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Charles Henry Davis requests Theodore Roosevelt authorize that he receive a copy of Victor D. Brenner’s newest portrait plaque to accompany the other portraits of Roosevelt in his collection. He intends to hang it alongside those of Abraham Lincoln and George Washington as “the three great Presidents.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-01-12
Charles J. Kintner remembered to send Theodore Roosevelt additional articles published at the same time as George Washington’s letter to the governor of Virginia. He encloses a letter from Benjamin Franklin and an article signed “Nestor,” possibly a pen name for Alexander Hamilton. Kintner believes these items will be of interest and relevance.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-01-07
George Bartholomew offers to sell Theodore Roosevelt a book containing all laws passed by the Third Congress of the United States.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-12-28
Harry Alexander Moore sends Theodore Roosevelt a poem dedicated to and inspired by him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-12-29
Charles O. Lander is glad to see the statement “Roosevelt is not dead” in the recent issue of The World. He believes the man whom Europe respects and fears is the one who should be president, regardless of party. Lander calls for setting aside party affiliations and voting for the man of experience who can serve the country’s needs. With a crisis at hand, the country needs a strong, experienced leader like Theodore Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-12-07
Ammaroy Eskridge recently visited with Mrs. Ball, the widow of the last descendent of Mary Ball, George Washington’s mother. For several years, Ball has been collecting data on the true, historical facts of Mary Ball to share with the public. Eskridge asks Theodore Roosevelt or Lyman Abbott to visit Mrs. Ball and help her. The best way to honor Washington is to defend his mother.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-10-07
Charles Francis Adams recalls a phrase Theodore Roosevelt used in a speech, ranking Robert E. Lee among other great generals, and asks if Roosevelt remembers when he said it. In a handwritten note, Roosevelt vaguely recalls having made such a statement, but cannot remember when.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-08-02
David Starr Jordan congratulates President Roosevelt on the end of his term, and praises his many accomplishments. In particular, Jordan believes he has done good in encouraging the people to be better citizens. He believes Roosevelt will be remembered as great alongside Abraham Lincoln and George Washington.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-03-04
Ambassador White recently travelled to the South of France to see the Great White Fleet, and he was highly impressed by both the vessels and the behavior of their crews. The day before the fleet departed he hosted a celebratory lunch for its commanding officers, French dignitaries, American diplomats, and American locals. White just attended a meeting in the Sorbonne amphitheater where Roosevelt will give his eagerly anticipated lecture next year, and he describes the space. On February 22 he will host representatives from the other “American countries” at a lunch honoring both George Washington’s and Abraham Lincoln’s birthdays. White hopes to encourage the celebration of this holiday in Latin American countries that Lincoln protected from European “annexation” with his adherence to the Monroe Doctrine.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-31
Arthur B. Farquhar recounts that former justice, Morgan J. O’Brien, despite being a Democrat, said that he has always admired President Roosevelt. O’Brien believes Roosevelt has done much to put down socialism and to ensure access to justice regardless of wealth. Farquhar comments that Roosevelt is well liked and appreciated by common Americans.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-19
District Judge Jones’s grandchildren thought that they should send President Roosevelt a Christmas gift, which prompted Jones to write to Roosevelt. Jones reflects on his life and career to Roosevelt, and thanks him for the good he has done for the country while in office. He sends him a small token commemorating Stonewall Jackson, which he says has no value other than being a link to the past, and that Roosevelt can therefore accept it without being put under any obligation. Goode praises Roosevelt’s integrity in not running for a third presidential term.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-22
John Carter Rose was interested in a statement that President Roosevelt said to him recently, that he was “successful in a larger portion of what [he] set out to do than any of [his] predecessors.” Rose considers all the previous presidents, and ultimately draws the comparison down to George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Washington, Rose writes, made the nation, Lincoln preserved it, and Roosevelt has caused it to adapt to twentieth century conditions. He praises the various policies that Roosevelt has instituted during his term in office.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-14
Former Rough Rider Micah John Jenkins informs President Roosevelt that he has won his battle against alcohol, and has no desire to drink anymore. To mark the occasion, he sends Roosevelt a gallon of rye whiskey. He thanks Roosevelt for his example, which inspired him to stop drinking. Jenkins also sends a photograph from his young daughter, Ruth Darling Jenkins. He discusses the decorations for the room shown in the photograph, which includes engravings of Roosevelt, General Leonard Wood, and Napoleon I.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-16
S. B. M. Young, superintendent of Yellowstone National Park, would like to be appointed Governor of the Soldiers’ Home if President Roosevelt can do so without “doing injustice to anyone.” He celebrates that Roosevelt “did fray that crazy quilt [William Jennings] Bryan to a frazzle,” and believes that his administration will go down in history on par with those of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-12
Robert W. Smith, president of Trow Directory, Printing & Bookbinding Company, expresses his interest in adding a volume of President Roosevelt’s letters and addresses to their line of books presenting the letters and addresses of several other presidents.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-23
James Ford Rhodes sends President Roosevelt a clipping from the London Times commenting on Roosevelt’s refusal to seek a third presidential term. Rhodes believes that historians will compare Roosevelt to George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. He writes that while both refused a third term, they were old at the time, while Roosevelt is in his prime and could have kept going, making his decision the more weighty. He congratulates Roosevelt on the Republican National Convention and the nomination of Secretary of War William H. Taft.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-22
Asa M. Steele reports that Wall Street forces hostile to President Roosevelt are planning to precipitate a panic. He urges Roosevelt to consider running for president, because the current Republican contenders do not have his popularity or support from the people.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-14
Joseph Hodges Choate has been studying President George Washington’s foreign policy for a speech he gave, and thought it was interesting how closely President Roosevelt’s foreign policy has been following the lines laid down in Washington’s farewell address. Choate sends Roosevelt a copy of the speech he gave.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-10
Alpheus Geer praises President Roosevelt for the good work he has done while in office, and compares him to Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. While these presidents received criticism during their time in office, they are now looked upon as the best, and Geer predicts the same will happen for Roosevelt in the wake of the financial crisis.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-12
Reginald Cleveland Coxe sends President Roosevelt a receipt for his subscription for the memorial to Augustus Saint-Gaudens. Coxe also tells Roosevelt about an interaction he had at a bank where the various bank tellers were very excited to see a letter from Roosevelt that Coxe had, and says that while Roosevelt has been criticized, he still has the support of many.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-01