Safaris

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to R. J. Cunninghame

Discussing his upcoming African safari, President Roosevelt would like to get buffalo in a spot accessible to the railroad, as he wants to ship the skins back to the United States National Museum. Roosevelt is glad that R. J. Cunninghame was able to engage Leslie J. Tarlton, and discusses proper arrangements for gun-bearers, horses, and mules. Roosevelt encloses a letter from Hugh H. Heatley inviting him to hunt on his ranch in Nairobi.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Hugh H. Heatley

President Roosevelt accepts Hugh H. Heatley’s invitation to hunt on his ranch in Nairobi. Roosevelt particularly wants to get buffalo and have the skins sent to the United States National Museum. He will not abuse Heatley’s courtesy and only try to get animals he has not gotten elsewhere. Roosevelt has sent Heatley’s letter to R. J. Cunninghame, who will be in charge of the safari.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edward North Buxton

President Roosevelt tells Edward North Buxton that he has received the knit waistcoat and shoulder-bag he sent, and expresses his appreciation for the efforts Buxton has made to help him prepare for the African safari. Roosevelt looks forward to visiting Buxton in England to tell him about the good or bad luck he will have had in Africa.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-09

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Jay White

President Roosevelt thanks John Jay White for the letter and advice about his upcoming Africa trip. Reverend W. S. Rainsford wrote to him along similar lines. Roosevelt has directed R. J. Cunninghame to hire the necessary support staff, and he mentioned the names White suggested. He hopes to begin the hunting expedition very soon after arriving in Africa, and will travel during the rainy season if at all possible. He invites White to come see him in Washington on his return from Richmond.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-04

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Jules Renkin

President Roosevelt thanks the Belgian minister of colonies, Jules Renkin, for the letters he just received. He appreciates the Belgian government’s generosity, and will not abuse their hospitality. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-07

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to R. J. Cunninghame

President Roosevelt places R. J. Cunninghame in charge of managing his safari caravan, and details his expectations for the trip. Roosevelt wants to begin hunting as quickly as possible after arriving in British East Africa and spending several weeks at Alfred E. Pease’s ranch to improve his physical fitness. Cunninghame should hire the necessary support staff and porters at his discretion. Roosevelt wants to hunt some of the “common game” near the railroad so that their skins can be easily transported, but he also hopes to kill big game and is willing to “go to any trouble” to do so.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-31

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Newland, Tarlton & Company

President Roosevelt requests that Newland, Tarlton & Company deliver the enclosed letter to his caravan manager, R. J. Cunninghame, who has instructions to buy supplies from them. Roosevelt will bring six rifles to supplement those that W. S. Rainsford left for him, and he has already sent two lots of ammunition ahead.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-31

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Kermit Roosevelt

President Roosevelt tells his son, Kermit Roosevelt, that he has tried the double-barreled Holland elephant rifle and is very impressed. However, the rifle’s recoil is powerful and he wants Kermit to practice shooting it in Africa before they begin hunting. It will be the best weapon for large game. W. S. Rainsford has warned him that hunting lions, elephants, buffalo, and rhinos is particularly dangerous and they should “take every precaution.” Roosevelt takes this advice seriously.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-31

Telegram from Theodore Roosevelt to Melville Elijah Stone

President Roosevelt informs Melville Elijah Stone that he remains certain that he does not want any journalists, even Lawrence F. Abbott, accompanying his upcoming trip. While on the steamer, Roosevelt will not personally communicate with newspapers and will request that the crew remain similarly silent about his actions.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-31

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Lawrence F. Abbott

President Roosevelt sends Lawrence F. Abbott his third address, which will be delivered at the University of Berlin. He requests that Abbott arrange for the three speeches to be published after he gives them, although the dates are not yet set. If any problems arise, Roosevelt advises Abbott to ask William Loeb for help. He has decided that he does not want any journalists, even Abbott, to accompany his safari.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to W. S. Rainsford

President Roosevelt is grateful for the guns W. S. Rainsford will leave in Africa for Roosevelt to use. He will not need any other guns. Roosevelt intends to follow the advice of the guides, Phillip H. Percival and Frederick John Jackson, and will be careful when pursuing wounded game.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-27

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Kermit Roosevelt

President Roosevelt updates his son Kermit Roosevelt on family and political matters, specifically regarding Ethel Roosevelt’s recent parties and Congress’s opposition to Roosevelt’s Secret Service plans. He extensively discusses the guns he may take along on their upcoming safari. He also remarks on the political turmoil that has marked his final months in office. In the postscript, Roosevelt describes his son Quentin Roosevelt’s truancy, for which he has punished with a “severe whipping.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-10

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Kermit Roosevelt

President Roosevelt writes to Kermit Roosevelt about life at Harvard. Roosevelt mentions finalizing speaking assignments, upcoming safari trip, and target practice with a Winchester rifle. He discusses difficulties with Congress, mentions appealing to California to avoid trouble, and details a showdown he had with the Senate. The Judiciary Committee had Herbert Knox Smith stand before the Senate to divulge confidential information. Roosevelt had to intervene and tell Chairman Clarence D. Clark they would not be told any information unless they impeached him. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-23

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Willis

President Roosevelt agrees that this is the last time John Willis will write to a president, unless Willis makes friends with Roosevelt’s successors. Roosevelt sent on the autograph to Marion Working as requested. Roosevelt thinks he will have a good time in Africa, but wishes he could hunt wolves and coyotes with Willis.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-23

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Robert Harry Munro Ferguson

President Roosevelt sends word to Robert Harry Munro Ferguson that he will be leaving public office in “a rather stormy fashion,” being attacked by both houses of Congress and by the press. James Bryce has remarked that bringing libel cases against the biggest two offenders in newspapers will be a service to the American public. Bryce and John Morley suggested Roosevelt make a statement about the British in India, which he plans to do presently. Some of Roosevelt’s English friends sent him a rifle for use on his African safari.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-17

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles Sheldon

President Roosevelt shall try to look into the actions of the honeybird, which John Burroughs also mentioned to him. Roosevelt wishes he had Charles Sheldon’s age and endurance.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-18

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Leigh S. J. Hunt

President Roosevelt is “overjoyed” to hear that Leigh S. J. Hunt’s son, Henry L. Hunt, has improved in health and discusses his Nile river travel plans for his upcoming African safari. Based on the advice of the Sirdar and John L. Harrington, Roosevelt plans to travel up the Sobat and Pibor rivers instead of the Bahr-el-Gazal. Roosevelt also reports that the Sirdar claims he can catch a white rhinoceros while in Uganda. In the postscript, Roosevelt wonders if they should bring donkeys on their river journey.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-14

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to German Emperor William II

President Roosevelt thanks German Emperor William II for the letter and book, which were presented to him by the new German ambassador Johann Heinrich von Bernstorff. Roosevelt praises the previous German ambassador, Hermann Speck von Sternburg, but says that the new ambassador appears to be a very able man. He would be pleased to accept the invitation to speak at the University of Berlin after his African safari, and hopes to meet with William II when he is there. Roosevelt additionally comments on other major events around the world, including the recent Sicilian earthquake, the progress of the Great White Fleet on its journey, and the state of affairs in China.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-02

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles D. Walcott

President Roosevelt asks Charles D. Wolcott to inform J. Alden Loring and Edmund Heller that they are not supposed to write anything for publication regarding Roosevelt’s African safari until after Roosevelt’s book and articles are published, and that this includes making sure that any of their letters home to their families are not published.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-03

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Robert Bridges

President Roosevelt returns the writing pad he likes to Robert Bridges, and asks if he can order twenty-five additional pads for him to take with him on his safari. Roosevelt also asks if Bridges can assemble various other writing supplies for him to take with him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-04