Your TR Source
Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt responds to Ralph E. Hulben’s request for a motto for the students at Elkhart High School might use. Roosevelt always recommends the same motto when asked and his secretary is sending Hulben the extract from the speech the motto is from.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-18
Transcription of the handwritten message President Roosevelt added to the photograph sent to Francis B. Harrington.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-03
President Roosevelt suggests that Richard Watson Gilder make edits to his statement in order to not stir up discord. Homer Saint-Gaudens does not understand that this is an undesirable topic and could invite attack. Roosevelt agrees with Gilder about the positive future reception of the coins.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-12-18
President Roosevelt thanks James Morris Whiton for the letter. In response, he sets forth the provisions that authorize using “In God We Trust” on coins, which Congress repealed, but may now revive. Roosevelt hopes it is not revived, believing such use of the phrase “promotes levity and irreverence in the use of a beautiful and solemn religious sentiment.” He favors simple coin design without excess lettering. Including the phrase is a customary, not legal, practice instituted after Abraham Lincoln’s presidency.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-15
President Roosevelt finds no law dictating the inclusion of “IN GOD WE TRUST” on coins and does not approve its use in such manner. However, he will obey Congress on the matter. Roosevelt firmly believes the motto should be treated and used with reverence. Including it on coins cheapens its sentiment and inspires undesirable ridicule. While he will obey, Roosevelt hopes the country’s “spirit of reverence” will prevent further action by Congress.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-13
President Roosevelt finds no law dictating the inclusion of “IN GOD WE TRUST” on coins and does not approve of its use in such manner. However, he will obey Congress on the matter. Roosevelt firmly believes the motto should be treated and used with reverence. Including it on coins cheapens its sentiment and inspires undesirable ridicule. While he will obey, Roosevelt hopes the country’s “spirit of reverence” will prevent further action by Congress.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-11
President Roosevelt finds no law dictating the inclusion of “IN GOD WE TRUST” on coins and does not approve of its use in such manner. However, he will obey Congress on the matter. Roosevelt firmly believes the motto should be treated and used with reverence. Including it on coins cheapens its sentiment and inspires undesirable ridicule. While he will obey, Roosevelt hopes the country’s “spirit of reverence” will prevent further action by Congress.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-11
President Roosevelt finds no law dictating the inclusion of “IN GOD WE TRUST” on coins and does not approve of its use in such manner. However, he will obey Congress on the matter. Roosevelt firmly believes the motto should be treated and used with reverence. Including it on coins cheapens its sentiment and inspires undesirable ridicule. While he will obey, Roosevelt hopes the country’s “spirit of reverence” will prevent further action by Congress.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-11
President Roosevelt finds no law dictating the inclusion of “IN GOD WE TRUST” on coins and does not approve of its use in such manner. However, he will obey Congress on the matter. Roosevelt firmly believes the motto should be treated and used with reverence. Including it on coins cheapens its sentiment and inspires undesirable ridicule. While he will obey, Roosevelt hopes the country’s “spirit of reverence” will prevent further action by Congress.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-11
President Roosevelt finds no law dictating the inclusion of “IN GOD WE TRUST” on coins and does not approve of its use in such manner. However, he will obey Congress on the matter. Roosevelt firmly believes the motto should be treated and used with reverence. Including it on coins cheapens its sentiment and inspires undesirable ridicule. While he will obey, Roosevelt hopes the country’s “spirit of reverence” will prevent further action by Congress.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-11
President Roosevelt finds no law dictating the inclusion of “IN GOD WE TRUST” on coins and does not approve of its use in such manner. However, he will obey Congress on the matter. Roosevelt firmly believes the motto should be treated and used with reverence. Including it on coins cheapens its sentiment and inspires undesirable ridicule. While he will obey, Roosevelt hopes the country’s “spirit of reverence” will prevent further action by Congress.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-11
President Roosevelt finds no law dictating the inclusion of “IN GOD WE TRUST” on coins and does not approve of its use in such manner. However, he will obey Congress on the matter. Roosevelt firmly believes the motto should be treated and used with reverence. Including it on coins cheapens its sentiment and inspires undesirable ridicule. While he will obey, Roosevelt hopes the country’s “spirit of reverence” will prevent further action by Congress.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-11
President Roosevelt approves of the motto “fair play for the workingman and a square deal to every American whether employer or employee.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-07-27
Lincoln C. Cummings admonishes that the members of St. David’s Club need to work together to discover the Club’s real potential to be a practical force of progress in all aspects of life. He counsels on the importance of clear direction and that actions, not intentions make one useful.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-04-04
T. Shimakawa acknowledges receipt of the letter from Theodore Roosevelt, and asks Frank Harper if he would ask Roosevelt “to write a short maxim for the standard of my future” and autograph some photographs.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-03-27
Editor of The Churchman Silas McBee praises President Roosevelt’s message to Congress and encloses two editorials written about it. He is glad that he defended Roosevelt’s religion before seeing the new coin, which he finds to be so poorly designed that the art is “bad enough to almost impair the religious attitude.” McBee finds the creative and sculpture work of Augustus Saint-Gaudens lacking, writing that “bad art in its way is almost as damaging as bad religion.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-12-06
Jean Jules Jusserand thinks President Roosevelt is right to appreciate Georges Clemenceau, who he says operates with cool-headedness and good sense. Jusserand told Clemenceau the things Roosevelt had said about him, and he assures Roosevelt that Clemenceau was delighted to hear them. Jusserand follows news of Russia and Cuba, as well as Roosevelt’s proposed spelling reforms.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-14
R. A. Sands encloses a motto and playfully suggests Mrs. Roosevelt nail it to the president’s desk.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-07-22
Theodore Roosevelt’s bookplate features the Roosevelt coat of arms, along with his family motto.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal
1990
English
The Camp Fire Club is producing a “Camp-Fire Chowder Pot, or Kettle,” designed by artist Frederick M. Spiegle and richly decorated. The committee is soliciting mottos to go around the pot, and promises that whoever submits the selected phrase will get a pot for free. Recipients are given the opportunity to order a pot, and to suggest a motto to be put on it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-03-01