Presidents--Recreation

President Roosevelt wishes he could come visit C. Grant La Farge, but he has found that while he is president his vacations need to be at his home at Sagamore Hill. While that is the case, however, he invites La Farge to visit him with his wife, Florence Bayard La Farge, and instructs him to bring Owen Wister, if possible. He was proud to read what La Farge wrote about his son, Ted Roosevelt. Roosevelt was amused at the furor his going down in the submarine Plunger caused, especially because his son and La Farge were in more danger sailing on top of the water that day.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-08-31

President Roosevelt asks Walter C. Baylies to find out if there will be a demand for his presence at official occasions after the commencement day dinner. If there is not, Roosevelt will come to the club immediately afterwards for some “rational enjoyment.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-31

President Roosevelt tells Cecil Andrew Rice he feels terrible about missing their bear hunt, but the manner in which the Senate is handling the Santo Domingo treaty makes it necessary. He is still not sure when he will finally be able to take his trip.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-09

Alexander Lambert will accompany President Roosevelt on the hunt. Roosevelt reminds Cecil Andrew Lyon that no formal engagements are to interrupt his holiday. Before Lyon takes them bear or peccary hunting, he must be confident they will get one. Roosevelt would rather go wolf hunting with the dogs than hunt bears.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02-15

President Roosevelt is fine with living in the camp. He reminds Cecil Andrew Lyon not to take him out bear hunting unless he is confident they will get a one. Any failure of Roosevelt’s will be “advertised throughout the length and breadth of the United States.” He does not want to have any engagements to speak after April 1, as he “must have a real holiday.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02-10

Harry T. Clinton proposes to Republican National Committee Chairman Cortelyou that Collier’s Weekly run a series of photographs of President Roosevelt engaged in recreational activities at Oyster Bay. Clinton believes this will be beneficial to both Roosevelt’s campaign and the magazine.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-06

Tweed Roosevelt acknowledges that there were five errors in his previous column on “One Hundred TR Firsts.” He lists five statements that were in error and two others that were challenged by readers, and he provides details about the five errors, including assertions about Theodore Roosevelt’s first inauguration, his marriages, and his daughter Alice’s White House wedding. Roosevelt also says that he received many suggestions for additions to his list. Five photographs accompany the essay.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

2009

President Roosevelt talks on the phone as he sweats profusely. A boy puts a telegram on his desk that reads, “Telegram: Pres. Roosevelt: ‘Bears on the run in Druid Hill Park: Killed one Monday.’ Police Sergt. Smith. Baltimore.” Secretary of War Elihu Root is followed by “department clerks,” bearing “important business” papers. In another section of the trees are “Hoi polloi with cameras and curiosity.” Finally, a group of “office seekers with recommendations and hopes” walk toward Roosevelt. Caption: The president is enjoying a much needed rest.

Comments and Context

Walter Bradford drew this cartoon in his best emulation of a John T. McCutcheon theme and various figures. It would seem to suggest a major point, perhaps about office-seekers, or the particular demands of Secretary of War Elihu Root, or frustrations borne of news about a the shooting of a bear (an occasional pastime of President Theodore Roosevelt) not long after the incident that gave birth to the Teddy Bear legend.

In fact it was a garden-variety, summer-vacation cartoon, merely illustrating Roosevelt’s possible distractions at a time when presidents, and most of official Washington, tried to enjoy leisure. The cable about the bear has no more interest than a local reference to an incident in Druid Hill Park, in Baltimore, home to Bradford’s newspaper. 

President Roosevelt cuts down a tree while a dog looks on. There are five tree stumps in the background.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-12

President Roosevelt has appointed Admiral George Converse and tells of taking Secretaries Morton and Moody out to Rock Creek for a strenuous walk that both men underestimated. Roosevelt is enamored with Washington, D.C., and with his wife Edith Roosevelt, who delights in an unusual variety of activities there. As the election approaches, Roosevelt reflects on his legacy and the importance of his work in office and in life.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1904-07-30

President Roosevelt tells the writer Edward Sandford Martin that he and Mrs. Roosevelt were struck by a point in Sanford’s last article that it is a wise choice to select home life instead of some alternative. Roosevelt feels the life of the “Four Hundred,” the social elite in New York, is “flat as stale champagne.” He found their companionship intolerable and does not feel one can permanently live that way. Roosevelt closes by describing an “all-night’s expedition” with his cousins and sons.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1903-07-30

President Roosevelt writes his daughter Alice all about the peace negotiations between Russia and Japan and how hard he has had to work the past few months. He hopes Alice will enjoy her trip to China and closes with updates on the family.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1905-09-02

President Roosevelt writes his daughter Alice about how much he enjoys the new room that C. Grant La Farge created at Sagamore Hill and describes a night picnic with the boys. He is happy to have Elihu Root back in his cabinet as Secretary of State. Roosevelt draws some cartoons depicting Alice in various activities.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1905-07-21

President Roosevelt writes his daughter Alice about his hunting trip in Colorado and says he is bringing home a dog named Skip for Archie Roosevelt. His fever only kept him in camp a few days and he is happy to hear about Alice’s new horse.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1905-05-06

President Roosevelt writes his wife Edith in praise of their daughter Ethel Roosevelt and how she mothers her younger brothers. He describes a “scramble” he took with the children and meeting with senators who came on “every conceivable errand.”

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1904-11-14

President Roosevelt describes rescuing a kitten from an attack by two terriers and seeing the Newberry twins burying themselves in sand. He also describes spending leisure time with Mother and a new horse he wants Ethel to try. He also mentions Phil, Jack, Ted and Kermit. Roosevelt signs the letter “The Tyrant” and includes an illustration of himself and the children calling him a “tyrant king.”

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1906-06-24

President Roosevelt writes his daughter Ethel that he has not heard a word about the two new horses and says he wants a horse with which he will not have “an interesting circus experience” whenever they see an automobile. He will ride Rusty for now and is going out with Senator Lodge.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1906-04-01

President Roosevelt writes his daughter Ethel about his time in Saint Augustine, Florida attending a banquet, driving around the city and out on a boat. He says Edith Roosevelt is headed to Pine Knot and asks Ethel how Archie and Quentin Roosevelt are doing.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1905-10-22

President Roosevelt is delighted that Ethel likes the new rooms and describes taking a scramble with Ted and Peck and riding with Mother. He says he will be glad to get to Oyster Bay but he has a number of things to bother him including the peace negotiations between Russia and Japan.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1905-06-18

President Roosevelt acknowledges his daughter Ethel’s letters and talks of horseback riding with Mother and strolling the White House gardens.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1904-06-11