Your TR Source
Theodore Roosevelt acknowledges his sister Anna Roosevelt Cowles’ note and says the only thing that bothers him about his work as Assistant Secretary of the Navy is that he does not get to see Edith and the children much.
1897-05-03
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt writes his sister Anna Roosevelt Cowles to encourage her husband, Naval Captain William Sheffield Cowles, to write him on any matter that comes up and to say he will write Will to consult him on matters. He wants Anna to visit him when he returns to Sagamore Hill and says he is enjoying his work.
1897-05-07
President Roosevelt writes to his son Kermit about his heavy workload. He says he can hardly find time to exercise and finds himself delegating a lot of duties, leaving time to develop his really big policies. Roosevelt also says he feels his Cabinet is just about ideal. He closes by mentioning a visit by Owen Wister.
1907-05-04
President Roosevelt writes to his son Kermit to report that Archie has diphtheria and Roosevelt is working so much during the end of Congress’ session he barely gets to see him.
1907-03-03
President Roosevelt was glad to read what his son, Theodore Roosevelt, wrote about his brother Kermit Roosevelt. He sympathizes with Ted’s opinion about work, and says that he will eventually reach the point where he can have both work and leisure, but agrees that having only leisure would be worse than only work. Roosevelt had received a copy of Wind in the Willows, but had not read it yet. He plans to do so now, based on Ted’s recommendation. Roosevelt’s schedule is as busy as ever, both with his usual presidential work, as well as his preparations for his safari and the lectures he will be giving abroad. Roosevelt hopes to be able to save the money he makes by writing after leaving the presidency to help his children until they are all able to earn their own livings.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-03, 1908-12-06
Theodore Roosevelt thinks his father, President Roosevelt, will likely find something to do after leaving the presidency. However, he believes that ex-presidents should be provided for in some way so that they are not forced to work, as many previous presidents have been penniless. Ted writes about some of his younger brothers, saying that Quentin is an “amusing small boy,” and that that he will be “some what hair-raising to watch when he gets to college.” Kermit has “behaved like a perfect trump” in his willingness to help Robert Harry Munro Ferguson and Isabella Ferguson. Ted is glad to be at work and not idling at clubs and sporting fields. While he enjoys taking time off to play games, he would rather work than be lazy all day. He recommends a new book, Wind in the Willows, to his father.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-03
Theodore Roosevelt encloses a clipping of an interview “Rosy” gave. He is surprised Rosy took the side of ex-Chief of Police Thomas Byrnes. In addition to the stressful work of being Police Commissioner, Roosevelt also had to attend a Harvard Overseers’ meeting and travel to Chester, Pennsylvania. He and Edith have been too busy to socialize.
1896-01-12