Preparedness

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to men who have volunteered for service in World War I

Theodore Roosevelt writes to the men who have volunteered for service in the firing lines during World War I to discuss his disappointment at being unable to join them, after President Wilson said Roosevelt could not reform the Rough Riders. Each man who was to be involved in the regiment can now join the military another way or serve his country in civil life. The funds that have been used for the regiment will be withdrawn and applied to another purpose. All four divisions would have sailed by September 1. Roosevelt challenges Wilson’s belief that the regiment would have only had a political impact and not contributed to the success of the war.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1917-05-20

Theodore Roosevelt reviews and addresses troops [Fort Sheridan, Ill.]; Theodore Roosevelt riding in auto, Chicago, 1917

Two segments of Theodore Roosevelt during a midwestern speaking tour in support of military preparedness. On September 27, 1917, Roosevelt visited the officers’ training camp at Fort Sheridan, Illinois. Views of troops marching past a reviewing stand for inspection by Roosevelt and several civilian and military personnel; identified on the platform with Roosevelt are Captain Georges Etienne Bertrand (wearing beret), a visiting Frenchman who instructed the trainees in trench warfare, and Colonel James A. Ryan, commanding officer of Fort Sheridan. Roosevelt addresses the troops after the review. The second segment shows scenes from a parade staged in Roosevelt’s honor in Chicago on April 28, 1917. Views of men on horseback who appear to be mounted police, sailors, and cavalry. View of Roosevelt standing and waving his hat in an open touring car; identified in the car with Roosevelt are Arthur Meeker and Samuel Insull, Chicago businessmen who are members of the welcoming committee, and other unidentified men.

Collection

Library of Congress Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound

Creation Date

1917

The navy, speech of President Roosevelt at Haverhill, Mass.

President Roosevelt praises the efforts of the Navy. He declares that an efficient navy of adequate size is “not only the best guarantee of peace, but is also the surest means for seeing that if war does come the result shall be honorable to our good name and favorable to our national interests.” He stresses the necessity of training and preparedness in assuring the Navy’s success in times of war.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-08-26

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frank Knox

Theodore Roosevelt agrees with Frank Knox. President Woodrow Wilson makes it difficult to get troops, if the need for troops should arise.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-07-11

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John S. Pratt

Theodore Roosevelt tells Lieutenant John S. Pratt that he does not know whether he will be allowed to raise a division, but he would like Captain Dan Tyler Moore for the artillery.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-06-29

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to David Gray

Theodore Roosevelt writes David Gray that the best help he could give in terms of the World War I division that Roosevelt wants to raise is to provide troop horses. Gray cannot actually fight, because Roosevelt will not take a married man.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-06-30

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Anthony Fiala

Theodore Roosevelt tells Anthony Fiala that if there comes a war, he shall try to raise a division. Archibald Roosevelt will also try to raise a troop in Arizona. Roosevelt agrees with Fiala about the need for preparedness. Roosevelt has done all that he can, but it has been hard to make the people realize “how things are.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-07-04

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Dwight Logan Loughborough

Theodore Roosevelt is glad the Spanish War veterans support preparedness. He hopes they will back it up to the limit by going for universal military training, which he thinks is absolutely essential to the country. Roosevelt is not able to make any promises about a speech, and he recommends Dwight Logan Loughborough get in touch with Medill McCormick.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-01-03

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Max Farrand

Theodore Roosevelt agrees with Max Ferrand that the mobilization of the nation’s resources and strength is a prime necessity. Roosevelt says the country cannot have preparedness for war unless it has preparedness for peace. Roosevelt thinks the initiative, referendum, recall, direct primary, etc., have not worked as well as expected because radicals insisted upon applying them in an extreme and ill-advised manner. Roosevelt has pointed out in speeches that the proposed reforms would merely give the people a chance to accomplish their purpose, if they had a serious purpose.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-01-15

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edgar Addison Bancroft

Theodore Roosevelt offers to make a speech in Chicago at the request of the Lawyers’ Club. Edgar Addison Bancroft should contact Medill McCormick who is arranging speaking engagements for Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-01-15

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to I. C. Copley

Theodore Roosevelt is glad that I. C. Copley is in Congress. Roosevelt also fears that the country is facing a “very big crisis.” Roosevelt mentions that he will be in New York City on Monday, February 7th. The letter includes marginalia, which is difficult to clearly read.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-01-29

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Cleveland Moffett

Theodore Roosevelt expresses approval of Cleveland Moffett’s work, but cannot write about Moffett’s book, because he has refused similar requests in the past.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-01-24

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Caroline Blakely

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Caroline Blakely for her son taking part in the preparedness parade.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-05-16

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 F. F. Grant

Theodore Roosevelt writes to F. F. Grant. Roosevelt declines an invitation from Grant to join Grant’s organization working on preparedness.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-12-14

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Marshall J. Hapgood

Theodore Roosevelt writes Marshall Hapgood that the American Defense Society can do good work in the fight for preparedness.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-12-14

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Harold L. Ickes

Theodore Roosevelt agrees with Harold L. Ickes about using the posts he suggested to create the extra officers the military will soon require. Roosevelt does not want to become involved in advocating for the details, however, as he wants to focus on what he considers to be the main issue–encouraging American preparedness and national solidarity while monitoring developments in Europe, the Pacific, and Mexico. Roosevelt does not believe in a large standing army, but he does support a large navy and universal military training. Roosevelt admits he is “ashamed of America” because of its current stance in regards to World War I.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-12-21

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Truman Handy Newberry

Theodore Roosevelt instructs Truman Handy Newberry to stay on that board. Roosevelt has been assured by a conversation with his cousin Philip Roosevelt, and he has arranged a meeting of the Advisory Board and of the Trustees. Roosevelt concludes that the National Defense Society is doing admirable work, but the National Security League, which has pro-Wilson members, is causing them trouble.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-12-21

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Finley Peter Dunne

Theodore Roosevelt has read Finley Peter Dunne’s article about the Navy. Roosevelt agrees with what Dunne said about Grover Cleveland’s administration and the needs of the Navy then as compared to the present. Roosevelt notes that when he took office, Congress had stopped appropriating money for new battleships or further upbuilding of the Navy because there was no immediate need for naval defense after the Spanish War. Therefore, Roosevelt had to fight against inertia and hostility in order to inspire popular sentiment in favor of the Navy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-12-22

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Medill McCormick

Theodore Roosevelt made a speech in Philadelphia advocating for preparedness. In a couple of months, things should develop in Congress regarding readiness for war.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-12-29