Public opinion

Letter from Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt to James B. Sheridan

Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary notifies James B. Sheridan that Theodore Roosevelt does not give his opinion on topics unless they have been specifically referenced in his published speeches. Unfortunately, if Roosevelt were to answer every question mailed to him it would take up too much of his time and leave him exhausted. Roosevelt offers his condolences that he cannot answer his question.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-08

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Anthony Fiala

Theodore Roosevelt tells Anthony Fiala that if there comes a war, he shall try to raise a division. Archibald Roosevelt will also try to raise a troop in Arizona. Roosevelt agrees with Fiala about the need for preparedness. Roosevelt has done all that he can, but it has been hard to make the people realize “how things are.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-07-04

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

Theodore Roosevelt hopes that Senator Lodge is appointed Secretary of State. He views Lodge and Elihu Root as the only Republicans fit for the position. However, Roosevelt was distressed by a recent speech that Root delivered suggesting that public opinion can restrain a “wrong-doing nation.” Roosevelt disagrees and feels that Root’s speech damaged the movement for military readiness.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-01-06

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Cecil Spring Rice

Unless Theodore Roosevelt hears otherwise, he will take the first opportunity of making the letter public. Roosevelt is sorry that the American government has reduced his part and the part of men like him to words and not deeds.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-11-17

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Joseph Andrew Robertson

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Colonel Robertson for his letter, and states that he agrees with the Colonel’s views, yet he is uncertain how to bring the issue before the public.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-11-12

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Martin J. Gillen

Theodore Roosevelt tells Martin J. Gillen that his plan is interesting, but that he is not prepared to comment upon it in detail. Roosevelt feels there would have to be efficient governmental supervision of those who worked “on honor,” necessitating a large increase in the governmental force available for such supervision. Roosevelt tells Gillen he has purposely avoided advocating any specific plan in his public speeches, because what is really needed is “the creation of popular sentiment which will insist that the government itself take action.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-10-18

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Mrs. Thorne Hitchcock

Theodore Roosevelt does not know why McCoy did not receive his letter and thinks they should also get in touch with Robert D. Carey. Roosevelt expresses his opinion to Mrs. Thorne Hitchcock that if President Wilson had “one ounce of the spirit” of Andrew Jackson or Zachary Taylor that they would already be at war. Roosevelt mentions that his three sons in the United States have been trained at Plattsburgh Camp.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-08-28

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Thomas Williams

Theodore Roosevelt thanks James Thomas Williams of the Boston Evening Transcript for a letter which reminded him of an incident that has resulted in a civil suit. Roosevelt says he is insufficiently knowledgeable regarding legal particulars to guess how the suit will turn out, but he is confident that as far as “ordinary decent common sense citizens” are concerned, he will have proved his case.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-05-05

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John St. Loe Strachey

Theodore Roosevelt tells John St. Loe Strachey, editor of the London Spectator, that he is mistaken in believing that the American public will acknowledge Roosevelt as a leader again. Roosevelt does, however, believe that what he has said will influence public opinion and they will see that his position was right. Roosevelt sends two of his articles about the Lusitania disaster to Strachey, which were and are still not popular. Roosevelt sends his regards to Strachey’s daughter and wife and is glad their house has become an emergency hospital. Roosevelt will write James Bryce expressing his approval of Bryce’s report on German atrocities.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-05-29

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John H. Parker

Theodore Roosevelt is happy to hear from Major Parker but finds it difficult to answer his letter. Roosevelt feels that Parker has a good plan but it would be useless if other Army officials, like General Leonard Wood, oppose it. As a civilian, Roosevelt is not in a position to insert himself into the discussion and advocates for the public’s opinion instead.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-04-02

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Robert Sloss

Theodore Roosevelt does not think it wise to make statements about the United States government in foreign papers. Roosevelt refers Robert Sloss to his book America and the World War and a recent article in the Metropolitan Magazine for statements Roosevelt has previously made on the topic.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-04-02

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Vira Boarman Whitehouse

Theodore Roosevelt makes changes to the topics of an interview he is giving Vira Boarman Whitehouse, saying he thinks little of parades and does not wish to discuss his previous statements about people getting tired of him. Roosevelt also asks Whitehouse to determine which parts of one of his speeches she wants to use. He expresses pleasure at having met her one recent evening.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-03-18

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frank Knox

Theodore Roosevelt shares Frank Knox’s feeling of disgust with the political situation at present. Roosevelt thinks there is no use in trying to secure betterment legislation until there is a return to prosperity. Roosevelt thinks reform must follow prosperity because if reform is presented as an alternative to prosperity, the people will choose prosperity. Roosevelt is glad that Knox liked what he wrote about the Mexican situation and the Administration’s attitude on the European War.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-01-04

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Richard Heber Newton

Theodore Roosevelt feels that the people are through with him, but that they are not through with the cause for which he stands. He agrees with Dr. Newton that it was unwise of him to have been pushed into the last State campaign, but it was unavoidable.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-12-19

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Joseph G. Butler Jr.

President Roosevelt informs Joseph G. Butler Jr. that he has done everything possible to address the two representatives that Butler expressed concerns about in a previous letter. Roosevelt suggests that the only remaining option is to invoke public opinion.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-23

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to J. W. Hamilton

President Roosevelt values the letter J. W. Hamilton sent because Hamilton can speak for the people of California. Roosevelt believes the people of California will do the right thing in the matter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-26

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Joseph Bucklin Bishop

President Roosevelt praises Joseph Bucklin Bishop’s wife, Harriet Hartwell Bishop, calling her “a trump if ever there was one.” Roosevelt is glad that president-elect William H. Taft is going to examine the Panama Canal with several engineers, as he feels like the best way to address concerns about it is through “prompt, aggressive action.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-04

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Harry Johnston

President Roosevelt tells Harry Johnston that he does not believe that the United States will intervene in Haiti, although he thinks that it ought to. Roosevelt does not like to act unless he can get the support of the American population behind him. In many cases in Central America and the Antilles, it either took a long time for the population to embrace interference or they never became interested. Roosevelt would have liked the United States to act in Venezuela, Central America, and Haiti, but says that people are “not merely blind, but often malevolently blind, to what goes on.” Roosevelt is pleased that Johnston’s impressions of New York are going to be published, and hopes that his thoughts on the Southern United States are likewise published.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-04

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Joel Chandler Harris

President Roosevelt tells Joel Chandler Harris of a recent conversation that he had with Fitzhugh Lee and Archibald Willingham Butt in which they discussed the popularity of the song Dixie, and how they wished that the Battle Hymn of the Republic was as well known. Roosevelt asks if Harris would print the lyrics to the Battle Hymn of the Republic in his magazine to help popularize the song.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-15

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Lyman Abbott

President Roosevelt sends Lyman Abbott letters he wrote to various Senators about the Brownsville incident and a matter concerning Colonel William F. Stewart. Roosevelt asserts his executive authority as President to make determinations about the dismissal and stationing of soldiers, citing past precedents. He also provides his rationale for dismissing the Brownsville soldiers and for refusing to grant Stewart a court of inquiry.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-05-10