Your TR Source
President Roosevelt encloses a letter from William Wiegand to Martin A. Knapp. Roosevelt likes to assist the enlisted men in the military and wants to help Wiegand. He asks Knapp for the facts.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-27
Secretary of War Taft tells Senator Foraker that he has correctly stated Taft’s initial suggestion, but he now believes it is unwise to recommend the adoption of the proposed amendment to the statute. He is anxious not to delay the settlement of the unfortunate controversy, referring to the Brownsville matter, which has interfered with the discipline of the Army.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-01
Earl Grey believes that overcrowded urban conditions are damaging the population’s physical standards and affecting military recruitment. He suggests that a Royal Commission be formed to investigate the national physique.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-03-22
Theodore Roosevelt writes to his son Kermit to say he is disappointed President Woodrow Wilson did not allow him to raise a volunteer cavalry troop to take to the war in Europe. He talks about prospects in the military for Kermit, Archie and Quentin Roosevelt.
1917-05-26
Historian Chester L. Brooks thanks Wallis Huidekoper for his thoughts on Theodore Roosevelt’s recruitment efforts in North Dakota. He would like to discuss Roosevelt’s conservation policies with Huidekoper.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1953-12-02
Historian Chester L. Brooks is researching the response in North Dakota of Theodore Roosevelt’s attempts to enlist men for the Rough Riders. Brooks requests help locating a letter from Roosevelt to Sylvane M. Ferris regarding enlistment.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1953-12-02
Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary reports that Roosevelt is not able to help Clara Vickers Hartzog in the matter she wrote to him about. Only those in official positions may be able to help her son enlist in the military, and he cannot interfere in such matters now that he is no longer in the White House.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-06-19
Theodore Roosevelt finds John F. Dixon’s letter so kind that he must personally answer it. Like Dixon, Roosevelt wishes he could be enlisted for the war.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-07-11
Theodore Roosevelt agrees to Colonel Andrew’s request but insists he cannot undertake any active duties of any kind.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-11-06
Theodore Roosevelt tells Carrington Weems that there will not be a division raised, but if there is, Roosevelt will call on him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-10-20
Theodore Roosevelt agrees with Edward Sutton that “at that time there would have been no difficulty whatever in sending ten thousand men to take Mexico.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-03-13
Theodore Roosevelt would like to speak to Harry P. Whitney about the possibility of war and his desire to raise a cavalry division.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-01-22
Theodore Roosevelt returns Frederick Courteney Selous’s letter to Charles Sheldon, and writes that it was very interesting and similar to another letter he received. Selous’s life work has been hunting. Roosevelt suggests that Sheldon utilize Selous in war. While Roosevelt understands that Selous is over the maximum age list for service, he suggests waiving the rule in this case, and hopes that Secretary Horatio Herbert Kitchener will do so, despite Kitchener’s prejudice. Roosevelt enjoyed dining with Sheldon, and would love to see Sheldon’s big game library.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1914-12-29
President Roosevelt has heard reports that recruiting men for the engine room is difficult and that members of that post desert “at the earliest opportunity.” He believes that either a pay raise or a different arrangement would improve retention and recruitment, and asks Secretary of the Navy Victor Howard Metcalf for a report on this issue.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-09
President Roosevelt will see what he can do for the enlisted men of the Puerto Rico regiment, but Secretary of War Elihu Root is against the officers entering the regular army.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-01-06
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt thanks Representative Plowman for his letter and especially appreciates his sentiments as a member of the Naval Committee. He agrees with Plowman on increasing the number of Americans on the country’s ships. Roosevelt is trying to establish rendezvous for enlistments in several coastal areas where there are populations of sea-going Americans.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-09-29
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt informs Robert Goeller that the enlistment of Joseph Carle was valid as his father gave permission. Roosevelt encloses a circular with information about the discharge by purchase process if Carle is interested in leaving the navy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-08-28
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt agrees with Fidelio S. Carter that more people from the West should be recruited for the United States Navy, and there is currently a naval officer traveling in the west to enlist more western men.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-08-11
William T. Hornaday is frustrated with the “overwise” enlistment methods employed by the United States Army, which has seen his friend denied for having flat arches. Hornaday agrees with Theodore Roosevelt that the United States has been “slow on the draw” and cites New York’s military census as another example of failure.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1917-06-15
Gifford Pinchot writes Theodore Roosevelt that everywhere he goes there is regret that the Wilson Administration refused Roosevelt’s offer to raise a division to fight in World War I. Pinchot thinks “the Nation itself has been double-crossed” in this matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1917-05-22