Your TR Source
Theodore Roosevelt returns a clipping from The Herald to Admiral Fiske. Roosevelt agrees that it will take several years to get ready if we start now. Roosevelt will send Fiske his upcoming book, in which he discusses these points.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-01-24
Theodore Roosevelt feels out of sympathy with American public opinion. The Republican strategy to defeat President Wilson by remaining neutral regarding America’s international duty may be politically sound but Roosevelt doubts if it will be good for the country. President Wilson has received press praise for his non-partisan politics and self-defense strategy. However, Roosevelt thinks his defense plan is nonsense. Wilson continues to pursue half measures and Republicans will not argue for true preparedness. Roosevelt believes many Progressives will support Wilson but, under the circumstances, he supports the Republicans.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-01-26
Theodore Roosevelt defends a speech he delivered about military readiness from criticism it received in The New Republic.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-02-08
Theodore Roosevelt agrees that President Wilson has no conviction and would declare war if he thought it would secure his reelection. Roosevelt criticizes the Wilson administration’s policies on dual nationality and its failure to defend American citizens that are being held in foreign nations. In a postscript, Roosevelt regrets that his decision not to run in the California primary might have embarrassed Governor Johnson. Roosevelt is trying to get the country to do its duty and convince Republicans and Progressives to work together. These causes will be damaged if the public thinks he is attempting to further his own ambitions.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-04-03
On behalf of Theodore Roosevelt, his secretary thanks Professor Davis for his letter. He suggests that Davis find copies of the past four months of the Metropolitan Magazine to read about Roosevelt’s opinion on national defense.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-05-07
Theodore Roosevelt wishes a judge of Judge Amidon’s “breadth of view” had presided over his libel suit. More evidence would have been admitted against William Barnes and the jury would probably have been unanimous. Regarding the Lusitania, Roosevelt believes that President Wilson has failed in “performing national and international duty in a world crisis.” Wilson should have acted earlier and the time for thought and words has passed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-05-29
Theodore Roosevelt thanks Francis E. McGovern for his letter. He is frustrated with the current legislature’s opposition to the United States entering into the war. He is not surprised by the actions of Emanuel L. Philipp’s Wisconsin legislature or of his Progressive party opponents Robert M. La Follette and William Barnes.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-05-29
Theodore Roosevelt responds to William Sohier Bryant having sent him a pamphlet by Lord Channing which made reference to Roosevelt’s opinions. Roosevelt says he only spoke out on World War I when he realized that President Wilson did not have a plan. He only likes to send copies of his book, America and the World War, to people who would care to read it, but he suggests that Bryant send a copy to Channing.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-04-01
Theodore Roosevelt asks Charles J. Bonaparte about a “pacifist’s” name. In addition, Roosevelt suggests that Bonaparte publish his articles in a book.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-04-02
Theodore Roosevelt is doubtful of E. A. Filene’s peace proposition and is opposed to recognizing that Americans of foreign birth have divided interests due to their affiliation with foreign countries. He does not want to encourage “group political action by nationality or creed.” Roosevelt argues that the only peace worth having is a righteous peace as “nonrighteous peace may be as evil as the most unrighteous war.” He faults President Wilson and Secretary of State Bryan for not living up to the country’s international obligations and failing to follow a policy of military readiness. Roosevelt concludes by comparing Wilson and Bryan to Spain’s Prince, Manuel de Godoy, whose policies reduced his country to “complete impotency,” lost Spain’s American possessions, and led to a French invasion under Napoleon.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-04-05
Theodore Roosevelt understands W. Cameron Forbes’s feelings towards the Philippines and regrets that the United States is unwilling to properly defend the islands. He feels it is pointless to retain the Philippines without taking steps to “defend them against all comers.” President Wilson, William H. Taft, and other pacifists are placing the country in a “position of impotence to perform the work of a great nation.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-04-06
Theodore Roosevelt agrees with Joseph Choate that Germany should pay for its action about Louvain. This will be impossible under the neutrality of the Wilson administration. Roosevelt mentions that Jane Addams and her committee would like to forbid the export of arms to those involved in World War I, but Roosevelt believes those fighting Germany should have access to weapons.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-04-10
The quote from Victor Murdock stating that Theodore Roosevelt is supporting Mr. Weeks is a fake. Currently, the Progressive Party is not competitive anywhere outside of California but the party’s situation could change. Roosevelt suggests that national defense could be an important issue that the Wilson administration is ignoring.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-04-10
Theodore Roosevelt feels sickened by the way “good people of the emotional temperance type and of the loose-minded reformer type” seem to worship William Jennings Bryan. Roosevelt is equally frustrated with President Wilson.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-03-23
John W. McGrath, secretary to Theodore Roosevelt, points out the chapter of the Autobiography in which Roosevelt asserted that the incompetency of the War Department was due to lack of adequate preparation. Roosevelt knows nothing about the resignation of a member of the Cabinet or refusal of a Cabinet member to accept a re-appointment, which was asserted by the recipient of the letter. To make R. A. Alger a scapegoat was in the opinion of Roosevelt an injustice.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-03-24
Theodore Roosevelt has not yet received Elmer Ellsworth Shumaker’s book but will be glad when it arrives. Roosevelt goes on to discuss peace, pacifists, and the need for military preparedness.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-03-24
Theodore Roosevelt understands that Viscount Bryce meant well but believes that Bryce’s letter has damaged the cause of the allies by further muddling American public opinion on the war. Pacifists like Bryce cannot be depended upon in an emergency. Roosevelt’s efforts on behalf of the allies will be greatly hampered by Bryce’s statements. People who argue against military readiness or clamor for peace are strengthening the side that supports German brutality.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-03-29
Theodore Roosevelt advises Lieutenant David Livingston Roscoe that it is not possible for him to enlist now, because no one knows when the war will occur. Roosevelt points out that Roscoe should not worry about not being a graduate of West Point as many of the best officers he knew, like Colonel Gordon Johnstone, were not graduates of West Point, either.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-03-29
Theodore Roosevelt believes it is an inopportune time to attempt the creation of a “World League for Peace.” Before any world league is organized, the nations of the world need to meet and enforce current international obligations, which includes having free nations prepared for war. Roosevelt argues that military preparedness is the only way to maintain and enforce peace. He wishes that the United States had defended Belgium but also faults the British for infringing on neutrality. Roosevelt admires Viscount Bryce but regrets that Bryce’s influence will be used to argue in favor of a doctrine that no duty is owed if carrying out that duty “entails risk or hardship.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-03-30
Theodore Roosevelt congratulates Fitzhugh Lee on his marriage and discusses what men might be ready to go if Roosevelt is allowed to raise a cavalry to fight in World War I. He invites Lee to visit before his leave ends.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-03-13