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In support of the merchant marine ship subsidy bill, Edward Blackledge discusses the economic, political, and military results of Great Britain’s shipbuilding subsidies and contrasts them with the current state of the American shipbuilding industry as presently constituted without subsidies.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-11-18
Citation for the Theodore Roosevelt Distinguished Service Medal awarded to Ethel Roosevelt Derby, eldest daughter of Theodore Roosevelt, in October 1977 by P. James Roosevelt. The citation recognizes her service as a nurse in World War I, her role as a trustee of the American Museum of Natural History, and her work on behalf of various causes in Oyster Bay, New York. The citation strives to give a sense of Mrs. Derby’s personality and how she employed it in service of preserving the memory of her father, President Roosevelt.
A picture of Ethel Roosevelt as a child with her father and another showing her receiving her Distinguished Service Medal accompany the citation.
Reprint of an article that originally appeared in Ms. Magazine in August 1976. Author Harriet Shapiro interviewed Theodore Roosevelt’s daughter Ethel Roosevelt Derby at her home in Oyster Bay, New York. Much of the piece is devoted to Ethel’s memories of life with her family at their family home Sagamore Hill. She relates how her parents, Theodore Roosevelt and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt, dealt with the children, and she notes how the Roosevelt siblings paired off, and she talks of her relationship with her older sister Alice Roosevelt Longworth.
A familiar picture of the assembled Roosevelt family and a close-up of Ethel Roosevelt Derby accompany the article.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal
Theodore Roosevelt writes to Robert J. Wickenden about his view on World War I. Roosevelt believes that the nation should have prepared itself for war with Germany rather than taking an isolationist stance.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-05-13
Germany was the first belligerent nation to violate American rights and German violations are of much greater consequence then the British interfering with American trade and mail. The United States failed to effectively protest after the sinking of the Lusitania which has limited protests of subsequent, smaller offenses. Roosevelt sends Frederick A. Reiter a copy of his book, Fear God and Take Your Own Part, and directs him to several passages. He has taken a stand for Belgium and wants each nation to be treated according to its conduct.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-05-10
Theodore Roosevelt believes the current administration will get the U.S. into the war through “sheer cowardice and weakness.” Roosevelt believes they should have started to prepare as soon as war was declared in Europe and then the Lusitania incident would not have happened.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-04-26
Theodore Roosevelt is disgusted by President Wilson’s actions after the sinking of the Lusitania. He is pleased that he spoke out publicly on the sinking.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-06-04
Theodore Roosevelt is pleased that Whitney Warren likes what he has written and hopes he has seen his comments since the sinking of the Lusitania. Roosevelt does not believe that most Americans approve of what he said, but he is very glad he has said it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-06-01
Theodore Roosevelt is sorry that he cannot fight in the war. He believes he could raise a division of riflemen, as he did for the Spanish American War. Roosevelt is glad that J. H. Patterson liked his book on Brazil. Roosevelt will not attempt that kind of adventure again. Roosevelt is also interested in Patterson organizing a corps of Russian refugees.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-06-01
Theodore Roosevelt speaks out about “the Hun within our gates”, or German Americans he says are helping Germany from within the United States. Roosevelt says the term Hun was attributed to the German forces by William II himself and that it matches the atrocities committed by the German military in Europe and Asia. He gives examples of the Huns within our gates, particularly pacifists, and compares them to the “Copperheads” of the Civil War era. He calls for all Americans, regardless of ethnic origins, to unite under one flag and one language.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1917-09-27
Theodore Roosevelt thanks members of the Armed Forces for their service during World War I and praises men willing to fight for their country. He condemns the actions of Germany and says that the war is being fought for the greater good of America and for humanity. He gives several examples of Germany’s cruelty and ruthlessness, including the sinking of the Lusitania. He denies claims of the war being a “rich man’s” war but says that anti-war movements are backed by the wealthy for commercial reasons. Roosevelt calls for better preparedness in the future as well as the implementation of universal service.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1917-09-24
Typed draft with edits of Theodore Roosevelt’s speech at the Columbia County Fair. Roosevelt says that while America is a melting pot of many cultures, it is still a single country. He calls for all citizens to be united under one flag and one language. He condemns Germany’s actions during the war and says anyone that does not fully support the United States is a traitor. Americans have an obligation to be loyal to their country and to demand justice for all men regardless of social class. The country needs to be better prepared for war in the future.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1917-09-05
Typed draft with handwritten edits of Theodore Roosevelt’s speech at the Columbia County Fair. Roosevelt says that while America is a melting pot of many cultures, it is still a single country. He calls for all citizens to be united under one flag and one language. He condemns Germany’s actions during the war and says anyone that does not fully support the United States is a traitor. Americans have an obligation to be loyal to their country and to demand justice for all men regardless of social class. The country needs to be better prepared for war in the future.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1917-09-05
Theodore Roosevelt was visited by LeRoy Percy and Dr. Lambert, both of whom had just seen Archibald Roosevelt. They spoke with admiration of Archie and Ted Roosevelt. Each recommended that Archie be sent home to recuperate as he would recover and return to service quicker. Roosevelt hopes that Archie will make no objection if his superiors suggest that he return home. He continues to enjoy the company of Archie’s family, Grace Lockwood Roosevelt and Archibald Roosevelt. Flora Whitney has obtained permission from her father to marry Quentin Roosevelt in Europe if she can get a passport.
1918-05-12
Theodore Roosevelt will send the tickets to Archibald “Archie” B. Roosevelt as soon as he receives them. He agrees that the Yale-Harvard football game might not be so bad, as Yale is improving. Roosevelt blames the sinking of the SS Ancona on the cowardice of the “Byzantine logothete in the White House” towards the loss of the RMS Lusitania.
1915-11-14
Theodore Roosevelt was pleased to hear about Surgeon-Lieutenant Derby. He hopes his daughter approves of his comments on the sinking of the RMS Lusitania, as he finds it difficult to restrain himself regarding President Wilson and Secretary of State Bryan. In the libel suit, the judge has struck most of Roosevelt’s important evidence. He does not understand “so wicked a ruling” and cannot see a way to win. He is looking forward to seeing Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt soon.
1915-05-12
Headline from the newspaper The World announcing the ship Lusitania was sunk by two torpedoes with a loss of 1,446 lives. President Woodrow Wilson is in stunned seclusion.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1915-05-08
Theodore Roosevelt writes to his son Kermit and daughter-in-law Belle about how happy he is to have the Sagamore Hill home and the visits there by the family. He is happy he won the libel suit, though William Barnes Jr. may appeal. Roosevelt writes how disgusted he is with President Wilson’s handling of international affairs even though Secretary of State Bryan resigned. Roosevelt ultimately wants peace but thinks America should be at war with Germany and is ready to raise a division of mounted riflemen and enter the war. He also describes his ten day trip to Louisiana and says his ribs are mending nicely after falling off a horse.
1915-06-16
Theodore Roosevelt writes to his son Kermit Roosevelt about his upcoming trip to Louisiana. He says he will write a book with chapters on his travels to the Andes, Patagonia, Brazil, and Arizona. Roosevelt says his latest book, Through the Brazilian Wilderness, is getting recognition, but he is unhappy that Scribner’s changed the title. He is sending Kermit South of Panama by Edward Alsworth Ross and looks forward to hearing Kermit’s thoughts on it. Roosevelt also gives his opinions on the War in Europe and President Woodrow Wilson.
1915-05-31
Theodore Roosevelt wrote this article after the Lusitania was torpedoed by a German submarine and sank. Roosevelt blasted Germans for the attack and urged Americans to take action.
1915-05-09