Your TR Source
President Roosevelt writes Mark Sullivan, of Collier’s, in response to Jack London’s article recently published in the magazine. London’s article incorrectly quotes Roosevelt on multiple accounts. Although Roosevelt thoroughly disagrees with London, his disappointment lies with Collier’s for publishing such a poorly constructed and argued piece.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-09
President Roosevelt thanks Governor Hughes for the kind letter. The action he has taken regarding Roosevelt’s old friend, Dr. Newton M. Shaffer, exceeded Roosevelt’s hopes and expectations. Now Roosevelt would like Hughes to give his personal attention to John Lawrence Sullivan, who is advocating for a pardon on behalf of Edward Wise. Whatever conclusion Hughes reaches will be satisfactory.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-07
President Roosevelt introduces Governor Hughes to John Lawrence Sullivan, who wishes to draw Hughes’s attention to the case of Edward Wise, a prisoner in Sing Sing. Roosevelt knows nothing of the case, but has been a friend of Sullivan for a long time and asks that Hughes listen to what he has to say.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-30
President Roosevelt tells Brander Matthews that he does not think anyone has had as good a time in fifty years than he has, and he looks forward to having a good time in the future. He received a rabbit’s foot to take to Africa from John Lawrence Sullivan. Roosevelt is familiar with the book Lavengro, but either has not seen or did not remember the quotation about rough riders.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-02
President Roosevelt thanks French Ensor Chadwick for the letter, and compares the fight at San Juan to the boxing match between James J. Corbett and John Lawrence Sullivan, where the beginning of the fight was very difficult, but eventually the Americans gained the momentum and were assured of victory. Roosevelt sends Chadwick a copy of his book The Rough Riders, and asks him to look at the notes and letter in the last appendices. He agrees with Chadwick that Pascual Cervera y Topete acted with courage, but does not rank him quite so high as Chadwick does.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-01
President Roosevelt was pleased to help John L. Lennon, both for Lennon’s own sake, as well as the sake of John Lawrence Sullivan, his uncle. He wants Lennon to become a first-class American citizen.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-25
Kathleen Dalton explores “a little known side of” Theodore Roosevelt: his love of telling stories. Dalton identifies ghost stories, animal and hunting stories, tales from his days as a cowboy, and stories involving the Rough Riders as some of Roosevelt’s favorite topics. She also says that he liked to talk about his own adventures, such as hiking in Rock Creek Park, or discussing his political friends and foes, and she says that Roosevelt’s favorite audience for his stories was his children. Dalton identifies a number of people who were subjects of Roosevelt’s tales or who, like Rudyard Kipling, were captivated by listening to his stories.
Two photographs of Roosevelt, and an illustration of him telling a camp fire story to children, supplement the article which also has two text boxes with information about the Theodore Roosevelt Association.