Your TR Source
A memorandum (in the handwriting of Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary) describing the creation of a Navy civilian training program. Roosevelt considers the training cruises to be “of the highest importance.”
1916
In the unlikely event of war with Mexico, Theodore Roosevelt requests permission to raise a division of cavalry similar to the Rough Riders of the Spanish-American War. He summarizes his plan for creating the unit and argues in favor of its potential effectiveness.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-03-14
Theodore Roosevelt is finding it difficult to be courteous to his Outlook colleagues due to their “unutterably silly” views on the arbitration treaties. They want to agree to arbitrate everything because it is unlikely that the issues that the United States would refuse to arbitrate will ever be submitted for arbitration. Roosevelt compares the issue to the tense situation in Europe that he believes will only be peacefully resolved if Germany concludes that France is willing to fight and Great Britain is ready to provide support. He knows that the German war plans involve flank marches through Belgium and Switzerland even though Germany has treaties with these nations guaranteeing their territories.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-12
Theodore Roosevelt discusses his personnel goals if he receives permission to raise a division to go to war against Mexico.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-07-01
Theodore Roosevelt denies statements made by Guenther Thomas that during his presidency Roosevelt issued a memorandum suggesting that the United States participate in a European war against Germany in order to end German territorial ambitions. Thomas’ statements are a “deliberate, malicious and willful untruth.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-08-04
Theodore Roosevelt has not spoken publicly about German soldiers because the facts are not clear. From the information he has received, it appears that “very great barbarities” have been committed as part of a plan to terrorize civilians. These plans were “encouraged from high up.” The evidence is overwhelming that Germany had a long standing plan to invade Belgium upon the commencement of hostilities with France. Belgium desired to avoid war and would not have let France, Great Britain, or Germany violate her territory. Roosevelt wants citizens to act as good Americans and be “United States and nothing more.” The worst thing that can happen is the perpetuation of “division based on differences of creed or differences of racial origin.” Americans should strive for the betterment of mankind and judge each nation by its conduct.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-02-08
Theodore Roosevelt refutes statements made by James M. Beck regarding Roosevelt’s actions around the time of the Spanish-American War. He denies advocating the sending of the Atlantic fleet to intercept and destroy the Spanish fleet without a declaration of war. He recommended warning Spain that sending the fleet to the West Indies would be considered a declaration of war and that the United States would act accordingly. Roosevelt also denies saying that the Assistant Secretary of the Navy should be made the “general Admiral of the Navy” with precedence over all other admirals. He suggests Beck is attempting to deliberately spread falsehoods and gives Franklin Spencer Edmonds permission to show his letter to Beck or anyone else who heard Beck’s statements. Roosevelt does not believe it is necessary to publish his response to Beck.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1914-11-19
Theodore Roosevelt does not believe there can be a satisfactory peace until the wrongs against Belgium have been redressed. He thinks that most Germans acted out of an “honorable fear,” but a small portion, including many German leaders, have pursued an aggressive foreign policy regardless of the rights of other nations and international morality. Belgium has been ruined and Roosevelt wants them to receive reparations and a guarantee that the wrongs will not be repeated. He agrees that Russians are backwards but argues that liberal ideas are gaining ground and that a liberal Russia will prevent “Asiatic rule over Europe.” Roosevelt is not a pacifist and seeks peace by “putting international force behind an international desire to secure at least a reasonable approximation toward justice and fair play.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1914-10-03
Granville Fortescue has just read Human Bullets, an account of the Japanese attack on Port Arthur by a Japanese company officer. He believes that the book reveals that machine guns and search lights are particularly useful for forcing a Japanese retreat.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-02-05
Journalist John Callan O’Laughlin relates the “current diplomatic opinion” of Russia, Japan, and Brazil to William Loeb. O’Laughlin says a Russian military attaché, Colonel N. N. Raspopoff, told him he has heard that Japan is preparing for war, and Russia is preparing diplomatic policies with this in mind. Raspopoff does not feel Japan has the money for a war against the United States, and has more to gain from focusing on Korea and Manchuria. In Brazil, war between Japan and the United States is seen as inevitable, and Brazil wishes to support the United States and open her ports to the United States fleet on the way to the Pacific. A friend of O’Laughlin’s who is close with people at the Japanese embassy tells him Japan does not want war.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-07
Secretary of War Taft sends President Roosevelt a report, prepared by the Joint Army and Navy Board, outlining what steps the United States should take should war with Japan become imminent.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-06-22
Secretary of the Navy Moody asks Rear Admiral Coghlan if the Panamanian forces are in the optimal positions for intelligence gathering and defense of the Canal Zone and elsewhere if Colombia attacks. Moody would also like to know if the Panamanians have been able to confirm intelligence about transportation on the Atrato River.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-03-06
Rear Admiral Coghlan reports to Secretary of the Navy Moody about intelligence from agents in Cartegena, Colombia, that General Daniel Ortiz is planning an expedition into Panama. Coghlan outlines probable ships and the path the incursion will take via the Atrato River. Coghlan speculates that there may not be enough money to fund the expedition.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-03-03
Captain Haan reports information received from two Indian scouts that the Colombian force at Acanti is over 2,000 men, with over 4,000 in the region. Indian chiefs have been asked to supply 400 canoes. Word from Cartegena is that more troops are coming and will attack with or without orders to do so.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-02-19
During a visit to Washington, D.C., on January 22, 1918, Theodore Roosevelt helps those urging war reorganization and the speedup of war work. Roosevelt appears with an unidentified man standing and talking on the steps outside an unspecified building.
Library of Congress Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound
1918-01-22
Commissioner Roosevelt appreciates Captain Cowles’s letter to Ted Roosevelt and has been enjoying the Hakluyt volumes. He is interested in the Venezuelan crisis and does not want the government to back down. If there is a war with Great Britain, Roosevelt intends to take part.
1895-12-22
Edith Roosevelt has traveled to Tampa to see the regiment, including Colonel Roosevelt, off to Cuba. He notes that they will have to leave eight troops behind but he is proud to be part of such an eager group and he is very busy. He is most pleased with the way John Jacob Astor has risen to this challenge.
1898-06-07
Theodore Roosevelt updates Anna Roosevelt Cowles on the preparations for sending his regiment to Cuba and on the whereabouts of the Roosevelt family’s friends who are in the armed forces.
1898-05-08
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt writes that he is staying in Washington temporarily and is organizing forty men for the early effort in what will become the Spanish-American War. He expects to leave shortly; William Sheffield Cowles is already aboard the USS Topeka. Edith Roosevelt’s health continues to improve but she worries over his departure.
1898-05-05
Theodore Roosevelt agrees with Archie Roosevelt’s view of the war, although he does not think it will last as long as Archie does. Roosevelt writes of how the elderly regular officers are no longer suited for this war and how the volunteer troops are better prepared in his own unit. He also mentions how pleased they are with Grace Stackpole Lockwood Roosevelt.
1917-09-08