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Theodore Roosevelt tells his son Kermit about what he is writing and reports that he is having trouble with his autobiography. He comments on the Progressive Party and says if President Woodrow Wilson does well and satisfies the Progressives, Roosevelt will not have to get involved in politics. Roosevelt gives updates on the family and the health of Mother.
1913-01-21
President Roosevelt tells his son Kermit about his last speech as President in Kentucky at a Lincoln celebration. Uncle Douglas Robinson is thinking of buying the horse Roswell. The plans for the Africa hunting trip are nearly complete.
1909-02-13
Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit after their return from their African hunting trip to say he is sending Kermit’s rifle to him in Paris and it has been very difficult getting everything from the shipping company they used to send materials home from Africa. Roosevelt is not looking forward to his trip through the country and speaking engagements but he wants to work until he is sixty if that is possible. He says Ethel Roosevelt is planning a Western trip and Archie Roosevelt has been helping him around Sagamore Hill.
1910-07-19
Theodore Roosevelt tells his son Kermit not to be upset over getting black-balled from the Harvard club Sphynx. Roosevelt says it was probably more about him than Kermit, because the fathers of Kermit’s classmates hate him. He adds the campaign is almost over and his voice is in poor shape but at least he will not have to do this type of thing ever again. Roosevelt says he will send Kermit the books.
1910-10-15
Theodore Roosevelt writes to his son Kermit to say some of the dogs have killed neighbor dogs and then turned on one in their own pack. He also inquires as to how Kermit made out in his races and is happy to hear he was invited to hunt moose and caribou. Roosevelt says he is busy making speaking trips he loathes but enjoys his work for the Outlook.
1911-02-19
Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit on a number of topics including thanking him for visiting Quentin Roosevelt, hanging the Devon stag’s head, congratulating him on joining the Pudding Club at Harvard, his grades, running races and dreading the rest of his Western trip. He adds that Mother is enclosing a poem that reminds them of Edwin Arlington Robinson.
1911-02-28
Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit to discuss the honor list of animal kills from the Camp Fire Club and tell him he does not have to join the club unless he really wants to. He is glad Kermit ran in the 1,000 yard race and glad he has decided to stop training. Roosevelt says his trip to Chicago was a success but he is worked to the limit. He will be heading west soon to see Roosevelt Dam and the Grand Canyon, and perhaps to make some speeches in California.
1911-03-02
Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit and asks him to give the enclosed note to Phil but not to tell Hall. He talks about how much he enjoyed seeing the Grand Canyon and Roosevelt Dam as well as the Evans School in Mesa, Arizona, which Archie Roosevelt is attending. Other than those stops, the trip has been very difficult.
1911-03-21
Theodore Roosevelt writes to his son Kermit from his Western speaking trip to say how much the family are enjoying themselves, though he cannot stand all the speaking and this is the last speaking trip he will take. He encloses letters from safari agency owner Leslie J. Tarlton and Alfred E. Pease. Roosevelt is concerned at how sick Tarlton and his partner V. M. Newland were and he wants Kermit to write to Tarlton.
1911-04-01
Theodore Roosevelt thanks his son Kermit for his letter and says knowing he is hunting with some ranchmen and a former Rough Rider makes him feel better. He says Kermit’s description of the heat reminds him of Africa. Roosevelt gives updates on the family and closes by announcing Kermit’s goddaughter, Ted and Eleanor’s daughter, was just born.
1911-08-17
Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit to say he is glad to hear about the success of his mountain sheep hunt and that he did not encounter an insurrectos. Roosevelt says his latest book African Game Trails is selling moderately well and he is in futile correspondence with the Smithsonian concerning Kermit’s New Brunswick trip.
1911-08-22
Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit to say he has received a letter from his friend Frederick Selous and he feels sorry for him being so unhappy. Roosevelt says that, unlike him, Selous cannot be happy just retiring to his home. He says that he is ready to send Kermit’s article “The sheep of the desert” to some publishers. Roosevelt gives updates on the family: Archie shot a crow, Quentin must have his tonsils out, and Ethel had Billy Appleton over.
1911-09-11
Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit to tell him about Edith falling from the horse at Pine Knot and being knocked senseless for thirty-six hours. She did not have a concussion but is in great pain. Ethel Roosevelt had a number of friends over at the time and they had to make other arrangements for them. Roosevelt encloses letters from Frederick Selous and Alfred E. Pease. Kermit Roosevelt has taken notes on the envelope.
1911-10-02
Theodore Roosevelt writes to his son Kermit to congratulate him on his successful hunting trip and talk about sending the skins to the National Museum. He says Mother is still in bed after falling off the horse with three slightly dislocated neck vertebrae. They have a nurse and Ethel Roosevelt has been helping too.
1911-10-05
Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit to tell him Mother is improving since falling off the horse but she remains in a great deal of pain. Two nurses are taking care of her as well as Ethel Roosevelt. He wants Kermit to stay at Harvard since he arrived there late due to his hunting trip.
1911-10-09
Theodore Roosevelt writes to his son Kermit to tell him that since falling off the horse, Mother has developed facial erysipelas and is on morphine. Ethel Roosevelt has a cold and Quentin Roosevelt burned his foot as well. Ted Roosevelt and his wife Eleanor will be coming with the baby for a visit. Roosevelt says if Ted stays long enough he will go to “the February” with him and wants Kermit to let him know when the date is decided.
1912-01-07
Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit to say Mother is doing well and enjoying her trip to Panama. Alice Roosevelt Longworth has been visiting as she is worried about Roosevelt’s spirits since he has few supporters at the moment. He is serving on a jury right now and informs Kermit that Aunt Corinne’s son Teddy Robinson lost his new baby.
1912-03-09
Theodore Roosevelt writes to his son Kermit to say he remembers “Dewey” well. He says Kermit got a nice letter from Dave Goodrich, a former Rough Rider, and Roosevelt thinks Kermit should go in with his company but not until he hears from Bob Perkins about Elon Hooker’s company. Mother returns from her trip soon and Roosevelt is sending Kermit $30 to go hunting. Kermit has taken notes on the envelope.
1912-03-15
Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit to congratulate him on being elected to the Boone and Crockett Club. He wants to know if Kermit wants his article back from Collier’s because if they publish it he will get very little money. Roosevelt wishes he could advise Kermit more about Elon Huntington Hooker and David M. Goodrich and their companies but Kermit must make up his own mind. He will have Mother send him Hooker’s pamphlet.
1912-04-06
Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit to tell him about the Progressive Party convention where he spoke for two hours. He does not believe they can win the election and predicts Governor Woodrow Wilson will be victorious, with him and President William H. Taft nearly even behind. Roosevelt plans to start campaigning in September. Roosevelt says he and Mother agree that if going to Brazil to work appeals to Kermit, then he should go. He describes celebrating Ethel’s birthday.
1912-07-13