Your TR Source
Theodore Roosevelt confirms receipt of publisher William Bailey Howland’s letter and explains the circumstances behind a piece of correspondence Howland received from President Woodrow Wilson.
1915-06-17
Theodore Roosevelt sends thanks to Frank Lambert Dingley for sending him a number of editorials. He also declines an invitation to Maine.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-07-15
Theodore Roosevelt discusses the duty of the American people to stand up and be heard if they believe in the Progressive cause. He explains the corruption that both the Republican and Democratic parties have allowed to enter into American politics and how a vote for the Progressive Party will combat that. He also explains recent testimony in Congress given by Pennsylvania Senator Boies Penrose and John D. Archbold of Standard Oil Company. While those two men were testifying against Roosevelt, they were in fact testifying for actions taken by Cornelius Newton Bliss when he was treasurer of the Republican Party.
Library of Congress Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound
1912-09-22
Theodore Roosevelt accuses Woodrow Wilson of defining liberty as only an historical term and not understanding what it means to 20th century America. Wilson’s idea of liberty uses the power of the trusts and big business to oppress the workers of the country.
Library of Congress Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound
1912-09-22
Theodore Roosevelt compliments Robert Grant on his recent publications and contrasts them to the works of other “intellectual leaders”. Roosevelt also expresses dissatisfaction with The Saturday Evening Post and The New Republic magazines.
1916-10-03
Theodore Roosevelt’s sons are at training camp awaiting their deployment orders for the war, but they do not know what they will be sent to do. Roosevelt expresses frustration with this and President Wilson’s approach to the war. Roosevelt tells Anna Roosevelt Cowles about recent dinners where he enjoyed the company of Joseph Joffre. He also mentions that he is receiving between 4,000 and 5,000 letters per week and is having difficulty keeping up with such a workload.
1917-05-17
Theodore Roosevelt writes to Anna Roosevelt Cowles to update her on his potential involvement in the war. He strongly disagrees with President Woodrow Wilson’s approach to the war and does not believe Wilson encourages proper service to the country and patriotism among citizens. Roosevelt notes that Quentin Roosevelt is now a sergeant in the Army Aviation Corps and his other three sons are heading to officers’ training camp at Plattsburgh.
1917-04-26
In a speech titled “Elementary Honor, Theodore Roosevelt responds to President William H. Taft.
1912
Typescript of a speech carried by Theodore Roosevelt in Milwaukee on October 14, 1912. The speech was folded in his jacket pocket at the time of the attempted assassination. Bullet holes indicate how the speech helped to break the force of the bullet. The speech is now bound and presented as a book. The speech attacks Woodrow Wilson for nativism and xenophobia while defending immigration and the racial, religious, and cultural diversity of the United States population.
Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site
1912-10-12
In lieu of answering the thousands of letters he has received on the topic, Theodore Roosevelt addresses why he declines the nomination for President by the Progressive Party in this statement. He begins by complimenting the work of the Progressive Party from 1912 on but says the Progressive National Organization no longer offers “the means whereby we can make these convictions effective in our national life.” He feels common action should be sought out under the umbrella of the Republican Party to defeat President Woodrow Wilson.
1916
Theodore Roosevelt thinks zoologist William T. Hornaday’s advice about “crowding” President Woodrow Wilson is sound. After Roosevelt’s article appears in the Metropolitan he will avoid “slashing” him.
1916-04-04
Theodore Roosevelt writes his son-in-law Nicholas Longworth that it is a capital speech and they make an indictment against the good faith of President Wilson and his supporters. Even though Roosevelt has attacked Secretary of the Navy Daniels as much as Wilson and William Jennings Bryan, Daniels sent Roosevelt a Navy Department calendar and expressed his highest esteem and regard. Roosevelt wishes Longworth could be there for Christmas.
1914-12-13
Theodore Roosevelt compliments Josephine P. Peabody on her poem Harvest Moon but also takes the opportunity to criticize President Wilson for not entering World War. He refers to another of her poems about sheep equating it to the League to Enforce Peace and make the point that pacifism will not work in this situation.
1916-12-15
Theodore Roosevelt writes to W. Cameron Forbes about the Philippines and to disagree with Forbes’ view on suspending powers of the Philippine legislature. Roosevelt is concerned with the Jones Bill promising independence to the island but then tricking them by having the right denied.
1915-01-04
Theodore Roosevelt writes to say it is useless for America to retain the Philippines if they will also accept the inept foreign policies of William H. Taft and Woodrow Wilson. He feels America is not prepared to militarily defend the Philippines and should thus give them up.
1915-04-06
Theodore Roosevelt writes that if W. Cameron Forbes is ever in New York he will give him his reasons in full. He says William H. Taft is just as much to blame for the affairs in Mexico as President Woodrow Wilson and since the American people seem to support them, he does not feel America should keep the Philippines.
1915-10-25
Theodore Roosevelt writes Susan Dexter Dalton Cooley to express his thoughts on an article by G. Lowes Dickinson. Roosevelt believes that the way Dickinson is trying to develop an international league will not work. Such a league must be based on military force. To refuse to fight results in less peace, not more. The United States should have offered help to Belgium to maintain peace. He does agree countries should come together on account of their race or desire to unite.
1914-12-02
Theodore Roosevelt thanks Whitney Warren for his letter and enclosure. He hopes that Warren will continue to work for change in Government.
1916-07-06
Theodore Roosevelt doubts his usefulness, since President Wilson would not welcome his suggestions. Roosevelt reflects on Hannibal’s early career and later life.
1917-08-29
Theodore Roosevelt appreciates Barrett Wendell’s criticism and believes the article would have had more impact if he had not been such a critic of President Wilson. Roosevelt admits he had neglected Washington’s writings, but had studied Lincoln’s in depth.
1918-05-08