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Theodore Roosevelt writes to Belle Roosevelt and discusses, at length, the sadness over Quentin Roosevelt’s death. Roosevelt also discusses Archie Roosevelt’s injuries and the status of the rest of the family.
1918-08-11
Theodore Roosevelt writes to Belle Roosevelt to update her on the status of the family. Kermit Roosevelt has been stricken with malaria in Italy, Archie Roosevelt has been seriously wounded in action, and Ted Roosevelt has been gassed. Roosevelt’s youngest son Quentin has made it to France and is flying missions on the front.
1918-07-01
President Roosevelt directs Secretary of the Treasury Cortelyou to promote Spanish-American War veteran Hermann W. Kuchmeister according to the accompanying executive order, if it has not already been done.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-22
J. Alden Loring congratulates Theodore Roosevelt upon a quick recovery. Archie Roosevelt was also not seriously wounded. Loring asks Roosevelt to write him a letter of recommendation. Loring has been working with the shooting and sighting of rifles.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1918-04-17
Theodore Roosevelt thanks Carter H. Harrison for the letter. Archie Roosevelt has told him all about Harrison and his hunting skills. Archie has been injured at the front and is “badly crippled.”
1918-07-23
Theodore Roosevelt and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt were able to see Archie’s wife Grace Stackpole Lockwood Roosevelt and their son Archibald Roosevelt. He thinks that Archibald looks like his father. Grace is the “dearest girl imaginable” and the Lockwoods were very understanding about Grace and Archibald visiting Sagamore Hill in May. Josh Hartwell provided more detailed information about Archie’s injury, including that he had to remain in the trenches for fourteen hours after being wounded.
1918-03-31
Rumors about Quentin Roosevelt’s death arrived on July 16 but were not confirmed until today. Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt is suffering and Flora Whitney is brokenhearted. Quentin “died as the heroes of old died.” Congress returned some Nobel Prize money to Roosevelt and he has decided to donate it to the Salvation Army. He agrees with Archie Roosevelt’s thoughts on the government’s failure to prepare for war and that many people, like Quentin, will pay with their blood. Ted Roosevelt was recently injured with a “bullet through his leg.”
1918-07-21
Theodore Roosevelt offers advice on the training and enlistment of Frances Theodora Parsons’s son, James Russell Parsons. Archibald Roosevelt was recently injured by a shell and awarded the Croix de guerre by the French.
1918-03-15
Theodore Roosevelt is “divided between pride and anxiety” after hearing that Archibald Roosevelt was awarded the Croix de guerre and wounded by shrapnel. Roosevelt will not do anything with regard to the War Department until instructed by Archie. Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt led a toast in Archie’s honor after the news of his injury. Afterwards, she led everyone in breaking their glasses, saying, “That glass shall never be drunk out of again.”
1918-03-13
Theodore Roosevelt appreciates Richard Derby’s letter, which provided the first full information on Archibald Roosevelt’s condition. Everyone is very anxious as it appears that General Pershing has agreed to assist the Allied generals, which will place Richard, Ted Roosevelt, and Quentin Roosevelt at the front. Roosevelt is proud of their service and would not want them anywhere else. Spending time with Ethel Roosevelt Derby and the children over the winter has meant a great deal to Roosevelt and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt.
1918-04-01
Theodore Roosevelt is pleased to hear from Sarah Bancroft Leavitt. Archibald Roosevelt is recovering from his wounds and is only concerned about returning to the front. Archie was awarded the French Croix de guerre and Kermit Roosevelt received the British Military Cross. Kermit has also been transferred to the American military as a captain of artillery. Ted Roosevelt and Quentin Roosevelt are fighting in France. Richard Derby is serving with the 2nd Division in France.
1918-06-01