Your TR Source
Theodore Roosevelt calls for Americans to unite as one people, regardless of ethnic background, and for better military preparedness in the future.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1917-12-14
Theodore Roosevelt compares war to the world of business and laments America’s lack of preparedness for the first World War. He discusses Americans’ duties in speeding up the war and bringing it to a successful close.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1918-01-09
Theodore Roosevelt compares the job of school teachers in training the minds of the future to that of soldiers. He insists upon “Americanism” from all citizens, loyalty to the United States regardless of ethnic background, and laments the lack of military preparedness for World War I.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1918-01-19
Theodore Roosevelt thanks the members of the National Security League for their work and praises the young men at military training camps across the country. He says the United States was unprepared to participate in the world war and discusses his experiences during the Spanish-American War. Roosevelt calls for the need to “speed up” the current war and to be better prepared in the future by instituting universal military service.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1918-01-19
Theodore Roosevelt says the two things facing America now are the need for “Americanism” and military preparedness. He says that the United States was unprepared to participate in the world war and that she is still weak in Europe because of it. In order to be patriotic, Americans regardless of ethnic background must be united and loyal to their country. The key to being better prepared in the future, he says, is to institute universal military service.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1918-02-06
Theodore Roosevelt says that all Americans must be loyal to their country, regardless of their ethnic background or home country. He calls anyone who does not have undivided loyalty a traitor. He says the United States must continue to fight hard in the world war and make every effort to “speed up” the war. Note: This speech was not delivered due to sickness.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1918-02-09
Copy of Theodore Roosevelt’s speech to be delivered at Des Moines, Iowa. Roosevelt says the United States was unprepared for war and at present is still lacking its own guns and other supplies. The country, he says, must work to be better prepared in order that it does not repeat the mistakes it has made during this war. He says the government must “interfere” with the wage-worker and farmer to secure social and industrial justice for its citizens. The United States, he says, must unite as one country with citizens loyal to her and must be better prepared for future wars by instituting universal military service. Note: This speech was not delivered due to illness.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1918-02-11
Copy of Theodore Roosevelt’s speech to be delivered at Des Moines, Iowa. Roosevelt says the United States was unprepared for war and at present is still lacking its own guns and other supplies. The country, he says, must work to be better prepared in order that it does not repeat the mistakes it has made during this war. He says the government must “interfere” with the wage-worker and farmer to secure social and industrial justice for its citizens. The United States, he says, must unite as one country with citizens loyal to her and must be better prepared for future wars by instituting universal military service. Note: This speech was not delivered due to illness.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1918-02-11
Theodore Roosevelt calls for all Americans, no matter their ethnicity or home country, to have a spirit of Americanism and be loyal only to the United States. Otherwise, he says, they are traitors to their country. He says America must make every effort to “speed up” the world war and must be better prepared in the future by instituting universal military service. Note: This speech was not delivered due to illness.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1918-02-14
Theodore Roosevelt says to be successful in the present, America must model herself after the leaders of the past such as Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. There are two ways to do this, he says, by embracing Americanism and military preparedness, which are also exemplified by the New York Police Force (for whom the speech was prepared). All American citizens, regardless of ethnicity or national origin, must give their undivided loyalty to America. The country will be better prepared in the future if it institutes a universal military draft. Note: This speech was not delivered due to illness.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1918-02-24
President Roosevelt gives a brief speech from the balcony of the Columbia Club near the Sailors and Soldiers Monument, which had been completed in May of that year. Roosevelt celebrates the material well-being he has seen in Indiana but praises more the spirit to do and honor great deeds. He honors the memory of Union veterans of the American Civil War, affirms the place of the United States as a world power, and encourages the crowd to embrace a gospel of hope. If Americans stand up to difficulty, do their duty at home and abroad, and dare to be great, the nation will be “the greatest upon which the sun has ever shone.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-09-23
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1917-06-14
During a brief stop in Cleveland, Tennessee, Theodore Roosevelt addresses a crowd. Moved by seeing the Civil War battlefields, he remarks that every American should be inspired by the heroic deeds “done alike by the men who wore the blue and by those who wore the gray.” He says that he will leave Tennessee feeling like a better American.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-09-08
President Roosevelt thanks the local chairman, presumably a Democrat, for introducing him, saying that political party is of little importance when Americans are unified in the spirit of fairness. He notes the presence of school children in the crowd as well as veterans of the Union Army in the American Civil War, saying that the veterans’ victorious spirit lived on in the American soldiers who fought in the Philippines. He notes how evolving weapons and tactics have not changed the necessary qualities of the soldier. Benedict Arnold was a gallant and talented soldier who helped win major battles but was missing the important “root of righteousness” that eventually led to his reputation as a traitor. Similarly, laws may change, but the need for patriotic citizens with honesty, courage, and common sense remains the same.
Theodore Roosevelt is speaking to the Republicans of Maine to make an appeal to fight against Germany in the Great War. Roosevelt draws on Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address to appeal to the people to remain strong and patriotic to their country and in the fight against Germany.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1918-03-28
Theodore Roosevelt appeals to the Republicans of Maine to fight against Germany in the Great War. Roosevelt draws from Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address to appeal to the people to remain strong and patriotic to their country and in the fight against Germany.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1918-03-28
Theodore Roosevelt is speaking to the people in Boston, Massachusetts, demanding a call to arms against Germany and to fight the enemy in order to protect America’s ideals of freedom and democracy. He also speaks to the people about how they can join the fight from home by buying Liberty Bonds or volunteering for the war effort.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1918-05-02
Theodore Roosevelt speaks at Wittenberg College to sway Americans to become active in the war effort against Germany in whichever way they can, including helping the Red Cross. Roosevelt is trying to unite all Americans under Americanism and patriotism. He mentions that his son, Archie, was hospitalized from war wounds. In the hospital, there was a soldier next to Archie who was hurt even more than him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1918-05-26
Theodore Roosevelt demands a call to arms against Germany, to protect America’s ideals of freedom and democracy. He urges support for the war effort from home, including supporting the Republican Party.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1918-07-18
Theodore Roosevelt demands a call to arms against Germany, to protect America’s ideals of freedom and democracy. He also argues that the United States should have gone to war much earlier than it had, but now it is important to fully support the war effort and the men fighting overseas. According to Roosevelt, “the foundation of our permanent civilization” rests on the land owning farmer.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1918-08-26