Roosevelt, Philip J. (Philip James), 1892-1941

In a letter to George Perkins, Oscar K. Davis, a reporter and the secretary of the Progressive National Committee, details the assassination attempt on Theodore Roosevelt in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on October 14, 1912. Davis covers Roosevelt’s decision to leave his presidential train for a hotel in Milwaukee, the subduing of the would be assassin, and Roosevelt’s refusal to go immediately to the hospital. Davis highlights Roosevelt’s insistence on giving his scheduled speech, his dramatic turns at turning away aid, and his subsequent examination and x-ray at a Milwaukee hospital. Davis notes that he wrote the account to counter false stories about the assassination attempt that would appear in newspapers.

The letter is preceded by two introductions by Gregory A. Wynn and William N. Tilchin. Wynn provides the background and context for the letter while Tilchin discusses how he prepared the letter for publication in the Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. Reprints of one page of the original letter and a page from Roosevelt’s bullet damaged speech join a photograph of Roosevelt’s eyeglass case in illustrating the group.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

President Roosevelt updates Kermit Roosevelt on preparations for their Safari and on family life. Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt has lately been exposed to commentary about the potential dangers of the trip, including letters from Cecil Spring Rice and an article in The Public Ledger. The Roosevelt family celebrated Ted Roosevelt’s birthday with a picnic, and Roosevelt feels strongly that Ted will be successful in his upcoming ventures. Soon Archie Roosevelt will be heading back to school and summer will give way to fall.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-14

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt tells Kermit Roosevelt that he is glad that the cavalry march and chicken shoot went well. Roosevelt details various happenings in the family for Kermit, and wishes him well.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-06

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

William Emlen Roosevelt writes President Roosevelt about annoyances with the Oyster Bay government. He concludes with an update on the family as they get ready for the holidays.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, William Emlen, 1857-1930

President Roosevelt writes his son Kermit to discuss his views on the work of Charles Dickens and William Makepeace Thackeray. He also talks about a poem by Philip Roosevelt and a visit from cousin Emlen Roosevelt, Christine, Frank Lowell, and his wife. Roosevelt closes by saying he had dinner with Ambassador Jusserand and Justice Moody.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1908-02-23

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt instructs Truman Handy Newberry to stay on that board. Roosevelt has been assured by a conversation with his cousin Philip Roosevelt, and he has arranged a meeting of the Advisory Board and of the Trustees. Roosevelt concludes that the National Defense Society is doing admirable work, but the National Security League, which has pro-Wilson members, is causing them trouble.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-12-21

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt tells Charles Larisch that Larisch cannot expect the American Defense Society – for which Roosevelt was honorary president – to back down from a project Larisch had hoped for, as the ADS magazine has financial backing and Larisch does not.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-12-14

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

In a private letter, Theodore Roosevelt tells David Jayne Hill that the American Defense Society is doing active work, that his cousin Philip Roosevelt is editing the paper to represent the American Defense Society, and that he has heard only favorable things about the National Security League though it is not as active as the American Defense Society.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-11-27

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt tells Ernest Poole that Philip Roosevelt recommended his novel, The Harbor, to him. Roosevelt was going to buy a copy, but now he will wait until Poole sends him one.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-03-29

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt believes this is a case (regarding military preparedness) where Harvard has to help Columbia. George W. Perkins is just trying to retain men now.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-12-17

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-21

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Recipient

Roosevelt, William Emlen, 1857-1930

Language

English

President Roosevelt tells his cousin, William Emlen Roosevelt, that he looks forward to seeing him soon, and enjoyed seeing his family recently. He asks him to tell James J. Mills that he has nothing to do with the appointment Mills wrote to him about, and that he cannot interfere.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-04

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt agrees with Emily Tyler Carow that Somerville P. Tuck is a good judge and deserves to be promoted, and has advised the Egyptian government as such. Roosevelt details some of his plans for his upcoming African safari, and asks if it would be possible to meet in Naples. Roosevelt describes a camping trip he took with “all of the younger children.” Roosevelt believes William H. Taft will be elected president.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt updates Kermit Roosevelt on the family and sends another poem from Philip Roosevelt. He laments Congress’s failure to give him four new battleships and feels that “unpatriotic” Congressional leaders are prioritizing their own interests over those of the country. Roosevelt states that although he does not think the United States will go to war with Japan, naval supremacy is necessary to deter any Japanese attack or invasion of the West Coast.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt liked Philip Roosevelt’s poem, but will not say so to him. He agrees with his cousin William Emlen Roosevelt that he likes discussing the futures of the Roosevelt boys. He thinks Ted will likely work under John Campbell Greenway. Roosevelt also tells William that he does not know much more about the legislation in Congress.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-16

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt congratulates his son Kermit on his grades. Roosevelt is sorry for Archie, as he tries very hard, but his grades are not very good. He describes a walk he recently took with Fitzhugh Lee, John McIlhenny, and Cecil Andrew Lyon. Douglas Robinson and Corinne Roosevelt Robinson are currently visiting and having a nice time. They are disappointed that Stewart Douglas Robinson has been expelled from Harvard.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-16

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt sends his son, Theodore Roosevelt, a poem written by Philip J. Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-17

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt reports to Christine Griffin Kean Roosevelt that the whole family have enjoyed having her son, Phillip J. Roosevelt, in their company, and that they have had a pleasant time at Pine Knot. Now he returns to his fight with “the beasts at Ephesus.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-12-30

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt thanks his cousin, William Emlen Roosevelt, for writing to him concerning some property, and promises to discuss the matter with his wife, Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt. Roosevelt wishes he could discuss the rate bill and coal strike with Emlen, but feels that it is likely impossible to do so.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04-04

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt tells his cousin Emlen Roosevelt that he wrote to him what he did to try to head off possible accusations that he was “acting for a go-between for a company in which my cousin was interested and the War Department.” He tells Roosevelt that he is working on the post office matter that Dr. McLane is concerned with, but wishes that McLane would contact Congressman Hill himself. Roosevelt wishes he could hear about Roosevelt’s sons, and comments on how his own family is doing.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-03-27

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919