Presidents--Language

Joe F. Decker studies Theodore Roosevelt’s use of language and focuses on some of his most colorful expressions and opinions, which was most often found in his correspondence. Decker says that Roosevelt tended to be more cautious with his language when speaking in public. He dwells on the object of much of Roosevelt’s invective, President Woodrow Wilson, but he cites numerous letters to various figures such as Amos Pinchot and Henry Cabot Lodge to give examples of Roosevelt’s use of language. Decker notes that Roosevelt was also willing to use animated language to poke fun at himself.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1986

John H. Vivian examines the controversy that swirled around President Theodore Roosevelt’s executive order of August 1906 mandating a simplified form of spelling in certain government documents. He looks at the reaction of newspapers from around the country, and says that their initial reactions were overdone but were later tempered. He also examines the reaction from some agencies of the federal government, and notes  opposition to the plan in Congress that centered less on concerns about spelling and more on Roosevelt’s use of executive power.

 

This article is also noteworthy as it is the first article in the Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal to have endnotes.