Letters to His Children

In Short

This collection gathers over twenty years of intimate correspondence from Theodore Roosevelt to his six children, beginning in their early childhood and continuing into young adulthood. Written from horse trails, western hunts, the White House, and African safaris, the letters capture a busy statesman who consistently prioritized his role as a loving parent. Through playful "picture letters," reports on family pets, literary debates, and thoughtful parental advice, the book records the affectionate daily life of a prominent American family alongside key moments of early twentieth-century history.

The Story

The book opens with an overview of Roosevelt’s lifelong habit of corresponding with his children. Whether away on military service, hunting trips, or official political duties, he writes to them constantly. In their earliest years, before the children can read, he sends illustrated "picture letters" featuring his own simple sketches. Throughout his time in office, he addresses his sons and daughters as equals, joining in their games, pillow fights, and romps in the barn at Sagamore Hill or inside the White House.

As the narrative progresses through his presidency, the letters reflect the lively routine of the White House. The household is filled with an assortment of animals, including dogs, horses, a macaw, kangaroo rats, a badger named Josiah, and Quentin’s pony, Algonquin. Roosevelt describes the amusing challenges of managing these pets alongside official duties, such as minding his daughter's guinea pigs or wrestling with Japanese trainers three times a week. He reports on family celebrations, wild horseback rides, and the quiet contentment of sitting on the White House porch with his wife, Edith.

Interspersed with home life are Roosevelt’s accounts of his travels and political responsibilities. He writes to his older sons from hunting trips in Colorado and Oklahoma, recounting multi-hour chases after lynx, bears, and coyotes with guides like John Goff and Abernethy the wolf hunter. He details official journeys, including a trip down the Mississippi River on a stern-wheel steamer and an inspection of the Panama Canal construction amidst torrential rains. Meanwhile, he keeps close track of his sons' experiences at boarding school and college, offering advice on athletics, academic focus, and dealing with media scrutiny.

The later portion of the collection traces the children maturing into adulthood. The family faces solemn moments, such as attending relative funerals and nursing little Archie through a serious bout of diphtheria. Roosevelt shares his thoughts on literature, comparing the characters of Dickens and Thackeray, and reflects on current political affairs, including election guesses and the death of Senator Hanna. The letters follow his post-presidential travels, including a major expedition through Africa with his son Kermit, where they hunt big game and manage caravans together. The collection draws toward its close with Roosevelt reflecting on his grown children, observing Quentin's height and piano playing, and expressing enduring pride in his family.

How It Unfolds

The domestic realm Roosevelt writes to his children from the White House, sharing news of the family's extensive collection of pets, including dogs, a macaw, and Algonquin the pony. He describes quiet evenings on the porch with his wife Edith and the routines that keep the household grounded.

On the hunting trail Writing from western hunting trips in Colorado, Roosevelt details long days in the saddle chasing lynx and bears alongside experienced guides and packs of hounds. He describes the rugged terrain, the behavior of the hunting dogs, and the physical demands of the trail.

Schooling and sports In letters to his sons away at Groton and Harvard, Roosevelt inquires about their football games and studies while offering advice on balance and character. He urges them to pursue physical exercise without letting athletics overshadow academics or moral growth.

Official duties and travels Roosevelt reports on his presidential travels, including an intense three-day inspection of the Panama Canal during heavy rains and a steamboat trip down the Mississippi River. He records his observations of the landscapes, historical associations, and local crowds greeting his party.

Literary discussions and advice The President engages his sons in thoughtful debates about classic authors, analyzing the characterizations of Dickens and Thackeray. He also offers sympathetic counsel to young Ted on handling media attention and public scrutiny with quiet resilience.

The final safari Writing from Africa, Roosevelt describes trekking through the Lado with his son Kermit in extreme heat to hunt giant eland. He praises Kermit's growth into a responsible hunter and leader as the correspondence reaches the children's adulthood.

The People

• Theodore Roosevelt: The author and father who maintains a constant, affectionate correspondence with his children while serving as President of the United States. He wants to be a devoted parent and companion, balancing high office and strenuous physical activity with family games, storytelling, and practical guidance.
• Kermit Roosevelt: One of the middle sons, who receives numerous letters regarding his studies at Groton, his athletic efforts, and his reading. He grows from a schoolboy into a reliable, hard-working companion who helps manage his father's African hunting expedition.
• Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. (Ted): The eldest son, who faces the pressure of public attention upon entering Harvard. He seeks to excel in athletics and academics while learning from his father how to handle media annoyances and maintain steady perseverance.
• Archie Roosevelt: A younger son who loves pets, particularly his pony Algonquin. He endures a severe bout of diphtheria as a child and enjoys active, outdoor play around the White House.
• Quentin Roosevelt: The youngest son, known for his humor, playful antics, and baseball games on the White House grounds. He grows from an energetic, mischievous boy into a tall young man who plays the piano.
• Edith Roosevelt: The mother and wife who manages the household, cares for the children during illnesses, and shares her husband's love for reading, riding, and quiet time at Sagamore Hill.

In Its Own Voice

"He was always their playmate and boon companion, whether they were toddling infants taking their first faltering steps, or growing schoolboys, or youths standing at the threshold of life."

The introductory text highlights Roosevelt's commitment to interacting with his children on their own level throughout their upbringing.

"I have not a doubt that the British officers in the Boer War had their efficiency partly reduced because they had sacrificed their legitimate duties to an inordinate and ridiculous love of sports."

Writing to his son about football, Roosevelt uses historical and contemporary examples to illustrate the danger of placing athletics above serious responsibilities.

"After all, fond as I am of the White House and much though I have appreciated these years in it, there isn't any place in the world like home--like Sagamore Hill, where things are our own, with our own associations, and where it is real country."

In a note to his daughter Ethel, Roosevelt expresses his deep attachment to the family home over the official prestige of the presidency.

What It's Really About

Beneath the stories of pets, hunts, and White House games, the book explores the deliberate cultivation of character, family warmth, and parental responsibility. Roosevelt uses his letters to model a philosophy of active living where physical vigor, intellectual curiosity, and moral integrity reinforce one another. He consistently emphasizes that personal conduct, discipline, and affection matter far more than social prestige or athletic achievements.

The collection also examines the balance between public duty and private affection. Despite the immense pressures of the presidency, Roosevelt demonstrates that parental devotion requires active time, shared interests, and open communication. The letters present an ongoing dialogue on how to raise grounded, resilient children who can navigate hardship, media scrutiny, and public expectations with grace and self-reliance.

Why Read It Today

This collection offers an appealing, unvarnished look at one of America's most dynamic presidents through his private life as a father. Readers who enjoy historical memoirs, presidential history, or classic letter writing will appreciate the warmth, humor, and plainspoken directness of the prose. The book feels lively and accessible, showing a famous historical figure engaged in pillow fights, nursing guinea pigs, and debating Victorian novels.

The primary difficulty for modern readers lies in the historical context and period attitudes present in the text. The letters contain frequent accounts of big-game hunting and animal specimen collection that reflect early twentieth-century practices rather than modern conservation standards. Additionally, readers will encounter casual references to political figures, local conflicts, and social norms of the era. However, what stays with the reader is the enduring portrait of an exceptionally close family and a father who, no matter how busy, never allowed his public office to overshadow his devotion to his children.