Veterans

President Roosevelt addresses the crowd gathered to see him at Remington, Virginia. He expresses his pleasure at being shown the American Civil War battlefields at Manassas and Cedar Mountain, Virginia, by veterans of both the Union and Confederate armies. He concludes by saying America’s citizens are now unified, and that people North and South can be proud of their veterans who did their duties as they saw fit.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-11-03

Theodore Roosevelt will not give a full speech because he did not know they would stop at Ooltewah Junction, Tennessee. He is in the area to attend a convention of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen. Roosevelt took pleasure at seeing the Civil War battlefields in the Chattanooga area. He takes pride in the valor shown during that conflict.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-09-08

President Roosevelt begins his economic policy speech in Logansport, Indiana, by thanking the Union veterans. He highlights the importance of material prosperity for national development, particularly noting the industrial growth of the Western states. He observes that, while good laws are key, more important are the merits of the average citizen, referring to the strong, individual traits of the average Union soldier. Roosevelt also touches on the issues of maintaining a robust, honest currency and a stable but adjustable tariff policy. He expresses belief in economic policy that favors business considerations over political partisanship and that affords advantage to American industries over foreign ones. Above these considerations, though, Roosevelt asserts that any tariff change must protect the high standard of living of the American worker.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

President Roosevelt begins his economic policy speech in Logansport, Indiana, by thanking the Union veterans. He highlights the importance of material prosperity for national development, particularly noting the industrial growth of the Western states. He observes that, while good laws are key, more important are the merits of the average citizen, referring to the strong, individual traits of the average Union soldier. Roosevelt also touches on the issues of maintaining a robust, honest currency and a stable but adjustable tariff policy. He expresses belief in economic policy that favors business considerations over political partisanship and that affords advantage to American industries over foreign ones. Above these considerations, though, Roosevelt asserts that any tariff change must protect the high standard of living of the American worker.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-09-23

President Roosevelt expresses his pleasure at visiting the industrial center in Kokoma, Indiana, and highlights Indiana’s great natural resources. However, he emphasizes that “material prosperity isn’t everything”—that the real resource is the character of the American people. He advocates the creed of optimism and hope, believing that the United States can develop the continent through hard work and ingenuity despite the difficulties and dangers it faces. Above all, he praises the traits of courage, honesty, and common sense. He also expresses his gratitude towards veterans and current members of the United States Army.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-09-23

President Roosevelt thanks the local chairman, presumably a Democrat, for introducing him, saying that political party is of little importance when Americans are unified in the spirit of fairness. He notes the presence of school children in the crowd as well as veterans of the Union Army in the American Civil War, saying that the veterans’ victorious spirit lived on in the American soldiers who fought in the Philippines. He notes how evolving weapons and tactics have not changed the necessary qualities of the soldier. Benedict Arnold was a gallant and talented soldier who helped win major battles but was missing the important “root of righteousness” that eventually led to his reputation as a traitor. Similarly, laws may change, but the need for patriotic citizens with honesty, courage, and common sense remains the same.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

President Roosevelt expresses pleasure at viewing the industrial growth and natural resources of Indiana, making special note of the new free mail service in the area of Noblesville, Indiana. He addresses the rise of industrial capitalism and large-scale industrial combinations, saying that they are an inevitable and positive feature of modern prosperity. As interstate entities, they must have national regulation to ensure they serve the public good. Roosevelt also highlights the national unity created by the various military exploits shared by soldiers from all sections of the country. He closes by noting that, while good laws are important, nothing is more crucial for America’s prosperity than the “high average citizenship of the ordinary American citizen.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-09-23

In a military policy speech given before a group of soldiers and veterans of the Spanish American War, President Roosevelt stresses the need for preparedness. He says the borders of the United States, once separated from Europe and Asia by the vast oceans, have been brought closer to potential threats by modern naval technology. He insists that the United States must become very engaged in international affairs, ready to back up words with action, and he affirms his belief in the Monroe Doctrine. For the Army, he believes in small but strong regular National Guard units which can train up and lead a larger volunteer force in the event of war. He believes this would be impossible for the navy, however, as it takes years to build warships and train sailors on the “highly specialized work” of operating them; Roosevelt feels that the naval craft and crews prepared in time of peace would be the factor on which success would rest. He concludes by saying the entire nation, inland included, should be proud of the United States Navy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-09-23

In a military policy speech given before a group of soldiers and veterans of the American Civil War and Spanish-American War, President Roosevelt stresses the need for preparedness. He says the borders of the United States, once separated from Europe and Asia by the vast oceans, have been brought closer to potential threats by modern naval technology. He insists that the United States, now a world power, must become very engaged in international affairs, ready to back up words with action, and he affirms his belief in the Monroe Doctrine. For the army, he believes in small but strong regular National Guard units which can train up and lead a larger volunteer force in the event of war. He believes this would be impossible for the navy, however, as it takes years to build warships and train sailors on the “highly specialized work” of operating them; Roosevelt feels that the warcraft and crews prepared in time of peace would be the factor on which success would rest. He concludes with anecdotes and a message on the need for citizens and soldiers to do their duty every day and not just in moments of glory.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-09-23

A large angel of peace stands atop a monument labeled “Grant,” on which a Union veteran and a Confederate veteran are placing wreaths labeled “North” and “South.”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1897-04-28

Print shows a veteran Confederate soldier on the left and a veteran Union soldier on the right shaking hands with a veteran of the Spanish-American War in the center.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1899-05-31

David B. Hill places a cap labeled “Gen’l Jones” on an old man’s head and hands him a sword labeled “Baltimore Blade.” The old man is wearing a sandwich board that states “Hill and Jones Political Outfitters, Opposition to Monopoly in the Hero Line! – Look at our War Record before purchasing elsewhere! – Try Jones’s Baltimore Brand! Jones pays the freight!!! – Don’t Forget that Jones is a General, too.” Hanging on the right are “Hancock’s Uniform” and “Sheridan’s Uniform.” In the background is another old man wearing a cap labeled “Gen’l Carr” standing outside the office of “Davenport and Carr Political Outfitters.” He is wearing a sandwich board that states “Carr’s Pat. B. Shirt – Dont deal with Traitors and Rebels! – Patronize the Old Veteran!” Mounted on the board is a bloody shirt. Caption: D. B. Hill “Here, Jones! – be a veteran, can’t you? You sail out there, too, and do some hero business for me and yourself!”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1885-10-28

Draft of a speech with handwritten corrections. Vice President Roosevelt praises Vermont and its people for the services they rendered during the American Civil War. He views the war as bringing together a diverse range of people to fight for a “lofty ideal.” At the war’s conclusion, the soldiers returned to civilian life with a sense of duty well done and a feeling of community interest that would eventually extend even to “the gallant men who wore the grey.” Roosevelt holds the Civil War veterans up as a model to follow and shows how recent American conflicts have taught similar lessons in a lesser way.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1901-09-05

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Charles H. McConnell for his letter to Mr. Dawes. He appreciates McConnell’s support because McConnell is a good citizen and a veteran of the Iron Brigade.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1904-11-02

Civil Service Commissioner Roosevelt inquires if General Wilson will be visiting Washington, D.C., in the near future.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1890-02-21

Vice President Roosevelt congratulates General Johnson on the monument commissioned in his honor and expresses his reverence for Civil War servicemen. Roosevelt also describes a particular meeting in Oklahoma where he marched alongside Civil War veterans and felt especially “stirred.”

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1901-07-07

Lyrics to a song celebrating the spirit of Union soldiers who fought in the American Civil War. Now these veterans must stand by President Roosevelt just as they stood by President Lincoln.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902

John Davis Long extends an invitation to President Roosevelt to attend the Grand Army of the Republic’s national encampment in Boston, an honor he says every Republican president has completed.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-02-11

Eugene Griffin requests Theodore Roosevelt’s approval to use his donation to purchase a flag for the Command of the Spanish War Veterans.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-12-12

Secretary of Commerce and Labor Cortelyou writes to President Roosevelt regarding the question raised in Roosevelt’s letter about a veteran preference Executive Order. Cortelyou encloses a memorandum from Commissioner of Corporations James Rudolph Garfield.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-08-09