Your TR Source
President Roosevelt believes a bodyguard would be of little use and that, if alert and resolute, a man is better able to defend himself than a bodyguard. He was pleased by William H. H. Llewellyn’s news about the regiment and hopes to see him soon.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-10-19
President Roosevelt tells Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte he is not satisfied with martial arts training being removed from the physical regimen at the Naval Academy, as these arts have benefits beyond physical exercise. He urges that they be maintained in the coming year.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-02-17
Baron Takahira summarizes a message from the Japanese government thanking President Roosevelt for his efforts for peace. From Japan’s perspective, the war with Russia is one of self-defense, and even in the face of decisive victories, Japan will not demand anything excessive in the way of cession of territory or indemnity.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-05-03
An article in the Oregonian describes a panther attack on two women in Meadows, Oregon, which they managed to escape from when one of the potential victims threw her laundry to distract the panther. This was close to the location of a panther attack the previous year, in which the panther was driven off with a shotgun.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-10-27
John J. O’Brien, an expert in jiu-jitsu that has trained President Roosevelt, was assaulted by Michael T. Bodkins and Rudolph W. Bower in Boston, Massachusetts. O’Brien successfully defended himself against the two assailants who were subsequently arrested.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-03
William Tudor writes to Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt about newspaper reports that the administration plans to overlook the explosion of the USS Maine. Tudor argues that their primary responsibility is to self-protection and that the United States should order the Spaniards to “conduct the war in a civilized war.” He warns that if the government does not respond accordingly “there will be found still greater difficulty in finding men to serve on our ships.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1898-03-26