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Brief history of how the Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial came into existence. Included is information on how the location was chosen and obtained, a description of the memorial and information on the dedication. There is also a discussion of Theodore Roosevelt’s pioneering legislation in the realm of conservation.
Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial
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President Roosevelt sent Secretary of State Hay’s letter to Ambassador Choate. He thinks that the Germans naming a torpedo boat after Alice Roosevelt is preferable to her desire that Prince Henry name her a colonel of a lancer regiment. Roosevelt would not look favorably on being offered an honorary position in a foreign regiment.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-09-29
If convenient, President Roosevelt will stop by Secretary of State Hay’s house after church to discuss the Prince Henry business. Roosevelt is hesitant to give permission for his daughter, Alice Roosevelt, to give a short speech after christening Emperor William’s yacht.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-01-18
President Roosevelt writes to Seth Low to inform him that, after consulting with Secretaries Hay and Root, he has decided not to attend the dinner. Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt and Alice Roosevelt will not be going to the opera. They will take the train back to Washington.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-02-03
President Roosevelt writes to Theodor von Holleben that he would be pleased to have Alice Roosevelt Longworth christen Emperor William II’s yacht.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-01-02
Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary explains to Reverend Leech that it was not Alice Roosevelt Longworth who donated to President Taft’s campaign but instead the mother of Nicholas Longworth, a close friend of Taft.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-05-24
Theodore Roosevelt states that he does not know anything about “that bill.” He wishes that Nicholas Longworth and Alice Roosevelt Longworth could have heard him at Carnegie Hall.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-03-25
Theodore Roosevelt will be away at Groton School visiting Quentin Roosevelt but will return Friday. He can meet Nicholas Longworth on Friday afternoon or Saturday morning before his other engagements. Roosevelt looks forward to talking and regrets Alice Roosevelt Longworth cannot join them.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-11-24
Theodore Roosevelt enjoyed Representative Longworth’s interesting letter, which he showed to the Outlook staff and James Rudolph Garfield. He asks if Longworth can come to New York as he has too much to say in a letter. Roosevelt is concerned that Alice Roosevelt Longworth is unwell. However, Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt is doing better.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-11-17
Theodore Roosevelt tells his son, Theodore “Ted” Roosevelt that he has heard from Mrs. Alexander how wonderful the recent christening was. The Spreckels are visiting and Roosevelt will invite them to stay the night. Roosevelt received a letter from William Kent about a conversation he had with Ted. Roosevelt cautions Ted against speaking out publicly in support of Woodrow Wilson or against President William Howard Taft. Roosevelt also disapproves of Taft, but he still prefers him over the Democrats or past Presidents Benjamin Harrison and William McKinley. Alice Roosevelt Longworth and her husband Nicholas Longworth are traveling to Panama, and they hope to see Ted in San Francisco on their way home. Archibald B. Roosevelt has been studying for his Harvard preliminary exams, and intends to visit San Francisco as well. Quentin Roosevelt has returned to Groton School unhappily. Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt is planting a grove of pine trees for their granddaughter, Grace Green Roosevelt, to play in when she is older. Roosevelt is sending Ted a copy of Kermit Roosevelt’s account of a hunt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-22
Theodore Roosevelt updates Cecil Spring Rice on the members of the Roosevelt family. Roosevelt feels that British politics are much more interesting than politics in the United States at the moment. He is disappointed in President Taft, and thinks that his leadership has divided the conservative and progressive streams within the Republican Party. However, Roosevelt would like to see Taft elected again. Roosevelt has “no sympathy with [Taft’s] arbitration treaty business” and believes the treaty should be strictly between Great Britain and the United States. Roosevelt also writes about his contentment with his life at the moment, writing for The Outlook.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-08-22
In response to a request for information about the Roosevelt daughters, the Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt declines to share any information and informs C. T. Thompson that they do not want personal information about them published.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-05-23
Theodore Roosevelt writes to Cora Urquhart Potter, famed socialite and stage actress, that he has already been taking action through his daughter, Alice Roosevelt Longworth, for a memorial to “dear Margaret.” The Margaret referred to is likely Roosevelt’s 2nd cousin, Lucy Margaret Roosevelt who had died a few months earlier.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-02-26
President Roosevelt thanks Arthur Hamilton Lee for sending him the portraits, and returns the three as requested. He plans to give several copies out as Christmas presents, but feels like he should be sparing with the others. Roosevelt is glad to hear Lee’s news that the British people are aware of the necessities of national defense, and applauds the agreement with Japan. Roosevelt believes his strategy of friendly communication with Japan in conjunction with the demonstration of sending the fleet around the world, has produced good results for the United States. Roosevelt is looking forward to his safari, and believes that President-Elect William Howard Taft will do a good job as president.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-20
President Roosevelt tells Matthew Nathan, Governor of Natal, that he wishes he could visit South Africa to see the growth of its “great self-governing commonwealths.” Roosevelt believes that great things could happen in South Africa, and would like to see the Dutch and English people there blend into one people. He will give Nathan’s regards to his daughter Alice.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-23
Although President Roosevelt is proud of his daughter Ethel, he tells her that he cannot help but feel nervous when he thinks of her taking risks. He updates her on the goings-on at the White House, including tennis with the French Ambassador J. J. Jusserand, a visit from Alice and Nicholas Longworth, and some of Quentin’s exploits.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-10
President Roosevelt tells Secretary of State Root that he hopes to defer the acceptance of a gift for several months until both Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt and Alice Roosevelt Longworth are in Washington, D.C. This will give them some time to determine what to do about the gift. Roosevelt says that if people were reasonable they would realize that refusing a gift from a foreign power is a delicate matter, but that people are often not reasonable. He reflects upon the various animosities and alliances that bind Europe, and that transfer to the United States’s different ethnic groups.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-02
President Roosevelt tells his sister, Corinne Roosevelt Robinson, that their letters must have crossed in the mail. Roosevelt remarks on his view that the Presidency should be a powerful position, but one that is subject to review by the population. Roosevelt does not believe that one person should be in the Presidency for more than eight years at a time. William Allen White has written him an amusing letter enclosing an editorial, which he sends to show to Robinson.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-26
President Roosevelt thanks Henry Beach Needham for the letter, and is glad that he saw his sister, Corinne Roosevelt Robinson, and daughter, Alice Roosevelt Longworth. Roosevelt believes that the value he can give the American people is in showing them that a person can hold the presidency and act as a strong president, and still keep his word and give up power. Roosevelt agrees with Needham about Frank H. Hitchcock, although he wonders if Frank B. Kellogg would also be worth considering if the government can spare him from the lawsuits against Standard Oil.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-29
President Roosevelt writes to Anna Roosevelt Cowles to thank her for the lamp, and wishes her son, William Sheffield Cowles, could have been at the White House for Christmas. It was Christmas in “the usual style,” and then a three hour ride with the chattering children and Fitzhugh Lee, Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, and Secretary of State Elihu Root. They had lunch with the Lodge and Cooley families and then Roosevelt played tennis with Ambassador J. J. Jusserand, Ted Roosevelt and Kermit Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-12-25