Your TR Source
Theodore Roosevelt fully approves of Owen Wister’s poem about Woodrow Wilson. Roosevelt opposed Hicks at the election, but he has forwarded the letters to his half-brother, Billy Cocks, to see if Hicks can do anything for Skirdin.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-04-11
President Roosevelt appreciates the congratulations from Fraser Metzger. Roosevelt knew that what he wrote in the Metropolitan would appeal to Metzger. Roosevelt wants Metzger to think about how the Wilson administration holds that a man can be the President of the United States and have dual nationality, and that the U.S. cannot protect him if he is seized by a foreign government.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-05-29
Theodore Roosevelt agrees with what Chester I. Long says about the Wilson Administration. Roosevelt thinks one of the ludicrous features of the situation is the effort of some men to discriminate between President Wilson and Secretary Bryan, as Roosevelt believes Wilson to be responsible for everything Bryan does.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-03-05
Theodore Roosevelt tells Ferdinand von Stumm that his point about Mexico is “perfectly fair.” If he had to, Roosevelt would choose blood-and-iron over milk-and-water, and he thinks it bad to arouse fear but worse to arouse contempt. Roosevelt thanks Stumm for his frank letter and hopes that he understands that what Roosevelt has said and written was with the intent toward justice, which is what he strove for as President. Roosevelt treated other countries with courtesy to increase friendship between them and the United States.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-01-22
President Roosevelt looks forward to seeing President-elect Taft on February 24, and will give any advice or counsel that he can. He discusses the work of the Isthmian Canal Commission, and admires Taft’s letter to President Jose Domingo de Obaldia of Panama. Roosevelt has been having a difficult time with the California Legislature over the “Japanese business,” and has sent a letter to future Secretary of State Philander C. Knox about it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-13
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 sends German Emperor William II a note of good will, and thanks him for the friendship he has shown during the years that Roosevelt has been president. Roosevelt reflects that he would have liked to have continued to be president, but that he is satisfied with his accomplishment while in office, and is looking forward to his African safari. He does not expect to hold office again, but if America is ever involved in another war would like to lead a division of cavalry. Ambassador Hermann Speck von Sternburg’s death saddened Roosevelt, and he praises Sternburg’s conduct and service as a diplomat.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-26
President Roosevelt appreciated receiving John Carter Rose’s letter, and says that he agrees with him about past presidents.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-15
President Roosevelt discusses an exchange of letters between himself, President-elect Taft, Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, and Secretary of War Luke E. Wright. Roosevelt tells Taft that his feeling is that going forward, if Congress wishes a certain course to be followed it should direct that course through legislation. In the absence of the law, however, Roosevelt feels that the Executive should have a free hand to act as they determine the interests of the United States requires.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-29
President Roosevelt will see if he can do what William Allen White suggested in a recent letter. He does not think that what White suggests can be done in his annual message to Congress, but he will look into making a special message later on.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-17
President Roosevelt thanks David Gray for the letter, as well as the letter Gray wrote to Kermit Roosevelt and the interest he takes in him. Roosevelt is glad that Gray approves of his action in not seeking another term in the presidency. He believes people would have thought worse of him if he had gone back on his promise not to run.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-16
President Roosevelt tells his sister, Corinne Roosevelt Robinson, that their letters must have crossed in the mail. Roosevelt remarks on his view that the Presidency should be a powerful position, but one that is subject to review by the population. Roosevelt does not believe that one person should be in the Presidency for more than eight years at a time. William Allen White has written him an amusing letter enclosing an editorial, which he sends to show to Robinson.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-26
President Roosevelt writes to George Otto Trevelyan, reflecting on his time as President and his decision to not seek reelection. Roosevelt admits that there are arguments for him to run for another term as president, but believes that the arguments against are stronger. Roosevelt is proud that while in the presidency he has fully used the powers available to him and acted as a strong central executive, and is gratified by the love that the population has for him. Once he leaves the presidency, Roosevelt plans to go on safari in Africa. He would like to visit England and see his friends there if he could do so as a private citizen without being forced to attend to diplomatic affairs, but if this is not possible he might just return to the United States.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-19
President Roosevelt asserts his right as executive to appoint and dismiss officers in the armed forces. He tells Senator Stewart that Congress thus lacks the power to carry out Senator Joseph Benson Foraker’s proposal regarding his dismissal of African American troops at Brownsville.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-05-07
President Roosevelt responds to a letter from Samuel W. Belford, commenting on the importance of not acting like a Democrat nor like a Republican, but like an American. Roosevelt would like to make Belford’s letter public.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-03
William Loeb tells Rebecca Briggs Dow that President Roosevelt was administered the oath of office by District Judge John R. Hazel on September 14, 1901, at the residence of Ansley Wilcox in Buffalo, New York.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-06-04
President Roosevelt thanks John Carter Rose for his telegram and asks where he learns “such odd bits of information.” He says it is a big triumph for presidents to have majorities in both houses.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-06
President Roosevelt believes it is out of the question for him, as President, to write full answers to the sorts of propositions that William D. Washburn set forth in his letter, as he must consider not only his own beliefs, but that of the party he leads. While he agreed with Washburn on some points, he disagreed on others, and protests the comparison of the tariff issue with the issue of slavery, as the tariff is not a moral issue. Roosevelt will speak more on the subject sometime when Washburn is in Washington, D.C., but will do so purely privately.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-21
President Roosevelt would be glad for Opie Read to dedicate his book to him, and comments that he is pleased to have his name “coupled with Andrew Jackson’s.” While Roosevelt does not put Jackson on the same level as Abraham Lincoln, he has “a hearty respect for Old Hickory.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-13
President Roosevelt is glad that Vice President Fairbanks was not injured by “the attack made upon you by that lunatic yesterday.” Roosevelt congratulates Fairbanks on his “excellent speech at Portland” and hopes Fairbanks will again represent the administration at an important Grand Army of the Republic occasion in New York in the middle of August.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-08