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A collection of reprinted stories and editorials about Theodore Roosevelt’s successes during his presidency and political career, specifically diplomatic achievements. One editorial calls for Roosevelt’s nomination in the 1916 presidential election.
1916
The front cover of the Spring 1987 Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal depicts Theodore Roosevelt sitting at a desk in his Sagamore Hill study. The back cover shows an image of his Nobel Peace Prize diploma.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal
1987
As a piece of trivia, the Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal informs its readership that the actor Mark Harmon is the grandson of Rough Rider Frank Knox. Further brief notes include a statement of how to pronounce the name “Roosevelt,” and an image of the diploma case for Theodore Roosevelt’s Nobel Peace Prize, which is located at the Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal
1987
Theodore Roosevelt was the first American and the first President to win the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his success in helping mediate an end to the Russo-Japanese War. Roosevelt donated the prize money he received to charity.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal
1986
John A. Gable examines the similarities between the reelection campaigns of President Theodore Roosevelt in 1904 and President Ronald Reagan in 1984. Gable discusses the foreign policy issues faced by Roosevelt, and he notes the marked policy differences between Roosevelt and Reagan. He closes with a look at how presidents have fared in trying to win a second term. A photograph of Reagan in front of the Roosevelt statue at Theodore Roosevelt Island in Washington, D.C., comprises the second page of the article.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal
1984-08-20
Newspaper clipping of a cartoon showing the Norwegian Parliament dressed as Santa Claus delivering the Nobel Peace Prize in a Christmas stocking to Theodore Roosevelt in a child’s body; with “big stick,” sword, and rifle in the background.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1906-1907
Admiral George Dewey and President Roosevelt with his “Nobel prize” stand in the vessel, “The Forlorn Hope,” and release a dove that holds “peace notes to South America.”
Frederick Morgan’s cartoon depicts President Roosevelt and Admiral George Dewey, and refers to South American leaders, but a major figure behind the cartoon is not shown: Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany.
A woman, “Peace,” crowns President Roosevelt, who is already wearing an enormous “Nobel Peace Prize” and holding his big stick, with a laurel wreath. On the ground are three laurel wreaths beside a paper that reads, “Amicable adjustment of Japanese question.”
C. R. Macauley, over his long cartooning career, was seldom complimentary toward Theodore Roosevelt. He drew this cartoon for the semi-official organ of the national Democrat Party, the New York World; in 1912 he was even the official, salaried cartoonist for the press office of the Democratic National Committee.
President Roosevelt sits with a Nobel Peace Prize in his hand as gramophones shout the words, “Coal Famine,” “Car Shortage,” and “Negro Troop Ques” at him. There is a stick labeled “The Big Stick” across one of his legs and two typewriters with long papers labeled “Message” at the end.
C. R. Macauley was the political cartoon for Joseph Pulitzer’s Morning World in New York City, for decades regarded as the semi-official organ of the national Democratic Party. Macauley himself, in fact, was hired to be the official cartoonist of the Democratic Party in 1912 (at the time is was a practice for political parties to supply cartoons to newspapers around the country, if, perhaps their budgets forbade their own hires.
In one circle, President Roosevelt holds a box labeled, “Nobel Peace Prize.” In another, Andrew Carnegie cuts a paper labeled “Inheritance” that is divided in half. One side reads, “This piece is for the children,” and the other reads, “This piece is to be returned to the ‘community.'” In the last circle, Henry Watterson faces Roosevelt and holds a bag with a tag, “To Europe,” and a paper sticking out that says “T.R. is all right.” Two men are outside the circles with a paper that says, “We got ours,” while a government clerk looks through a telescope at the number “20%.”
This genre cartoon by Jack H. Smith was typical of drawings many newspapers and magazines produced at the time — weekly or monthly pictorial round-ups of recent news events; not commentary or advocacy, but summaries.
Smith’s unfortunately imprecise conceptions again challenge readers of this drawing. President Roosevelt had indeed received the Nobel Prize for Peace (months after the award’s announcement) at this time; Andrew Carnegie, possibly the world’s richest man after selling his steel businesses to J. P. Morgan, announced that he would donate all of his fortune, except for nominal inheritances, to charity and various causes; and aspirants for the 1908 presidential nomination learned of Roosevelt’s firm intention to back another Republican, Secretary of War William H. Taft. Why Smith would depict them smiling is an example of the limited talents he employed.
President Roosevelt, dressed like a farmer, sows seeds from a bag labeled “$40,000 Peace Prize” with a bird “Peace” on his head. In the background is a fence labeled “American Industry.”
The background this cartoon is the recent announcement by President Roosevelt that he would assign the monetary award from his Nobel Peace Prize committee to “social and industrial” justice. The intention was sufficiently vague that the funds only gathered interest for a dozen years, never connected to a foundation or specific project (many charitable groups during America’s participation in the Great War ultimately received the apportioned funds).
Cartoonist J. H. Donahey was one of the Midwest’s great cartoonists between the late 1890s and the late 1940s. His political (Democrat) and social cartoons (small-town American themes) were among the finest ever drawn in America. His style was distinctive and affected many other subsequent artists; and his clever concepts never flagged.
A large President Roosevelt stands in front of a fire with a bag labeled “Arbitration Fund” and wording on the front that says, “Nobel Peace Prize Award to President for His Work in Promoting Peace Between Russia and Japan. $37.127.00.” Roosevelt carries a club labeled “Big Stick” with an attached olive branch across his back and looks on to two sleeping men labeled “Capitalist” and “Wage Earner.” Both men are holding daggers. There are two stockings on the hearth labeled “Labor” and “Capital.”
Cartoonist P. B. McCord engaged in hyperbolic wishes in this pre-Christmas cartoon. The back-story was President Roosevelt’s announcement that he would not keep for himself the monetary award associated with the Nobel Prize for Peace. He proposed that the fund be in escrow and used toward the establishment of an agency — or some mechanism — that would promote industrial peace in the United States.
It was noble, or at least selfless, act; but also vague. Like his related dream of an international League To Enforce Peace — basically, a diplomatic counterpart — it was inchoate. Basically the concepts were dormant for years. As the Nobel Prize money earned interest, Roosevelt only distributed it domestic and American-overseas agencies during America’s participation in the Great War. His vision of a League To Enforce Peace, which attracted the attention of Andrew Carnegie and other pacifists unpalatable to Roosevelt, was similar to Woodrow Wilson’s League of Nations in name only. Roosevelt never endorsed Wilson’s League or Fourteen Points.
Reproduction of the Nobel Peace Prize medal awarded to Theodore Roosevelt in 1906.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1906
Rumors about Quentin Roosevelt’s death arrived on July 16 but were not confirmed until today. Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt is suffering and Flora Whitney is brokenhearted. Quentin “died as the heroes of old died.” Congress returned some Nobel Prize money to Roosevelt and he has decided to donate it to the Salvation Army. He agrees with Archibald “Archie” B. Roosevelt’s thoughts on the government’s failure to prepare for war and that many people, like Quentin, will pay with their blood. Theodore “Ted” Roosevelt was recently injured with a “bullet through his leg.”
1918-07-21
This document details how President Roosevelt would like the Nobel Peace Prize award money to be used. The money, totaling around $40,000, is to be used in the creation of an Industrial Peace Committee. The committee is to have representatives from labor and capital, addressing the concerns of each and bringing about industrial peace.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12
Minister Herbert H. D. Peirce was authorized to read this message while accepting the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906. In this message, Roosevelt expresses his gratitude at receiving the prize, and describes his plans for using the prize money. He has determined to use the money to establish an Industrial Peace Committee within the United States.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12
Theodore Roosevelt, wearing his Rough Rider uniform, and with a “Nobel Prize” extending from one pocket and “The Big Stick” leaning against the wall, changes the title of a large painting of George Washington standing next to his horse so that it reads: “First [crossed out and replaced with] Second in War, First [crossed out and replaced with] Second in Peace, First [crossed out] in the hearts of his countrymen.” A book “Alone in Cuba” lies on the floor next to his feet.
At the dawn of President Roosevelt’s final months of the presidency — that is, after the midterm elections in his second term — Puck inexplicably felt its oats and started attacking the president, its erstwhile friend and ally in reform battles since 1901.
This cartoon by Hassmann was not inspired by the Nobel Prize for Peace, which was announced two months prior to this cartoon, in December of 1906. Rather, the petty depiction of the diminutive Rough Rider defacing and upstaging The Father of His Country was occasioned by the fact that Washington’s Birthday was celebrated the week this cartoon appeared. An easy target for a cartoonist.
Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit Roosevelt and daughter-in-law Belle to say he is happy and surprised they are able to live together. He tells Belle to take care of herself and says he is glad Kermit is with the artillery. Roosevelt says Ethel Roosevelt Derby and Quentin Roosevelt’s fiancée, Flora Payne Whitney, are coming down to stay with Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt, who is heartbroken over Quentin’s death, and Archibald “Archie” B. Roosevelt will be sent home soon as well. He closes by saying he is asking for the money from his Nobel Prize back from Congress so he can give it to charities. Enclosed was a sheet of French stamps.
1918-08-22
Theodore Roosevelt explains to Charlotte Matson that he gave his Nobel Prize money to a committee for a foundation to promote the cause of peace. Seth Low can provide a full account of how the money is being used.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-11-07
Frederic J. Paxon asks Theodore Roosevelt for his views on John E. White’s statements regarding arbitration and the interpretation of Roosevelt’s position on international treaties.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-14