Your TR Source
President Roosevelt informs Hamlin Garland that Garland has the “material for an excellent club” but that Roosevelt cannot accept while he is still president. Roosevelt promises to accept the invitation with pleasure if he happens to be in Chicago after the presidency and Garland renews the invitation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-11
President Roosevelt will do his best to keep the course he has been following. He intends to appoint Myron T. Herrick.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-09-26
President Roosevelt thanks Wayne MacVeagh for the letter. He is in a difficult position after the death of William McKinley but hopes to carry himself “manfully.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-09-14
Reverend Millican invites President Roosevelt to a black bear hunt in the mountains of Texas and promises that it will be as public or private as Roosevelt likes. He says that everything will be taken care of for Roosevelt and that he is sure to get a bear because they always do. Millican concludes by praising Roosevelt’s presidency, urging him to run for another term, and asking God’s protection over the president.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-12
John Lewis Griffiths praises President Roosevelt’s character and the achievements of his administration.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-03
Max Simon Nordau praises President Roosevelt for, among other things, “his dare-devil brilliancy as a soldier, his high attainments as a thinker and writer, his insuperable will power, his noble, generous, yet unbending character. ” Nordau also lauds the actions Roosevelt and Secretary of State John Hay took on behalf of Romanian and Russian Jews.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-10
President Roosevelt stands over a kneeling William H. Taft with his “big stick” in his left hand. Caption: Roosevelt– “Good Heavens! I believe I’ve used this club too freely on Willie.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-05
An angry President Roosevelt kicks a book as he holds a paper that reads, “Sir: You are a _____ liar. Very truly, T. Roosevelt. White House Form No. 4423.” Caption: “Selecting the adjective.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-04
This newspaper article presents illustrations and text about President Roosevelt, beginning with his childhood and including stories of his ranching life and his military service in the Spanish-American War. The heading reads, “We begin the publication of these interesting scrapbook pages with the story of the childhood and the life of the great citizen who, by restoring peace to the world, acquired the right to recognition.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12
President Roosevelt uses binoculars to watch a contentious “New York campaign.” He is sweating as he says, “Who says the president is free to do as he pleases?”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-10
At 9:00 a.m., President Roosevelt signs a paper that reads, “Grafting must be stopped.” At 10:00 a.m., Roosevelt points to a banner that reads, “Why certainly, Wilkes-Barre, anything to oblige.” At noon, Roosevelt holds a picnic basket and a fishing rod as he walks with several children. At 1:00 p.m., Roosevelt talks on the telephone. At 2:00 p.m., Roosevelt hands a “letter to peace conferences” to a messenger. At 4:00 p.m., Roosevelt travels in a submarine and says, “Delighted!” At 8:00 p.m., Roosevelt sits in a rocking chair writing poetry with a book of “poems” beside him. At 10:00 p.m., Roosevelt falls asleep in a tent. The moon says, “Delighted.” A handwritten note is included: Respectfully submitted.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-08-28
Alton B. Parker paints a picture of President Roosevelt and Chair of the Republican National Committee George B. Cortelyou robbing the “trusts” for the “campaign fund.” Roosevelt holds an “anti-trust prosecution” big stick in his hand. A disgusted voter clenches his fists and walks away. Caption: Voter—”Attacks on the president’s personal honesty can gain you no votes, Mr. Parker.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-03
Theodore Roosevelt answers the three questions Alfred Borden posed regarding his political record. Roosevelt did not deal with the question of the tariff because he was attempting to take care of the trusts, does not feel that the cases of William Lorimer and George Barnsdale Cox are in any way comparable, and has not generalized the entirety of Wall Street as dishonest in any speech he has made. After making these points, Roosevelt writes more candidly in a postscript, criticizing Borden’s points as being ridiculous, and saying that if he took the time to find out the facts he would realize this.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-10-29
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Theodore Roosevelt attempts to answer Alfred Borden’s questions, but admits that it is somewhat difficult to do so without seeming to be rude or condescending, as they seem to be fairly basic questions. He explains that, while President, he did not attempt to deal with the Tariff question because he was focused on a number of other topics he considered more important, and he worried that by splitting his efforts further, he would achieve less. Regarding his relations with Senator William Lorimer and Ohio political boss George Barnsdale Cox, Roosevelt explains that when he did not know anything about Lorimer, he treated him just as he did Cox, with both being political bosses of their respective states. Once the scandal surrounding Lorimer began to be exposed as he assumed a position in the legislature, it necessarily had to change how Roosevelt related to him. Finally, Roosevelt denies having ever painted the entirety of Wall Street as dishonest men, and maintains that he has always been in favor of the honest businessman. He hopes, in answering Borden, he did not hurt his feelings, but strove to write candidly and honestly answer his questions.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-11-02
Theodore Roosevelt met with Owen Wister’s English pacifist friend and could not help telling him that Englishmen should be at home doing their duty. The prime duty of the English and Americans should be to prepare against disaster and stop making promises they do not intend to keep. Roosevelt expresses his displeasure at the policies of the Wilson administration and the influence of American pacifists.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-06-23
Theodore Roosevelt will be able to lunch with Joseph Bucklin Bishop at some point this winter. He appreciates Bishop’s support for his statements on the Philippines. The United States is not doing its duty in the Philippines and the islands are not being effectively defended. Roosevelt describes President Wilson as “shrewd and clever” but also a self-seeker and timid. Nothing of “permanent good” will be done under his leadership.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1914-11-28
An article Theodore Roosevelt wrote on exercising the naval right of search will be published soon and it generally follows Ambassador Spring Rice’s opinion. If he were president, Roosevelt would not let anyone exercise the right of search but he would also have intervened on behalf of Belgium and prevented Americans from violating neutrality. Roosevelt views President Wilson as a timid, unscrupulous, coldblooded, and selfish man. He believes Wilson is attempting to keep the support of pacifists and placate the German and Irish vote. Eventually, Great Britain and France will need American help and Wilson will become the “righteous peace-maker.” Wilson’s current misconduct will then be forgotten.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1914-11-11
President Roosevelt feels the same as Frederick Landis about the division of powers and provides his opinion on the politicians who are “straight, decent, and fearless representative[s] of the people.” Roosevelt uses Abraham Lincoln as an example, citing his consistent tenacity and popularity before and after he took office. He claims the public stood by Lincoln “because he was right both times.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-14
President Roosevelt tells Albert Shaw, editor of the Review of Reviews, that he believes that the deeds and words of great people of the United States, as well as the character of the President, are assets to the United States in representing good citizenship. Roosevelt cites a letter by President Abraham Lincoln to Lydia Bixby, who had lost all five of her sons during the United States Civil War, as an example of the sort of character people should have, both in Lincoln’s writing a personal message in the midst of war, and in Bixby’s patriotism and sacrifice.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-01
President Roosevelt reflects to his friend George Otto Trevelyan on the result of his election, his presidency, and his feelings on leaving office. He feels good about his accomplishments in office and is confident about leaving William H. Taft as his successor. Although he enjoyed, as always, the new edition of Trevelyan’s Life of Macaulay, he takes exception to Trevelyan including a quote from Archibald Philip Primrose Rosebery which called Macaulay’s marginalia “sublime.” Finally, Roosevelt discusses the reading habits of his sons, Ted and Kermit.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-06