the United States, rather than trying to keep peace in Europe.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-01
President Roosevelt was glad to have his son Ted unexpectedly visit with a friend and tells him that he is welcome to bring whoever he wants to the White House at any time. Roosevelt is in the middle of a speechmaking trip through the South, where he was greeted most enthusiastically by the public, noting that they had “nothing sufficiently bitter to say of me” just a year prior.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-10-22