Your TR Source
Although President Roosevelt now understands why Theodore Andrea Cook wrote him, he does not wish to become involved in the controversy between the United States and Great Britain regarding the London Olympics.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-17
President Roosevelt sternly rebukes Theodore Andrea Cook, both for the offensive language in the letter he sent, and for the actions of the English officials in the 1908 Olympics. Roosevelt is especially angry about the disqualification of John C. Carpenter from the 400 meter run on what he believes are false accusations of fouling the English athlete Wyndham Halswelle. Conversely, in the marathon, the Italian Dorando Pietri was initially declared the winner over American Johnny Hayes, despite blatant violations of the rules. For the sake of maintaining good relations with England, Roosevelt does not wish for this letter to be made public, and has warned American athletes and managers not to openly criticize the officials. However, he wants it to be made clear that he does not approve of what happened.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-20
President Roosevelt responds to Baron Desborough’s request for a United States commissioner to the Olympic Games which will be held in London shortly. Roosevelt has appointed James E. Sullivan as the United States Commissioner.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-03
President Roosevelt has appointed James E. Sullivan to represent the United States government at the Olympic Games in Athens in 1906.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-03-17
William Loeb sends Julian W. Curtiss a letter from President Roosevelt officially designating James E. Sullivan as the American representative at the Athens Olympic Games. He asks Curtiss to pass the letter on to Sullivan.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-03-19
President Roosevelt has enclosed James E. Sullivan’s response about the matter referred to in Lord Desborough’s letter. Roosevelt wants to know what it is Desborough would like him to do after he reads the letter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-31
Theodore Andrea Cook apologizes for writing to President Roosevelt about the Olympics again, but explains that he addresses Roosevelt as President of the American Olympic Committee, “as I should have been forced to address the President of the Olympic Committee of any other nation under similar circumstances.” He encloses materials about some trouble at Harvard that he believes Roosevelt will be interested in, and attributes this in part to the men who have served as spokespeople for the United States Olympic Committee.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-04
Assistant Secretary of State Robert Bacon has informed Secretary of State Root that James E. Sullivan was made an official representative of the United States at the Olympics because of Caspar Whitney’s appeal to President Roosevelt. This could potentially put the United States into the difficult position of either apologizing to England or justifying Sullivan’s “undoubted misbehavior.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11
Ambassador Reid encloses an official statement from The Times regarding the controversy between the United States and Great Britain at the London Olympics. Reid does not know much about it, but believes that prolonging the discussion about it will only hurt relations between the two countries. Reid also encloses an article from the Telegraph that places blame for this incident on James E. Sullivan, president of the Amateur Athletic Union in the United States.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-18
Theodore Andrea Cook explains to President Roosevelt the reasons behind his writing to the White House regarding the controversy raised by officials from the American Olympic Committee and the London Olympics. Cook believes that the letter from James E. Sullivan accusing British officials of treating American athletes unfairly misrepresents the situation. England’s Amateur Athletic Association has investigated the matter; Cook privately sends Roosevelt rough drafts of the findings, but asks that they be kept private until they are formally released. Cook will keep Roosevelt’s letter private.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-02
British critic Theodore Andrea Cook forwards two books on the Olympic Games to President Roosevelt. He “was obliged to publish the facts” about the controversial 400-meter race. Unless Americans forget certain incidents, Cook warns that American athletes will not be welcomed at British tracks. Cook apologizes for any perceived rudeness to the American contingency and assures Roosevelt of his and his colleagues’ respect.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-08
Whitelaw Reid updates President Roosevelt on diplomatic affairs in London. Reid has spoken with several British authorities regarding Roosevelt’s upcoming African safari. The Japanese Ambassador to Great Britain, Jutarō Komura, met with Reid at a luncheon given for members of the Olympic committee and emphasized that he and the Japanese Emperor recognized the United States as a friend. The Chinese Ambassador held a dinner and expressed friendly regard toward the United States. Reid provides a detailed description of two controversial Olympic races in London: in the 400 meter race, an American was disqualified for breaking the rules, and in the marathon, the Italian winner was disqualified in favor of an American. Reid notes that the American athletes, while somewhat justified in their frustrations, were seen by the British press as ill-mannered. Finally, Reid says he doubts that Roosevelt can make private visits to Paris and London on his way back from Africa without giving offense to government officials who would expect a state visit.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-11
In a statement published in the London Times, the Amateur Athletic Association in Great Britain responds to “unfair and untrue statements” about the conduct of the Olympics in the American press. The American Amateur Athletic Union accused the A.A.A. of unfairness and poor conduct in several matters, objecting in particular to the disqualification of John C. Carpenter in the 400 meter final. The A.A.A. denies any claims of unfairness.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-17
The London Telegraph reports on the American Amateur Athletic Union’s “campaign of misrepresentation and abuse” following the Olympics in London. In particular, the Union’s president, James E. Sullivan, has spoken out against English officials and criticized the British Amateur Athletic Association’s running of the games, especially in regard to the disqualification of John C. Carpenter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-18
The author of this letter to the editor disapproves of American Olympic officials James E. Sullivan, Gustavus T. Kirby, and Joseph B. McCabe, and the effect they have had on the culture of the United States. The author includes a clipping from a Boston newspaper which they say displays an event of “tasteless vulgarity” organized by Harvard University and Yale University, in which the King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra of Great Britain were shown “the grossest disrespect.” The accompanying clipping which is quoted seems to describe an initiation ceremony to a Harvard club that pokes fun at the conclusion of the 1908 Olympic Marathon, with students dressed as Dorando Pietri, Johnny Hayes, and members of the royal family.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-18
President Roosevelt scribbles notes to himself for items to bring, which are mostly books: The Olympic Games at Athens by James E. Sullivan, The Government of England by A. Lawrence Lowell, Waterloo 1815: Captain Mercer’s Journal, National and Social Problems by Frederic Harrison, and short stories by C. Grant La Farge and Will N. Harben.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908