Lot 164
Roosevelt Theodore 1858 - 1919 Theodore Roosevelt is excited to revisit his Rough Rider days and fight in WWI "if I am allowed to have the division"
Single page TLS, 8.5" x 11", on Metropolitan/432 Fourth Avenue/New York letterhead. Dated May 18th, 1917 and boldly signed in full signature by Theodore Roosevelt as "Theodore Roosevelt". Pencil markings to upper margin, with tiny single staple hole. Miniscule stain spot, expected folds, else near fine.
An important letter from Theodore Roosevelt written to Mr. Otis Cutler, while on his "Bully pulpit", thanking him for his "valuable work". His letter makes note that "I do not know whether I could take you abroad with me, but I am sure you could do valuable work in connection with the home depot, if I am allowed to have the division"
An excellent letter from the period when Roosevelt had authorization from Congress to raise four divisions to fight in France, similar to his earlier Rough Riders, the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry Regiment and to the British Army. He had selected eighteen officers and directed them to actively recruit volunteer troops in the Western states and to coordinate recruitment efforts. However, Wilson ultimately rejected Roosevelt's plan and the volunteer Army disbanded.
As added background, and of additional interest, are parallel letters (Not Present) written from the same time period as this letter, in which Roosevelt writes to the President:
I respectfully ask permission immediately to raise two divisions for immediate service at the front under the bill which has just become law, and hold myself ready to raise four divisions, if you so direct. I respectfully refer for details to my last letters to the Secretary of War. If granted permission, I earnestly ask that Captain Frank McCoy be directed to report to me at once. Minister Fletcher has written me that he is willing. Also if permission to raise the divisions is granted, I would like to come to Washington as soon as the War Department is willing, so that I may find what supplies are available, and at once direct the regular officers who are chosen for brigade and regimental commands how and where to get to work.
However one can see in Wilson's response below that the request was denied:
I very much regret that I cannot comply with the request in your telegram of yesterday. The reasons I have stated in a public statement made this morning, and I need not assure you that my conclusions were based entirely upon imperative considerations of public policy and not upon personal or private choice.
WOODROW WILSON.
As a result, Roosevelt specifies the requirement to disband the efforts in connection with the divisions as shown below:
May 21, 1917.
The President has announced that he will decline to permit those divisions to be organized or to permit me to have a command in connection with such a force. After consultation yesterday, personally or by wire, with some of the men who have volunteered to raise units...regiments and battalions...for the divisions.... and various others who were immediately accessible, it was decided unanimously that in view of the decision of the President the only course open to us is forthwith to disband and to abandon all further effort in connection with the divisions, thereby leaving each man free to get into the military service in some other way, if that is possible, and, if not, then to serve his country in civil life as he best can.
A wonderful rare look at the passionate efforts of Roosevelt, in his famous Bully Pulpit discourse. Boldly signed.
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