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President Roosevelt sends Ambassador Jusserand a copy of his Sorbonne lecture, and says that he will also keep copies of it himself. He would like to see Jusserand and his wife again sometime, but says that he fears that “the tennis court is laid up for the season.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-30
President Roosevelt shares his doubts about his son, Ted Roosevelt, taking a job on New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes’s staff, and encourages Ted to speak to his boss, Robert P. Perkins, about it. Roosevelt believes that at best the position would be largely a symbolic one, and at worst would commit Ted to attending events that he does not wish to attend and gain him “a certain unenviable notoriety.” Roosevelt acknowledges he may be mistaken, and again encourages Ted to speak to Perkins. Roosevelt enjoyed having his son visit recently, and provides an update on his recent activities since Ted departed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-16
President Roosevelt returns the letter to his son, Kermit Roosevelt, and tells him that he thinks it was probably well-meaning. Roosevelt is pleased that Kermit had a good time at Geneseo, and would have liked to have seen Kermit on the hunt. Winter has come to Washington, D.C., and Roosevelt has gone horseback riding. He has also tested some of the guns that he is going to bring on his safari, and thinks they are good. He proposes that he and Kermit test them together during the week of Christmas, and then pack them up for shipping. He asks Kermit if he would like to see a presentation of slides by Frank M. Chapman sometime during the holidays.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-03
President Roosevelt tells his son Archibald that the note and two-dollar bill “perfectly delighted” his brother Quentin, who is in bed with his leg in a plaster cast. Quentin used the money to buy a “fascinating little steam engine.” The rector at Groton has sent Roosevelt Archie’s last report, and commented that he is not doing as well in his studies as he could or should be; Roosevelt agrees. Roosevelt is going for a ride with Senator Henry Cabot Lodge this afternoon. Yesterday, while he was playing tennis with Secretary of the Interior James Rudolph Garfield, Assistant Secretary of State Robert Bacon, and French Ambassador J. J. Jusserand, William Loeb came out to announce that Harvard had won the football match, which made Roosevelt “as pleased as possible.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-22
President Roosevelt encloses for French Ambassador Jusserand rough drafts of two lectures. He would like Jusserand to come over tomorrow for tennis and discuss them then.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-20
President Roosevelt updates his son Kermit on the goings-on at the White House, and his plans for the coming days. He and Edith had been riding regularly until it snowed, thawed, and froze. He hopes to play tennis with General Leonard Wood, Assistant Secretary of State Robert Bacon, and Secretary of the Interior James Rudolph Garfield, although the court may be too muddy. He recently took a “scramble walk” in Rock Creek Park with Representative Nicholas Longworth, Postmaster General George von Lengerke Meyer, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Beekman Winthrop, and Ambassador Henry White. He had a dinner with African big game hunters, and wishes that Kermit could have met Sir Harry Johnston. His labor dinner is tomorrow night.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-16
President Roosevelt agrees with his son Archie that it is good that “Taft, Hughes, and Groton” were victorious. He updates Archie on his brother Quentin, who is doing very well at football and tennis, and is doing well in school. Kermit Roosevelt is home now. Roosevelt took a fall on a “scramble walk” in Rock Creek Park but was uninjured.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-08
Although President Roosevelt is proud of his daughter Ethel, he tells her that he cannot help but feel nervous when he thinks of her taking risks. He updates her on the goings-on at the White House, including tennis with the French Ambassador J. J. Jusserand, a visit from Alice and Nicholas Longworth, and some of Quentin’s exploits.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-10
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-24
The string broke on President Roosevelt’s tennis racket the first time he used it. William Loeb returns it to A.G. Spalding & Bros with the request that they restring and return it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-24
William Loeb sends President Roosevelt’s tennis rackets to A.G. Spalding & Bros to be restrung.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-29
President Roosevelt updates his son, Ted, on the goings on in the family. Among other things, he says that he does not think his cousin James Alfred Roosevelt’s marriage match is a good one, that his son Quentin Roosevelt is learning more about baseball, and that his son Archie steered into the freshman crew during a race at Groton. Roosevelt also discusses François Rabelais.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-05-12
President Roosevelt tells his son, Kermit Roosevelt, about playing tennis, and while he enjoyed it he will keep to walking for the time being for exercise due to the cold weather. Roosevelt had delivered a speech on trusts and labor to Congress. With the election coming closer, the public are beginning to pay more attention to what the candidates are saying rather than himself, and Roosevelt relished one of his last opportunities to speak before Congress.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-02-02
President Roosevelt writes to Anna Roosevelt Cowles to thank her for the lamp, and wishes her son, William Sheffield Cowles, could have been at the White House for Christmas. It was Christmas in “the usual style,” and then a three hour ride with the chattering children and Fitzhugh Lee, Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, and Secretary of State Elihu Root. They had lunch with the Lodge and Cooley families and then Roosevelt played tennis with Ambassador J. J. Jusserand, Ted Roosevelt and Kermit Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-12-25
President Roosevelt writes to Archie Roosevelt that one letter home will suffice for both parents and gives updates on his life at home with Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt. He recently had visitors for tennis and French Ambassador J. J. Jusserand brought him a medal from an artist. When he came home he brought Quentin Roosevelt bear tusks and a stuffed copperhead skin.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-10-27
President Roosevelt is disappointed Ted Roosevelt will not be able to take the classes. Roosevelt can provide letters to those he knows in Mexico City, New Mexico and Arizona for Elliott Farrell regarding ranches. Though currently quite busy, Roosevelt looks forward to an impending hunting trip in Louisiana. He tells Ted of his recent tennis matches.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-29
President Roosevelt encloses a letter for his son, Kermit Roosevelt. They have the choice of fishing in Wisconsin or duck and chicken shooting in Minnesota or Dakota. Roosevelt describes the spring weather and scenery on a ride. He is dealing with friends pressuring him to run for a third term, which he does not want to do. Roosevelt thinks the Republican Party will be able to nominate Secretary of War William H. Taft, but it is too early to call since the election is so far off. He plays tennis with J. J. Jusserand and others on days that he does not ride horses.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-05-15
President Roosevelt reports to Kermit Roosevelt that his week has been busy yet uneventful, but he wishes he had more time to exercise. He almost feels ashamed for leaving detailed work to the department heads, but it is the only way he has time to “develop the really big policies.” It was a beautiful, “real spring” day.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-05-04
President Roosevelt informs Kermit Roosevelt about the unseasonal weather they have been experiencing in Washington. He updates Kermit on his physical activities, including riding and tennis, and the family bulldog Pete, who they might rehome due to his behavior. Roosevelt hopes to complete five speeches before his visit to the Jamestown Ter-centennial, when he can take a short break.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-04-07
President Roosevelt writes his son Kermit Roosevelt at the Groton School with news of home, including details about his sister Alice Roosevelt Longworth and mother Edith Roosevelt. He also mentions several pending commissionership appointments and shares news about his pending Nobel Peace Prize award.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-01