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Although President Roosevelt now understands why Theodore Andrea Cook wrote him, he does not wish to become involved in the controversy between the United States and Great Britain regarding the London Olympics.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-17
Theodore Andrea Cook apologizes for writing to President Roosevelt about the Olympics again, but explains that he addresses Roosevelt as President of the American Olympic Committee, “as I should have been forced to address the President of the Olympic Committee of any other nation under similar circumstances.” He encloses materials about some trouble at Harvard that he believes Roosevelt will be interested in, and attributes this in part to the men who have served as spokespeople for the United States Olympic Committee.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-04
In a statement published in the London Times, the Amateur Athletic Association in Great Britain responds to “unfair and untrue statements” about the conduct of the Olympics in the American press. The American Amateur Athletic Union accused the A.A.A. of unfairness and poor conduct in several matters, objecting in particular to the disqualification of John C. Carpenter in the 400 meter final. The A.A.A. denies any claims of unfairness.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-17
The author of this letter to the editor disapproves of American Olympic officials James E. Sullivan, Gustavus T. Kirby, and Joseph B. McCabe, and the effect they have had on the culture of the United States. The author includes a clipping from a Boston newspaper which they say displays an event of “tasteless vulgarity” organized by Harvard University and Yale University, in which the King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra of Great Britain were shown “the grossest disrespect.” The accompanying clipping which is quoted seems to describe an initiation ceremony to a Harvard club that pokes fun at the conclusion of the 1908 Olympic Marathon, with students dressed as Dorando Pietri, Johnny Hayes, and members of the royal family.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-18