Nationalism

The two sides of Americanism

Theodore Roosevelt describes the two most important demands to the spirit of American nationalism, saying there is no room for divided allegiances and that Americans should only use the English language. He also makes frequent references to German nationalism in America. A note on the back of the manuscript says it was published in the Metropolitan magazine in July 1918, and this particular copy was sent to Julius Holz per Roosevelt’s request.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edwin O. Holter

Theodore Roosevelt writes to Edwin O. Holter to discuss current relations with Germany and says any American sympathizing with Germany should be considered a traitor.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1917-03-20

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Anna Cabot Mills Davis Lodge

President Roosevelt returns the books that Anna Cabot Mills Davis Lodge loaned him, and comments on the similarities between Ancient Athens and Japan.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-11

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Frank W. Carpenter to Clarence Ransom Edwards

In anticipation of General Edwards’s arrival in Manila, Frank W. Carpenter informs him of the political and economic conditions of the Philippines during American occupation. Carpenter has lived in the Philippines for nine years and has a thorough understanding of the Filipino people. Although many in the United States worry about an insurrection in the Philippines, Carpenter assures Edwards that most Filipinos are peaceful and that public order is in good condition. Carpenter believes that a Nationalist majority in the Assembly would be beneficial to American interests, even though people in the United States think differently.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-06

Creator(s)

Carpenter, Frank W. (Frank Watson), 1871-1945

Collection of translated French and Italian newspaper excerpts

This document contains translated excerpts from eleven French and one Italian newspapers commenting on President Roosevelt’s letter to the French poet, Frédéric Mistral, and Roosevelt’s published speech, “The Strenuous Life.” The excerpts compare the different situations of the “young” United States establishing their own traditions, while “old” France is breaking down their traditions. Roosevelt is also compared to President Emile Loubet of France. The translated articles range in date from January 31, 1905, to February 9, 1905, and were compiled on February 13, 1905.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02-13

Creator(s)

Unknown

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Sharp Williams

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Senator Williams for his recent speech and notes that although they have not previously been in agreement politically, they do agree on “the fundamental questions involving national self-respect.” Roosevelt comments, “I wish there were more of your kind in the Senate.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-01-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Thaddeus M. Wild

Theodore Roosevelt is not able to help Thaddeus M. Wild, but would like to see the newspaper printed in Polish and English.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-11-03

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Lustgarten

Theodore Roosevelt congratulates William Lustgarten on having started a society among American citizens of foreign birth who are against hyphenated Americanism. Roosevelt holds that the naturalized American of the right type is precisely as much an American as any other citizen of the right type whose ancestors came to America, and he regrets that there are many native-born Americans who are hyphenated Americans. Roosevelt thinks Americanism is a matter of soul and spirit. Roosevelt supports Lustgarten’s work against “that most sinister and evil of all movements” which would destroy national unity.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-10-18

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from William Loeb to Julia Wyatt Bullard

Secretary to the President Loeb encloses the requested signed quotations from President Roosevelt. The quotations are on Roosevelt’s opinion of Confederate General Robert E. Lee and national memory of the Civil War more broadly, praise of white backwoodsmen’s use of guns and axes in North American western expansion and imperialism, ideal gender roles for men and women, and the need for national commitment to “the life of strenuous endeavor.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-09

Creator(s)

Loeb, William, 1866-1937

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles William Eliot

President Roosevelt shares his views with Harvard President Charles William Eliot regarding the role of the United States in developing a Filipino government.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-20

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Hermann Speck von Sternburg

President Roosevelt and Ambassador Sternburg were the subject of a dispatch from Berlin, Germany, to the Baltimore Herald, which he encloses. The article states that Roosevelt upset German nationalists by praising Sternburg in an interview with Eugen Zabel of the National Zeitung and that it could hurt Sternburg’s reputation. Roosevelt cares nothing about it but hopes that it does not embarrass Sternburg.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-04-27

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from I. K. Russell to Theodore Roosevelt

I. K. Russell asks Theodore Roosevelt to reflect on President Schurman’s public statements, criticizes Schurman’s ties to business interests, and defends his own views on leadership and justice. He mentions sending an article to Collier’s Weekly and comments on the changing political climate.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-09

Creator(s)

Russell, I. K. (Isaac K.)

Letter from James M. Sligh to Theodore Roosevelt

James M. Sligh urges Theodore Roosevelt to accept the 1912 Republican nomination, believing he is the only one who can unite the party and prevent its defeat.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-09

Creator(s)

Sligh, James M. (James May), 1845-1921

Letter from Henry Ferdinand to Theodore Roosevelt

Henry F. Dickinson sends Theodore Roosevelt a copy of his book Our Race Problem and asks for it to be reviewed in The Outlook.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-09

Creator(s)

Suksdorf, Henry Ferdinand, 1843-

Letter from Minnie Ursula Rogerson to Theodore Roosevelt

Believing that singing hymns about God and country in school will help to enrich American children, Minnie Ursula Rogerson has written a hymn that she has sent to Theodore Roosevelt for his opinion. As immigrants continue to come into the country, Rogerson has written this hymn to be easier for the masses to understand and sing. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-22

Creator(s)

Rogerson, Minnie Ursula Hazelton, 1863-1914

Letter from Herbert A. Drake to Theodore Roosevelt

Herbert A. Drake supports everything Theodore Roosevelt had done in his presidential campaign except advocating for Senator Henry Cabot Lodge’s re-election. Having read Woodrow Wilson’s Constitutional Government in the United States, Drake was surprised by its “covert radicalism under the guise of conservatism.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-29

Creator(s)

Drake, Herbert A. (Herbert Armitage), 1845-1943

Letter from J. Anthony Starke to Theodore Roosevelt

J. Anthony Starke discusses the pamphlet and subsequent book he wrote on political reform. With some revision, proper sponsorship, and financial backing, he feels it could be widely circulated for educating the public on “the drift away from a sound ideal” of politics. He suggests Theodore Roosevelt could use the book as an “incognito mouthpiece” of New Nationalism.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-22

Creator(s)

Starke, J. Anthony

Letter from Alfred Spring to Theodore Roosevelt

Justice Spring found Theodore Roosevelt’s editorials on Nationalism and the judiciary interesting and was pleased Roosevelt quoted him. He discusses how judges beliefs influence their interpretations of the Constitution and rights of the public, particularly noting John Marshall and Roger Brooke Taney. Then he discusses the role the three branches of government regarding law making and interpretation. Spring will send an article he wrote responding to Roosevelt’s 1905 recognition of Panama.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-17

Creator(s)

Spring, Alfred, 1851-1912

Letter from Henry White to Theodore Roosevelt

Henry White is pleased by Theodore Roosevelt’s enthusiastic reception in the West and found his recent editorials interesting. He discusses the mobilization of troops to Mexico and his suggestion to President William H. Taft that an informal, friendly message be sent to the other Central and South American countries. During his upcoming stay in New York City, White plans to visit Roosevelt’s office and discuss topics of interest.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-13

Creator(s)

White, Henry, 1850-1927

Letter from Thaddeus A. Kidd to Theodore Roosevelt

Thaddeus A. Kidd commends Theodore Roosevelt’s series of articles on nationalism published in The Outlook. Recognizing he knows little about political topics, he asks Roosevelt to discuss “initiative,” “referendum,” and “recall” in upcoming articles.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-09

Creator(s)

Kidd, Thaddeus A., 1851-1925