Your TR Source
President Roosevelt tells Secretary of War Taft of a recent report comparing army and navy fire control. He is concerned by the army’s “backwardness,” as evidenced by the report. Until recently, the navy showed a similar deficiency but has since improved, as can the army. Roosevelt requests Taft take up the issue.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-21
Theodore Roosevelt has been disappointed by the Wilson administration’s attitude towards the war but is glad that some Americans are taking action. He is against “globe-trotters and curiosity seekers” and does not believe any American should visit a warring country. If there are visitors, he hopes they are put to work “digging kitchen sinks and burying dead horses.” Roosevelt views Germany as currently winning the war but the greater numbers and resources of the Allies will likely wear Germany down if the Allies stand united. He wishes he could have handled the foreign affairs of the last year as president. The Roosevelts had a delightful Christmas with three grandchildren at Sagamore Hill.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-01-04
President Roosevelt is frustrated by Congress thwarting his attempts at military reform, and agrees with Captain Moore that the United States “has everything to learn from the Germans” in regard to military administration. As such, Roosevelt is “dumfounded” by the negative press coverage of German Emperor William II. On a more personal note, Roosevelt is delighted to be the godfather of Moore’s son, Dan T. Moore Jr.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-09
President Roosevelt sends Captain Dan T. Moore’s letter to Secretary of War Wright. Moore, who is in Germany, would like official permission from the State Department to extend his detail there to take an artillery shooting course. Roosevelt believes this will benefit the service as a whole and asks if Wright can secure the permission for Moore to attend.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-09
President Roosevelt discusses his thoughts regarding tensions with Japan with German Ambassador Sternburg, and supposes that racial differences between Europeans and Japanese makes understanding between the two races difficult. In response to a report from Sternburg that Japanese immigrants in Mexico could attack the United States from there should conflict arise, Roosevelt says this action would do nothing but anger the United States. Roosevelt does not understand why Japanese immigrants want to come to America and become naturalized citizens, yet retain their Japanese identity. Roosevelt pledges to treat the immigrants with justice and to protect them if need be, while at the same time keeping the American fleet ready to sail at a moment’s notice. He does not believe there will be war, but will try to “prevent it from being disastrous” if it does. Roosevelt worries because the Japanese have formidable military power, and Americans suffer from a luxurious, modern life that makes them frivolous. Roosevelt is troubled by men who talk about peace but are really cowards. Roosevelt says his foreign policy is simple: to show other nations justice, courtesy, and considerations, and to receive the same in return.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-16
A. T. Mahan offers his opinion on the role of the secretary of the Navy. Mahan believes that the issues within the Navy Department have arisen from its corporate structure and the staff’s knowledge gaps. Mahan observes that there is a lack of “personal responsibility” in the department and argues that the Chief of Staff should be “solely responsible for the information, and for advice, given the Secretary.” Drawing from Julian Stafford Corbett, Mahan discusses the connection between diplomatic and military actions and the necessity of a strong military in peacetime. He concludes by asserting that he does not “advocate or countenance” any actions to weaken the power of the secretary.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-13
Rear Admiral Merrell of the Naval War College and Navy General Board has analyzed a recent memorandum from Rear Admiral H. N. Manney in which Manney asked President Roosevelt to reconsider sending the Great White Fleet to the Pacific Ocean, in case of war with Japan. While the General Board agrees with Manney that Japan’s current finances would make war nearly impossible, they believe that should war develop, the Philippines would be a primary target of the Japanese, rather than the Atlantic Coast of the United States, as Manney suggests. Merrell and the Board reiterate their recommendation to send the fleet to the Pacific, and indeed recommend consideration of having permanent fleets in the Atlantic and Pacific.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-02
German Ambassador Sternburg tells President Roosevelt that if his own representatives in Mexico had not told him of a recent wave of Japanese immigrants there, he would not have given the matter any attention, calling the idea of a Japanese reserve of men stationed to attack the United States “quixotic.” A German naval attaché in Tokyo says Japan is not considering another war in the near future. Sternburg includes a lengthy excerpt from a letter from German diplomat Friedrich von Holstein, who says that British diplomacy, led by King Edward VII, is geared toward using Japan as a “bogey,” stoking anxiety in Russia and the United States about the possibility of Japan initiating hostilities. Sternburg mentions a recent newspaper article that says Germany is actually spreading anti-Japanese feeling, which he finds amusing. Sternburg praises the Great White Fleet’s trip to the Pacific, and notes that many former soldiers emigrate from their home countries, “war seems to create a restless spirit among the fighters.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-19
Theodore Roosevelt praises Frederick Trevor Hill for marching “young boys” a long distance in “army fashion.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-05-21
Print shows Justice sitting, blindfolded and holding her scales at her side, with the Eiffel Tower in the background. Standing at her feet is Puck holding a list of names that includes “Esterhazy, Paty de Clam, Mercier, Billot, Zurlinden, Boisdeffre, Gonse, Pellieux, Delagorgue, Perivier, Tezenas” and others. Caption: Puck (to French Justice) So far, so good, Madame! You have vindicated Dreyfus; but you must punish these criminals who persecuted him, before your work is done.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1899-06-28
Howard L. Hutchinson is writing a paper entitled “The Military Career of Theodore Roosevelt” for his military science course at the Sheffield Scientific School of Yale University. He would like to be referred to books that discuss Roosevelt’s early military career.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-01-23