Your TR Source
President Roosevelt wishes he could have seen the Olympic meeting of Cuba and has sent General Thomas Henry Barry’s photographs to Caspar Whitney. He enjoyed reading Colonel Millard F. Waltz’s general orders.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-12
President Roosevelt looks forward to receiving the medal from the British Olympic Council president, William Henry Grenfell, Baron Desborough. Roosevelt congratulates him “on what was really a great feat.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-28
President Roosevelt sends his nephew, Theodore Douglas Robinson, an interesting clipping from Ambassador Whitelaw Reid’s letter about the Olympics. He sends his love to Robinson’s wife Helen Roosevelt Robinson and their children Douglas Robinson and Helen, having thoroughly enjoyed visiting them the previous week.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-27
President Roosevelt informs John J. Joyce he will do what he can to ensure Raymond C. Ewry receives the back pay lost as a result of representing the United States at the Olympics.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-27
President Roosevelt agrees with Irish American sports official James E. Sullivan that there has been too much talk regarding the issue of Johnny Hayes’s Olympic victory. It was still a remarkable victory, and making complaints reflects poorly on America. The “dignified and wise” response is not to comment publicly.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-24
President Roosevelt requests that Ambassador Reid explain to Robert Offley Ashburton Crewe-Milnes that his African trip is a scientific expedition to collect specimens for the National Museum, not “a game butchering trip.” However, if given the opportunity, Roosevelt may collect some trophies. The invitation from the chancellor of Oxford, George Nathaniel Curzon, to present the Romanes lecture gives Roosevelt a genuine reason to visit England on his return from Africa. He details his travel itinerary, plans for appropriate formal attire, and people to call upon. Roosevelt is interested in what the Japanese minister for foreign affairs Jutarō Komura says and includes his letter to Japanese ambassador Kogoro Takahira and the reply. Reid’s full statement on the incidents of the Olympics pleases Roosevelt, who believes intense international matches inevitably result in misunderstandings.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-20
President Roosevelt reproachfully replies to George C. Buell’s comments concerning John C. Carpenter’s foul during the 400-meter dash at the 1908 Olympics. Roosevelt disagrees with statements he has read in British papers and believes the British judges treated Carpenter unfairly. However, Roosevelt tells Buell his comments are private only and not for public distribution. Roosevelt aims “to refrain from every statement which will tend to cause international bitterness, and simply to congratulate the American team.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-18
Theodore Roosevelt regrets that he cannot be there at the official celebration for the returning Olympics team in New York City. Roosevelt wishes that he could see them instead at Oyster Bay.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-08-21
Theodore Roosevelt is pleased to hear from Pierre de Coubertin. He succeeded in getting Evert Wendell on the Olympic Committee. Roosevelt believes the games should be held in Berlin, Germany, if Emperor William II dictates it. Unfortunately, Roosevelt cannot comply with Coubertin’s request as he has too many other things to write.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-01-31
President Roosevelt is determined to shoot a white rhinoceros on his African safari, and would like Ambassador Reid to speak with Lord Crewe about his obtaining permission to hunt in the same places in Uganda as Winston Churchill did. He would like Reid to inquire if the British Museum would like a white rhinoceros specimen if he is lucky enough to shoot three; the first two are promised to the Smithsonian Institution. He discusses a number of international events including the situation in India, and the ongoing controversy between the United States and England that arose during the summer Olympics.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-27
President Roosevelt is glad the furor over the results of some of the Olympic games is dying down, and specifically remarks on the results of the marathon. Additionally, Roosevelt explains to Ambassador Reid the situation surrounding a newspaper interview with German Emperor William II. William Bayard Hale petitioned the White House to help with gaining admission to the Kaiser, which was refused, but persisted in getting access. The resulting interview spoke on a number of sensitive matters and “lookt like a pipe dream,” and while Roosevelt believed it was accurate, advised the New York Times not to publish it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-06
President Roosevelt asks Ambassador Reid if he would be able to petition Lord Robert Offley Ashburton Crewe-Milnes to write to officials in Uganda that Roosevelt would appreciate being given a guide and information that would allow him to hunt a white rhinoceros or elephant. The current unrest in India concerns Roosevelt, and asks what the feelings of British officials are towards it. Roosevelt also remarks briefly on his plans to leave immediately after William H. Taft’s inauguration as president, and comments on a controversy that arose at the 1908 Olympic Games in London, which is still fostering some resentment between the two nations. If Roosevelt can secure a third specimen of the white rhinoceros, he would be happy to send it to the British Museum.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-26
In an unofficial letter to British Ambassador Bryce, President Roosevelt expresses dismay at the decision of the British Embassy in Washington, D.C., to issue a formal statement regarding the controversy at the Olympics in London. Roosevelt strongly believes that no good can come from the British and American governments getting involved in the controversy, and says that he will not allow the American government to respond. However, the American Amateur Athletic Union wants to respond to the British statement, which feels like an official action from the government. Using as an analogy the animosity between Harvard and Yale resulting from a controversial football game, Roosevelt suggests that the two governments allow the matter to drop.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-25
President Roosevelt repeats his request that James E. Sullivan not show his letter to Theodore Andrea Cook to anyone. He will still be associated with the presidency after he leaves office, and cannot afford to be drawn into the controversy surrounding the 1908 Olympics.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-17
Although President Roosevelt now understands why Theodore Andrea Cook wrote him, he does not wish to become involved in the controversy between the United States and Great Britain regarding the London Olympics.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-17
President Roosevelt asks James E. Sullivan not to make the letter public or show it to anyone. What Theodore Andrea Cook said about Sullivan was just a “general expression of disapproval.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-15
President Roosevelt sternly rebukes Theodore Andrea Cook, both for the offensive language in the letter he sent, and for the actions of the English officials in the 1908 Olympics. Roosevelt is especially angry about the disqualification of John C. Carpenter from the 400 meter run on what he believes are false accusations of fouling the English athlete Wyndham Halswelle. Conversely, in the marathon, the Italian Dorando Pietri was initially declared the winner over American Johnny Hayes, despite blatant violations of the rules. For the sake of maintaining good relations with England, Roosevelt does not wish for this letter to be made public, and has warned American athletes and managers not to openly criticize the officials. However, he wants it to be made clear that he does not approve of what happened.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-20
President Roosevelt congratulates James E. Sullivan on the performance of the American Olympic team in London.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-27
President Roosevelt responds to Baron Desborough’s request for a United States commissioner to the Olympic Games which will be held in London shortly. Roosevelt has appointed James E. Sullivan as the United States Commissioner.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-03
President Roosevelt informs French Ambassador Jusserand that he has looked into the matter of the Olympic Games, and has found out that the French are ahead. He comments that American newspapers have apparently “enumerated only the things in which our people were entered,” and have omitted a number of events. France currently holds the most gold medals, followed by the United States.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-05-29