War and family

Kathleen Dalton explores Theodore Roosevelt’s fascination with war and looks at episodes in his personal life and upbringing that may have led to his preoccupation with war. Dalton says that Roosevelt was greatly affected by the Civil War, especially by war stories from his uncle James Bulloch and from his father’s ties to Union leaders like Abraham Lincoln. She also says that Roosevelt’s need to overcome his childhood asthma and other health problems molded his fighting spirit.

Two pictures of Roosevelt with Leonard Wood are on the third page of the article.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1980

Flora Whitney, Quentin Roosevelt’s fiance, visited for dinner, and Theodore Roosevelt found her to be the “dearest girl.” Quentin is very fortunate. Roosevelt has been disappointed that he could not join the war effort but these feelings have been swept away by “immense pride” in his sons. He hopes to continue working until his sons come home so that he can start Archibald Roosevelt and Quentin out all right. Then he will retire because an “elderly male Cassandra” can do little work and is more of a nuisance. Roosevelt’s new book, The Foes Of Our Own Household, will soon be published and dedicated to his children and their spouses. Flora will receive her own copy with a special inscription.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1917-09-01

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt has been receiving letters from all his sons, except Quentin Roosevelt. However, Quentin’s movement have been tracked through the use of outside sources and information from Flora Whitney. Roosevelt is pleased that Quentin will be near Tommy Hitchcock and he dined with Hitchcock’s parents yesterday. Ethel Roosevelt Derby and Richard Derby will be returning at the end of the week. Richard is fretting at his inability to get overseas and Roosevelt is going to speak with Surgeon General Gorgas to see if anything can be done. Roosevelt has been kept busy with speeches and articles but feels that now is a time when only action counts.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1917-09-10

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt encourages Quentin Roosevelt to stick with the “uncongenial work” even though he would rather be flying. If Quentin truly decides that he is being mistreated, Roosevelt can try and help as long as he knows exactly what Quentin wants. Roosevelt visited the Mineola aviation ground and was taken up on a plane with a new engine design. He thought it was better but is unsure how it compares to planes at the front. Richard Derby is at Yaphank, New York, where the new draftees are arriving. Roosevelt is sending a copy of his new book. A copy was also sent to Flora Whitney.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1917-09-17

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt encloses one of Flora Whitney’s kind letters so that Quentin Roosevelt can see her kindness towards his parents. Five of the grandchildren are staying at Sagamore Hill. Roosevelt takes the older children to visit the “fascinating pigs” and is often driven to distraction by the babies because he just wants to play with them. Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt is well and Roosevelt will continue to hold down his “second rate job” until his children return from overseas. He is still trying to help the war effort and make things unpleasant for “Hearst and La Follette and the other Huns within our gates.”

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1917-10-30

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Ethel Roosevelt Derby and Richard Derby have returned home after a month’s absence. Edith Roosevelt Derby was christened last Sunday and Theodore Roosevelt represented Archibald Roosevelt as godfather. Mr. Monroe is “behaving admirably” but wants to get to the front. Roosevelt wishes his son a happy twentieth birthday. William Sheffield Cowles hopes to join the armed forces in March and Roosevelt thinks that Cowles should join the Marines.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1917-11-09

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt received a complimentary letter from a New York policeman whose son is in the squad that Quentin Roosevelt reorganized. Roosevelt attended an Allied bazaar as Corinne Roosevelt Robinson had a booth for the Fatherless Children of France. He is generally opposed to bazaars as they have a “vapid country-fair” atmosphere and tend to waste money in order to make a little. Grace Stackpole Lockwood Roosevelt is visiting and brought some of Archibald Roosevelt’s letters. The letters offer a glimpse into the trenches but are full of “violent truthtelling” that Roosevelt has warned Archie not to put in writing. He continues to make occasional speeches but feels very useless during wartime.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1917-12-07

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

A letter from Banner Shull, who had served in the motor company commanded by Quentin Roosevelt, was printed in an Ohio newspaper and was very complimentary of Quentin’s leadership. The family is “proud as peacocks” of the various tributes Quentin has received. Grace Stackpole Lockwood Roosevelt, Ethel Roosevelt Derby, and the two Derby children are staying at Sagamore Hill. Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt is “not very strong” but is “just as pretty as possible.” On Saturday, Roosevelt attended a dinner for Ambassador Jusserand. He then spent the night at Corinne Roosevelt Robinson’s home and was able to see Senator Lodge and General Wood.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1917-12-10

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt encourages Quentin Roosevelt to write more often to his family and fiance, Flora Whitney. He cautions that as an “infrequent correspondent,” Quentin could lose Flora. Quentin should write interesting letters and love letters at least three times per week under all circumstances. There should be enough letters to allow for half of them to be lost.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1917-12-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt was sorry to hear that Quentin Roosevelt contracted pneumonia and had a melancholy Christmas. At Sagamore Hill, the holiday was enlightened by Richard Derby, Jr., and Edith Roosevelt Derby. Roosevelt is indignant that Ted Roosevelt and Archie Roosevelt have suggested that Quentin is an embusque, a person seeking to avoid military service. He doubts that they were being serious and notes several positive statements that have appeared in print from men that had served with Quentin. Roosevelt encourages Quentin to write steadily to his mother and Flora Whitney. He continues to do nothing; occasionally writing or speaking as poor substitutes for action. Roosevelt hopes that his work will help remedy some of the army’s shortcomings and speed up the war.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-01-18

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt spent four days in Washington, D.C., with Alice Roosevelt Longworth and Representative Nicholas Longworth. Roosevelt was very busy meeting with politicians, journalists, and military officers. It was difficult for Edith as many of her old friends had grown old or died. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hitchcock visited and are very proud of their son, Tommy. Hitchcock had written his parents that he has been practicing shooting all the time, and Roosevelt asks if Quentin has been able to practice. Quentin’s recent letters have been interesting, and Roosevelt encourages Quentin to write regularly to his mother and to Flora Whitney.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-01-27

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

A “regular winter” is upon Sagamore Hill. Theodore Roosevelt exercises a little, speaks once or twice a week regarding the war, and writes for the Kansas City Star. He hopes he is doing a little good. The Republicans appear willing to accept Roosevelt’s leadership for the fall campaign to the extent of speeding up the war and only accepting the “peace of complete victory.” Alice Roosevelt Longworth is visiting and is “as amusing and interesting as ever.” Representative Longworth has delivered a strong speech on the military situation. Quentin should be pleased that he is overseas and not being delayed in some camp. Roosevelt wishes that President Wilson had been patriotic, just, and generous enough to accept Roosevelt’s service. However, the essential matter is that his sons have grasped the chance to “prove your truth.”

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-02-03

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt is unsure if Quentin Roosevelt has been able to get to the front but is pleased that he passed through the course at the French shooting school. American shipbuilding and aircraft production are speeding up, but Roosevelt is bitter when he thinks of the men who had to “pay with their blood” because the government was not prepared for war. He continues to advocate for action and preparedness for the future. However, the government is more interested in combating protesters against government inefficiency than those who are indirectly aiding Germany. Archibald Roosevelt’s wound has attracted wide attention.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-04-08

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt is glad that Quentin Roosevelt passed through the French training school as he will be available for the front when American forces receive aircraft. Roosevelt has difficulty restraining himself when those responsible for American military shortcomings lie about their complacency and even boast that being unprepared was meritorious. However, many people are learning of the situation and are humiliated at the limited role the United States has been able to play. Dr. Mason, who has seen Archibald Roosevelt, will be visiting and letters have been received from Archie and Ted Roosevelt.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-04-14

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Quentin Roosevelt’s letter from March 29 has arrived, and Theodore Roosevelt is indignant at the lack of fighter planes and machine guns. Quentin has been a “perfect trump,” and hopefully he will be given some active air service at the front. Ted Roosevelt is likely in the thick of the fighting. Kermit Roosevelt has been transferred to the American military as a captain of artillery. Grace Stackpole Lockwood Roosevelt, Archibald Roosevelt, Edith Roosevelt Derby, and Richard Derby Jr., are staying at Sagamore Hill.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-04-25

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

The Roosevelt family love Quentin Roosevelt and think of him often.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919