Your TR Source
Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary writes to Senator Burrows to discuss Roosevelt’s traveling schedule to Grand Rapids on February 11.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-01-23
Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary writes to Liston L. Lewis regarding Roosevelt’s speaking arrangements. Roosevelt’s speech is titled “Abraham Lincoln and Progressive Democracy.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-01-23
Theodore Roosevelt does not think it would be useful to write about his political positions. He does not believe that the present crisis is comparable to the era of the American Civil War. However, Roosevelt believes that his motives and actions have been in line with the path of Abraham Lincoln.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-01-02
Theodore Roosevelt sends his praise to Whitelaw Reid for his address on Abraham Lincoln.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-01-03
Theodore Roosevelt appreciated Senator Borah’s letter. He doesn’t personally mind the letter he got from Judson C. Welliver, but is sorry to see his “hysteria and untruthfulness,” and that he is becoming a person who “subordinates principles to practical achievement.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-08-12
Theodore Roosevelt reviews the arrangements for his visit to St. Louis, Missouri, with Governor Hadley. He does not think it advisable to go up in an airplane as it would be viewed as sensational. New York Republicans tend towards conservatism like the Cotton Whigs rather than the Republicans who supported Abraham Lincoln.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-09-21
President Roosevelt responds to the issue of whether a candidate’s religious affiliation should influence a political election. He has received many letters on this topic, and chooses to respond broadly to James C. Martin’s. Roosevelt believes that a candidate’s religion is a personal matter that constituents do not have a right to know, and that it goes against American principles for people to vote based on religious affiliation. This is a condensed version of a longer letter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-06
President Roosevelt informs F. R. Wingate of his plans to go on safari in the British territories in Africa. He lists the places he intends to visit and the animals he intends to shoot. Most of the specimens will be donated to the Smithsonian Institute, although Roosevelt and his son Kermit may keep a few trophies for themselves. Roosevelt assures Wingate that he intends to travel as a private citizen, and does not want the leaders of any of the territories making special arrangements for him. He adds that he is interested to see how Wingate and others have managed the British possessions in Africa.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-29
Theodore Roosevelt draws comparisons between several past elections and his own recent experiences with the Progressive Party.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-06-30
Theodore Roosevelt writes to A. A. Speer to inform him about a phrase written by the State of Kentucky on the memorial to the soldiers that fought in the battle of Chattanooga. Roosevelt mentions being impressed by Lincoln’s “gift of expression.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-02-04
The preparedness issue should be handled as Abraham Lincoln fought for the Union and against slavery. Some of Lincoln’s supporters were corrupt or had improper motives but this did not stop Lincoln from “fighting for the right.” If there are ammunition manufacturers supporting a cause that is right, there is no reason to abandon that cause because of their support.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-12-14
Theodore Roosevelt writes about the polar extremes in politics using Abraham Lincoln, Stephen A. Douglas, and others as examples.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-12-30
Theodore Roosevelt describes William Jennings Bryan’s statement that “Mr. Roosevelt classes Christ with the mollycoddles” as a “blasphemous falsehood.” He denies making a statement even resembling such a quote. Roosevelt compares his support for military readiness to the policies of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Bryan’s condemnation of Roosevelt’s views also condemns the actions of Washington and Lincoln. Roosevelt compares Bryan’s statement that the country should not prepare for war to the position that a man should not “prevent his wife’s face from being slapped or his daughter from being outraged.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-11-24
Theodore Roosevelt informs Reverend Hickock that Mr. Hay mentioned to him that Abraham Lincoln drank alcohol on occasion, though not to excess. Roosevelt stresses that this information is confidential and as it is speculation and nothing will be gained from repeating it, it is best not to mention it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-11-01
Theodore Roosevelt understands Captain Finke’s savage reaction to an anti-war envelope that came in the mail. Though Roosevelt is powerless in the matter, he explains that the envelopes are issued by Appeal to Reason, a publication by Eugene V. Debs that condemns war and fails to distinguish between war sentiments of American patriots and notorious aggressors. The publication has even been known to support infamous dynamiters and murderers.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-11-12
Theodore Roosevelt responds to a letter from Hartford Beaumont, an attorney in Manila, expressing his disenchantment with the Wilson administration and its approach to international affairs with the Philippines and Japan.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-10-20
In regards to preparedness and hyphenated Americanism, Theodore Roosevelt believes that he has caused the administration to take the reverse action from a year ago. He is not sure how much consequence this has really had, though.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-10-25
Theodore Roosevelt wishes there was something he could do to aid the allies. If he controlled the government, the United States would have acted long ago. However, American neutrality has aided the allies with loans and munitions. Roosevelt compares the British situation to the Union during the fall of 1862. The Confederacy was succeeding militarily and Abraham Lincoln’s policies were being questioned. Lincoln and the Union stayed with the fight and turned the situation around. Roosevelt is confident that if the allies “stick to it” they can be victorious.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-10-25
Theodore Roosevelt tells Frederick Palmer that he is “sick at heart about Wilson and therefore the American people.” He compares the current situation to what might have happened during the Civil War if Abraham Lincoln had been too proud to fight, but he believes that even then, someone would have roused the northerners in the end. Roosevelt believes he has done everything he can to rouse the American people, and he informs Palmer that he has the beginnings of a Division already planned.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-08-28
Theodore Roosevelt has had a long running conflict with Norman Hapgood and George Creel who have told “deliberate falsehoods” about him. Roosevelt states that an examination of any public person will show the “occasional honest and necessary change of mind.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-07-10