Quotation

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Annie Nathan Meyer for her letter and for the copy of her play, which he has read “with real interest.” However, as he is not a critic of dramatic works, Roosevelt does not feel qualified to write anything about the play for quotation. Roosevelt gives his opinion on all matters reluctantly, and in the case of Meyer’s play he is not sure what he would say. Although he understands and agrees with Meyer’s purpose in writing it, Roosevelt fears that it might “unintentionally” suggest to some readers that its creator did not support the efforts being made against the white slave trade, which Roosevelt knows is not true.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-25

Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary sends Roosevelt’s apologies to Besse Broce for being unable to accede to her request. Roosevelt never gives an opinion on public matters in letters for quotation. Broce must consult Roosevelt’s published speeches to learn his opinion on the matter at hand, as it is impossible for Roosevelt to answer all the questions put to him in letters.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-24

Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary informs C. O. Doe that Roosevelt does not give opinions on public questions in letters to friends for quotation. He directs Doe to consult Roosevelt’s published speeches.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-20

Theodore Roosevelt allows William Gorham Rice to use a quotation and compliments Rice on his book and also asks Rice about a poem.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-01-19

President Roosevelt tells Ira E. Bennett that he currently has “so much on hand” that he will not be able to prepare an article as requested. Roosevelt asks which article in the Outlook Bennett is referring to, and if it is the one that is a chapter of Roosevelt’s autobiography. If it is, Bennett will have to ask permission of McMillan’s to publish it. Roosevelt also believes he covered the matter completely in his two messages to Congress, and tells Bennett he should request those.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-12-03

President Roosevelt tells Richard Watson Gilder that he thinks it would be best if William Garrott Brown did not use any extracts from Roosevelt’s letter to Gilder, as “his point of view is very different from mine, and I do not wish to seem to be in a controversy even of the friendliest kind.” He does not object to Gilder using extracts from the letter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-23

President Roosevelt tells General Wood that he is welcome to quote Roosevelt on the matter of merging the Marine Corps into the United States Army. Roosevelt thinks it is an excellent corps, and says that it would be of great benefit to both services for the incorporation to take place.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-28

President Roosevelt thanks Senator Elkins for the note. While he would have preferred Elkins did not quote him on the matter, it is not of serious consequence.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-28

President Roosevelt instructs Benjamin Ide Wheeler to not quote their conversation about Secretary of War William H. Taft, or any other topic, to Edward Henry Harriman. Roosevelt speaks freely with Wheeler, and wants to makes sure that his statements are not repeated unless exactly the same. He has spoken freely to Harriman in the past, and is sure he will do so again, but there is nothing to discuss regarding the present railroad matter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-20

John Boynton Kaiser hopes to use a quotation from Theodore Roosevelt in his annual letter to the class of 1908 alumni of Western Reserve University, and writes to Roosevelt to confirm that he has remembered it correctly.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-21

John P. Gardiner recently testified in front of the Public Service Committee of the Massachusetts Legislature regarding a proposed change in Civil Service Laws, and writes to Theodore Roosevelt in order to alert him that he believes his words may have been misreported. Gardiner offered a quote from Roosevelt that “the men [of the Rough Riders] who stayed behind had a harder time,” but now fears that he was taken out of context in an enclosed clipping. He apologizes for the bother, and will endeavor to have a new statement issued if Roosevelt thinks it is worth issuing a correction.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-08

Professor True recalls the approximate wording of a statement that Theodore Roosevelt gave in Reno, Nevada, several years ago about the importance of irrigated agriculture. He asks both for Roosevelt’s confirmation that the quoted statement is correct and for permission to use it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-07

Creator(s)

True, Gordon H. (Gordon Haines), 1868-1928

Simeon E. Baldwin has read that, in a recent speech, Theodore Roosevelt criticized him for being of the the opinion that railroad employees should give up their rights to receive workers compensation if they are injured on the job. Baldwin objects that he has never held or communicated such a view, and quotes from a work he wrote on “American Railroad Law” as proof. He hopes Roosevelt was misinterpreted in the article reporting on his speech, but otherwise requests a retraction of Roosevelt’s statement.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-10-24

William Wenkel, secretary to Albert Shaw, writes to President Roosevelt regarding a previous letter that Roosevelt had sent to Shaw about candidates for governor of Missouri Cyrus Packard Walbridge and Joseph Wingate Folk. In his letter, Roosevelt expressed a preference for Walbridge over Folk, and Wenkel points out that this sentiment should not be taken from the context it was given in, as it did not apply to the personal characters of the men, but only to their candidacy for governor.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-26

Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt asserts that a strong navy maintains peace, and that it is better suited for defense than coastal fortifications. 

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1897-09-30

George Cabot Lodge finally found a publication he had wished to send to President Roosevelt about a recent finding of an ancient “tertiary man” in Australia, and offers some brief comments on the various articles and photographs therein.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-07-08