Pacifism

34th Theodore Roosevelt Association award dinner at Theodore Roosevelt House

Oscar S. Straus II, president of the Theodore Roosevelt Association, hosts the annual awards ceremony. Hermann Hagedorn, executive director, introduces Arthur Holly Compton, a nuclear physicist, and Thomas E. Dewey, Governor of New York, recipients of the Distinguished Service Medals in Science and Public Service. In their acceptance speeches, Compton speaks on public service and the importance of a free society working together towards a unified goal, as was done during the second world war, and Dewey speaks on the worldwide application of the “American Dream,” and the shifting struggles between the United States and the Soviet Union. Additional brief remarks are presented by Anne Lyon Haight, who comments on an upcoming merger of the Theodore Roosevelt Association and the Women’s Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Association.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association

Creation Date

1955-10-27

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Sturgis Bigelow

Theodore Roosevelt has sent William Sturgis Bigelow’s letter to Crosby. Roosevelt believes that Bigelow said everything that was necessary to say, and that men who “advocate tomfool peace, must share the responsibility for wrong done by the militarists.” Roosevelt believes that Prussian militarists have no greater ally than American pacifists.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-05-10

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Raymond Robins

Theodore Roosevelt views the war as a battle between militarism and democracy. Currently, Russia and Japan are allied with democracy, but with their “alien” institutions and ideals they may “menace civilization.” To do her duty, the United States must be the “just man armed” and avoid pacifism. Roosevelt, and his views, are unpopular and he no longer desires to be a political candidate. He fears his candidacy would be interpreted as greedy ambition. Roosevelt is also opposed by many Catholics due to his previous policies and recent statements. His victory in the Barnes libel suit was also a victory for his supporters as it showed they were right about “boss rule and crooked business.” Roosevelt feels he has done his share in the progressive movement and can no longer take a leading role. The public has had enough of reform and Roosevelt’s presence will now hinder, rather then benefit, the cause.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-06-03

Speech at Racine, the Hun within our gates

Theodore Roosevelt speaks out about “the Hun within our gates”, or German Americans he says are helping Germany from within the United States. Roosevelt says the term Hun was attributed to the German forces by William II himself and that it matches the atrocities committed by the German military in Europe and Asia. He gives examples of the Huns within our gates, particularly pacifists, and compares them to the “Copperheads” of the Civil War era. He calls for all Americans, regardless of ethnic origins, to unite under one flag and one language.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1917-09-27

Nebraska March (semi-centennial celebration)

Handwritten draft of Theodore Roosevelt’s speech given at the semi-centennial celebration of Nebraska’s statehood. Roosevelt recalls America’s two wars up to the present, the Revolutionary and the Civil Wars, and says that they were good for the country because they established liberties for its citizens. He warns that World War I is threatening those liberties due to pacifists and a lack of military preparation by the United States. He calls for loyalty to America from its immigrant population and for voluntary service in the military and aid organizations.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1917-06-14

The children of the crucible

Theodore Roosevelt argues that Americans must renounce their allegiance to the “lands from which they or their forefathers came,” especially German Americans. He wants a prohibition against German language publications and views pacifists as traitors. Loyal Americans will serve against Germany and Roosevelt suggests that they serve in an organization such as The Vigilantes, who are conducting a pro-America campaign.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1917

Speech by Theodore Roosevelt at Albuquerque

Theodore Roosevelt delivers a speech at Albuquerque, New Mexico, criticizing President Woodrow Wilson, Secretary of War Newton Diehl Baker and their handling of the situation in Mexico.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1916

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Kermit Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt writes to his son Kermit about his two books that will be published in the spring. He thinks Kermit will enjoy A Book-lover’s Holidays in the Open but does not think he needs to read Fear God, and Take your own Part because he is already very familiar with the material. Roosevelt says he is the only public man to stand against President Wilson, German-Americans, and pacifists. He goes on to criticize Wilson and mentions that the Republican Party will probably nominate Charles Evans Hughes to run against Wilson. Roosevelt also mentions a dinner he had recently and that he is helping Jack Coolidge get published.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1916-01-19

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to S. Stanwood Menken

Theodore Roosevelt expounds on the importance of Americanism, civic duty, military service, and military preparedness. He ends with a discussion of the infeasibility of “peace at any price.”

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1917-01-10

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Gifford Pinchot

Theodore Roosevelt was “sick at heart” by the end of the campaign. He never had any doubt of opposing Woodrow Wilson. Cornelia Pinchot has not written Roosevelt anything about his article. William H. Taft has been elected the spokesman for the League of Enforcement.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1917-01-09

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

Theodore Roosevelt hopes that Senator Lodge is appointed Secretary of State. He views Lodge and Elihu Root as the only Republicans fit for the position. However, Roosevelt was distressed by a recent speech that Root delivered suggesting that public opinion can restrain a “wrong-doing nation.” Roosevelt disagrees and feels that Root’s speech damaged the movement for military readiness.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-01-06

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William J. Williamson

Theodore Roosevelt congratulates William J. Williamson on the position he has taken as a “leading minister of the Gospel.” Roosevelt does not believe peace should be put above righteousness.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-12-21

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Eliot Norton

Theodore Roosevelt appreciates the article in The Sun. He chastises the “weak-minded individuals” who describe peace advocates Henry Ford and William Jennings Bryan as “well-meaning.” Roosevelt believes that they are “doing the work of the devil” and have a “tendency to make themselves ridiculous.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-12-06

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Dwight B. Heard

Theodore Roosevelt appreciates Dwight B. Heard’s letter and addresses the issue of the “Iowa cartoon.” The Progressives and Republicans have not been using his name in their campaigns, of which Roosevelt approves. He believes that within a year or two, the nation will come around to the principles he champions. Meanwhile, President Wilson “has eaten his own words” regarding many of the issues surrounding the war. Roosevelt reflects on the political situation surrounding the war.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-12-06

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William R. Castle

Theodore Roosevelt argues that the Hague Conventions have proved futile, as neutral nations, including the United States, have not protested against their violation. International agreements cannot be counted on and each nation must depend on its own “strength to protect it from international wrong-doing.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-11-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to G. Stanley Hall

Theodore Roosevelt argues that the United States needs to be taught of the extreme wickedness and folly of pacifism. He compares pacifism to treason and believes fighting against military readiness is the same as fighting against the United States.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-11-30

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Cecil Spring Rice

Theodore Roosevelt encloses a letter for Cecil Spring Rice to read and then send on to Edward Grey. He also encloses a recent article he wrote for the Metropolitan Magazine, in which he criticizes America’s statesmen for not coming to the aid of Belgium and not preparing the country to defend itself in future crises.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-11-24

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Bronson Reynolds

Theodore Roosevelt writes to James Bronson Reynolds that he cannot speak solely on the atrocities in Armenia, but feels the need to also speak about the Belgians, Edith Cavell, and the horrors in Mexico. Cavell was a British nurse who helped hundreds of Allied soldiers escape from German-occupied Belgium in 1915. Roosevelt finds it hypocritical for ultra-pacifists to not be concerned with these other outrages. Roosevelt invites Reynolds and his wife Irene H. Reynolds to lunch.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-11-17

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Owen Johnson

Theodore Roosevelt appreciated Owen Johnson’s article in Collier’s on the spirit of France. Roosevelt suggests that Johnson may have included information in his article about the French pacifists that “nearly brought France to complete ruin.” Roosevelt also mentions that England has not done as much as France to prepare for war, but that the United States is even “less fit to do our duty.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-11-08

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Hugo Munsterberg

Theodore Roosevelt denies ever saying that he hates England and would not make such a statement about any nation. He agrees that the best “racial elements” should be sought and brought into the “composite American character.” Roosevelt does not understand Hugo Munsterberg’s objection to Battle Cry of Peace. The play appeals to American patriotism and displays what would be brought on by pacifist teachings.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-11-06