William II, German Emperor, 1859-1941

John A. Gable begins the “Book Notes” column with a review of Sylvia Jukes Morris’s biography Edith Kermit Roosevelt: Portrait of a First Lady. In doing so, he provides a shorter, but still complete examination of Roosevelt’s life, and highlights the research Morris did utilizing letters, Roosevelt’s diary, and interviews.

Three pictures of Edith Roosevelt are included in the review: one considered the favorite of her husband, Theodore Roosevelt; a drawing by John Singer Sargent; and a third of Edith Roosevelt with Lou Henry Hoover, the wife of Herbert Hoover.

In Gable’s following review of Frederick W. Mark’s Velvet on Iron: The Diplomacy of Theodore Roosevelt, Gable places the work in the context of other studies of Roosevelt and argues that it represents a further step in an ongoing reappraisal of Roosevelt. He quotes extensively from Marks and from Edmund Morris’s review of the work.

A picture of Roosevelt at his desk at Sagamore Hill accompanies the review.

Barbara W. Tuchman examines Theodore Roosevelt’s thoughts on, and conduct of, foreign policy during the Spanish-American War and during his presidency. She shows both the belligerent and diplomatic sides of his nature by looking at his handling of the Perdicaris-Raisuli affair in 1904 and his relationship with Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany. Tuchman also compares Roosevelt’s views with those of the long-time president of Harvard, Charles W. Eliot.

The invitation to the symposium at Harvard featuring Tuchman is reproduced on the second page of her article.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Notice about the dedication of the Richards-Theodore Roosevelt Room at the Mugar Memorial Library at Boston University in May 1978. The room will house an extensive Theodore Roosevelt Collection donated by Paul C. Richards. The notice lists the speakers and gives a brief synopsis of their remarks. It provides background on Richards, describes the contents of the collection, and quotes from Richards’s remarks.

Photographs of the six speakers at the dedication services and of the display cases housing the collection accompany the notice.

Theodor Körner expresses his support of Theodore Roosevelt and reminds him that he was his military attaché the previous May. Körner sends military literature to Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-14

In his will, Karuna Chandra Chowdhuri, who believes himself to be the rightful king of the United Kingdom, bequeaths his “possessions or lauded properties” to the “great personage” who tried to help him, Theodore Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-10

A poem by Reverend Stubenvoll that refers to Theodore Roosevelt as “teddy bear” and recounts his accomplishments.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-07

British King Edward VII has recently been traveling in Germany and visiting with German Emperor William II, and seems to consider his visit a success. The visit is not likely to cause radical shifts in policy in either nation, but “any mitigation of frigidity or acerbity int he official relations of two great countries is to be welcomed most heartily in the interests both of tranquility and of business.” Emphasizing this point, the article mentions several recent events that showcase a need for a good working relationship between Great Britain and Germany, including relations with Turkey. Discussions between the two monarchs may have also turned to Russia, where Russian Emperor Nicholas II’s ministers have resolved to provide some measure of land reform to the peasants.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-17

President Roosevelt’s personal letter to German Emperor William II has been sent to American Ambassador Charlemagne Tower to deliver.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-01-05

TR returns from his African hunting trip through the countries of Sudan, France, Denmark, Norway, Germany, Great Britain, and finally his reception in New York City. There are views of: 1) his riverboat on the Nile River in Sudan; 2) TR’s visit in Paris with French Ambassador Jules Jusserand, Gen. Jean B. Dalstein, American Ambassador Robert Bacon, and Mrs. Bacon; his trip to Issy-les-Moulineaux; TR reviewing French troops with Jusserand, Bacon, and Dalstein at Vincennes on Apr. 27, 1910; and TR leaving the University of Paris (Sorbonne) on Apr. 23, 1910; 3) TR with Prince Christian and others in Denmark May 2-3, 1910; 4) TR and King Haakon in Christiania (now Oslo) on May 4-6, 1910; 5) views of Berlin including the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag; TR, Kaiser Wilhelm, the Kaiserin, and others leaving the University of Berlin on May 12, 1910

Collection

Library of Congress Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound

Creation Date

1910

A second portion of a movie showing TR’s return from his African hunting trip, highlighting his time in Great Britain, and finally his reception in New York City. There are views of: 1) the funeral cortege at Windsor on May 20, 1910; identified in the processional, left to right, walking in rows are: Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany, King George V of England, and the Duke of Connaught; the Duke of Cornwall (later King Edward VIII) and Prince Albert (later King George VI); two rows of the King’s aides; King Alfonso XII of Spain, King George I of Greece, and King Haakon VII of Norway; King Manuel II of Portugal, King Frederik VIII of Denmark, and King Ferdinand I of Bulgaria; Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, King Albert I of Belgium, and Prince Yusuf Izzedin of Turkey; the Duke of Aosta, Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovitch of Russia, and Prince Sadanaru Fushimi of Japan; the Crown Prince of Rumania (later King Carol II), the Duke of Sparta (later King Constantine I of Greece), and probably Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria; Crown Prince of Serbia (later Peter I), Duke Albrecht of Wurtemberg, and Prince Henry of the Netherlands; the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the Grand Duke of Hesse, and Prince Henry of Prussia; Crown Prince George of Saxony, the Duke of Saxe-Coburg, and Prince Charles (later King Gustav VI) of Sweden; probably the Prince of Waldeck, probably Prince Tsai-tao of China, and Prince Mohammed Ali of Egypt; Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein, Prince Arthur of Connaught, and Prince Albert of Schleswig-Holstein; Prince Alexander of Battenburg; Prince George of Cumberland, and the Duke of Fife; TR is visible at the end of the procession; 2) TR’s arrival in New York City, his greeting by Mayor William J. Gaynor, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Henry Cabot Lodge, and William Loeb, his speech at the Battery, and the parade in his honor.

Collection

Library of Congress Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound

Creation Date

1910

President Roosevelt introduces President Benjamin Ide Wheeler of the University of California to Ambassador Hill. Roosevelt hopes Wheeler will be introduced to the German Emperor and his letter shown to demonstrate confidence in Wheeler.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-31

President Roosevelt wears “the mailed fist” and points at German Emperor William II wearing “the strenuous life” badge and his “grandfather’s sword.” The former stands on “Kiel,” while the latter stands on “Oyster Bay.”

Comments and Context

Through the years many observers, not least among them cartoonists, noted affinities or at least similarities between President Theodore Roosevelt and the German Emperor, Kaiser Wilhelm II. The theme was inviting: beyond moustaches, both men were pugnacious; had military associations; were historians and scholars; and possessed of what some people considered egos. 

Roosevelt admired Wilhelm, but the feelings were tempered with wariness — like many who knew the monarch, Roosevelt though his competency overblown — and a suspicion that his Germany could be a force for continental peace, and not an inevitable war.

German Emperor William II looks at President Roosevelt. Caption: The Kaiser–And you mean to say that you are permitted to give out an expression of opinion whenever the spirit moves you?

comments and context

Comments and Context

Throughout his presidency, Theodore Roosevelt always handled Wilhelm II, the German kaiser, with deference and skilled diplomacy. Apart from the emperor’s alleged delusions of grandeur (such as when he forced the resignation of the respected Chancellor Otto von Bismarck early in his reign, in 1890), he managed Germany’s dilemma as an emerging world power after other countries had gobbled up colonies and sea lanes. Over trade rights in Morocco, and other issues, Roosevelt the peace-maker intervened and might have averted a European war, for at least several years.

The “Reichstag” runs after “the Kaiser” with a switch and says, “Willyum! Come here!” Meanwhile, President Roosevelt smokes a cigar that puffs out “speeches, statements, letters.” On the ground is a cigarette that is smoking “interview.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

One of the notable features of the 1908 presidential campaign was the participation of Theodore Roosevelt. He was not a candidate. As the incumbent president, tradition and propriety of the time forbade him from making speeches. Politicians like Roosevelt and William Jennings Bryan — who was the Democratic candidate in 1908, opposing the actual Republican candidate, William H. Taft — enjoyed giving stump and railroad-car speeches and were known to deliver twenty or more in a day. But as the president, Roosevelt was restrained.

“Congress” steps on “that message” and holds a “resentment of Secret Service clause” and thrusts a fist a President Roosevelt, who has a “How to Hunt in Africa” book beside him. In the background, Emperor William II laughs.

comments and context

Comments and Context

A forgotten kerfuffle of President Roosevelt’s last months in office was an incident that attracted great, if brief, public interest. It was a matter that was not destined to be controversial, which might be said of some dust-ups that attended the personality who was Roosevelt.

The writer of the article comments about heightened security on royal train journeys, which he believes is a response to the assassination of President William McKinley. The article includes a story highlighting the superstition of the royals.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-11-08

Ambassador Reid had previously gifted President Roosevelt the originals of two Punch cartoons that he had enjoyed, but was still working on obtaining two others. He was subsequently contacted by Edward Tennyson Reed, the artist of the second pair, who was not able to get the originals to give to Roosevelt, but instead offered to redraw the cartoons. One of these Reid sent with his wife, Elisabeth Mills Reid, but mistakenly thought he had sent the other as well. He just discovered the second of the pair, and now sends it to Roosevelt in the diplomatic pouch.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-16

Three photographs of the German royal family’s Mediterranean trip. In the first photograph, German Emperor William II, his wife Empress Auguste Viktoria, and their children Princess Viktoria Luise and Prince August Wilhelm disembark from a boat at Messina. The second photograph shows the same group on a carriage ride in Syracuse. The third photograph likely depicts Achillion Palace in Corfu, the family’s summer home.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908

Ambassador Sternburg adds to the statements he made to President Roosevelt yesterday: German Emperor William II believes both the United States and Germany should separately inform the Sultan of Morocco they would like a meeting of the interested parties in the current crisis over the status of Morocco.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-07

German Emperor William II wants several representative American ecclesiastics to attend the inauguration of a new cathedral in Berlin on February 27. He asked that President Roosevelt nominate the delegates. Secretary of State Hay explained the American separation of church and state. Instead of referring the matter to Roosevelt, he suggested the German Embassy communicate with the leading American religious bodies. There is adequate time for Roosevelt to take up the matter if he so chooses.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-28