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President Roosevelt updates Archibald B. Roosevelt on family matters. Quentin Roosevelt brought a snake back to Washington, D.C., from Oyster Bay and has been allowed to borrow three more from a local pet store. He is showing them to everyone, including Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte and a number of Congressmen who are off-put by the animals.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-27
President Roosevelt expresses concern about his son Kermit Roosevelt’s health. He mentions the Brownsville matter, the opposition from the Senate over the battleships and offers his view on Native Americans. Roosevelt is pleased that Kermit has been reading and studying, and updates Kermit on recent family activities.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-26
President Roosevelt asks Kermit Roosevelt if William Loeb sent him “the matter” about the Brownsville incident for his debate. Roosevelt then proceeds to tell his son about an amusing interaction with Ellen C. Bonaparte who declared she had been taking people who lead “gray and hundrum lives [sic]” to the White House to bring them pleasure. He trusts Kermit will not tell anyone, and shares another story about the daughter of Emperor of Austria Franz Joseph I. Roosevelt also tells Kermit about Archibald B. Roosevelt’s pet guinea pigs, Mr. and Mrs. Longworth.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-19
President Roosevelt describes the family’s “ideal” Christmas celebrations to his sister, Corinne Roosevelt Robinson. He asks Robinson to find out how her son, Monroe Douglas Robinson, could bear being seen with Roosevelt’s son, Ted Roosevelt, when Ted was wearing “such as cap as he seems to have carried.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-26
President Roosevelt returns to the White House with a pitchfork over his right shoulder and a tennis racket in his left hand. There are suitcases labeled “T.R.” behind him. William Loeb follows with a locked bag of “speeches,” an “elephant’s tail,” and Roosevelt’s bulldog, Pete. The pillars of the White House are “fresh painted — Uncle Sam Co.”
Joseph Harry Cunningham’s drawing is more of an editorial cartoon than a political cartoon, as it portrays an event — President Roosevelt’s return to Washington after a long vacation and string of appearances — and does not attack, support, nor attempt to persuade readers.
Jacob Riis outlines life for the Roosevelt family. He describes the personality, habits, and even pets of each child. Riis also discusses the parenting style of Edith and Theodore Roosevelt. The article, later published in the August edition of Ladies Home Journal, gives readers an idea of what life was like for the Roosevelts in the White House.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902
President Roosevelt tells his son Kermit about his last speech as President in Kentucky at a Lincoln celebration. Uncle Douglas Robinson is thinking of buying the horse Roswell. The plans for the Africa hunting trip are nearly complete.
1909-02-13
President Roosevelt tells his son Kermit that there has been considerable grumbling over his order regarding physical exercise. In order to put a stop to it, Roosevelt decided to ride 90 miles in one day himself. He and three others rode from Washington, D.C., to Warrenton and back, a distance of 98 miles, beginning at 3:30 a.m. and returning at 8:30 p.m.
Congress feels they do not have to listen to the President since his term is nearly up and he expects fights over some veto messages he will send. He will start his libel suits against The World and the Indianapolis News. Roosevelt says he and Mother have enjoyed life at the White House but are ready to leave.
President Roosevelt writes his son Kermit to say Ted Roosevelt is visiting and as soon as Kermit finishes school, they will go to Oyster Bay to practice with the rifles before leaving for their African hunting trip. Ethel is busy with the debutante season and Major William Austin Wadsworth is visiting. Roosevelt says they rode the horses and went to some art exhibitions.
1908-12-13
President Roosevelt writes to his son Kermit in reference to a letter Kermit sent to him that Kermit had received from a friend. Roosevelt tells him the friend probably heard some baseless slander about Kermit and was trying to be kindly so Kermit should not be annoyed. He says he has tried out the new Winchester rifles at Dr. Rixey’s and wants Kermit to try them when he comes home for Christmas. Roosevelt adds that he has been riding and jumping the horses and playing tennis. He encloses a letter from Frank M. Chapman, the American Museum of Natural History’s ornithology director.
1908-12-03
President Roosevelt tells his son Kermit that Eli the macaw does not like the carpenters working at the White House and had to be moved. There is a bull dog puppy where the family is now and he sees lots of young rabbits when he is out riding. Roosevelt says he took a walk with General Leonard Wood recently.
1902-06-22
President Roosevelt forwards to his son Kermit a letter from Harvard Dean Byron Hurlbut, and he wants Kermit to visit Hurlbut. Ted has an interview with Robert Perkins regarding working at his carpet works. Major Austin Wadsworth is visiting. Roosevelt encloses a letter from Alfred E. Pease regarding the Africa trip.
1908-09-05
President Roosevelt updates his son Kermit on the planning for his trip to Africa, though he is not yet sure he can make it. Results from Massachusetts and New York have settled the Republican presidential nomination for Secretary of War Taft, and Governor Hughes’s run is over. Roosevelt says Edith enjoys riding much better since getting a new horse, and Congress is refusing to do what it should.
1908-04-11
President Roosevelt writes to his son Kermit, saying that he and Edith along with John Burroughs just returned from their cottage, Pine Knot. Roosevelt is in busy correspondence over the Africa trip but has no definite plans yet. He closes by saying Congress will end in an ugly fight with him.
1908-05-10
President Roosevelt writes to congratulate Kermit Roosevelt on his good marks and share a flattering article about the men in his Cabinet. Roosevelt says he and Kermit will have to read books on Africa to prepare for their trip. Roosevelt has not heard from Archie in a while and Quentin is enamored with baseball. He closes the letter with descriptions of horse riding.
1908-05-23
President Roosevelt writes to his son Kermit about his last spring at the White House. Roosevelt is concerned about Archie’s performance at Groton School. Roosevelt complains about Senator Robert M. La Follette filibustering, and says that Congress has not given him all the legislation he should have had. He then lists what he has been able to accomplish. Roosevelt closes by saying that he has two good maps of Africa, and he and Kermit can crystallize the plans for their trip when they next meet.
1908-05-30
President Roosevelt writes his son Kermit about horseback riding and the current financial crisis. Roosevelt says the anger is centered on him but he does not care because he knows that what he did was right.
1907-11-23
President Roosevelt writes his son Kermit about Archie returning home and not looking well. He says they spent Thanksgiving Day with the Rixeys and Cooleys at the du Ponts who own President Madison’s house. Roosevelt talks about horse back riding with Jack Greenway and then gives updates on Ted and Quentin.
1907-11-30
President Roosevelt writes his son Kermit about playing tennis, horse back riding, and rock climbing.
1908-01-15
President Roosevelt writes to his son Kermit to report on Ethel’s nose operation and some lovely rides he has had with Edith. He ends by saying there has been trouble in New York financial circles that has effected other parts of the country, and he is being blamed.
1907-10-27