Figure 1.--Former President Roosevelt was an early advocate for America's entry into World War I. Once America entered the War, all of his sons enlosted and served with destinction. Tragically his youngest son Quintin who served as a fighter pilot was shot down over France.

Many American presidents have served in the military or as president overseen wars. Most except for Polk have taken the country to war reluctantly. Few had any romantic notions about war. Theodore Rosevelt did have such notions and he wrote glowingly of war. At the outbreak of World War I he expressed sympathy with the Allies and denounced the neutrality policy of President Wilson. As the War progressed, Roosevelt became a pasionate advovate for America entering the War on the Allied side. He was apauled by the revelations of the Zimmerman telegram and the sinking of the Lisutania. He called President Wilson a "coward" for keeping America neutral. When America finally entered the War, Roosevelt tried to enlist, but Wilson refused to let him participate in any official capacity. The former President denied the opportunity to participate in the World War I effort had to watch his four sons, Theodore Jr. Kermit, Archibald and Quentin, head off to war in his stead.All his sons enlisted and served with destinction. Teddy Jr, Archibald, and Kermit were all wounded. Teddy Jr joined up again in World War II and died after leading the Utah Beach operation at Normandy. Quentin was a fighter pilot. Tragedy struck the Roosevelts as so many families. One day T.R. wrote Quentin sadly: "I putter around like the other old frumps, trying to help with the Liberty Loan and Red Cross and such like." Another day word came back to Sagamore Hill that Quentin, a pilot, aged 21 had been shot down over the trenches and killed. This was the boy that the president called "dear little Quintikins". His father, grievously afflicted, wrote this tribute to his son: "Only those are fit to live who do not fear to die, and none are fit to die who have shrunk from the joys of life and the duty of life. Both life and death are part of the same Great Adventure." Roosevelt was never quite the same after Quintin's death.

Presidents and War

Many American presidents have served in the military or as president overseen wars. Most except for Polk have taken the country to war reluctantly. Few had any romantic notions about war. Theodore Rosevelt did have such notions and he wrote glowingly of war. This may have resulted from his father not serving in the Civil War. And his his service in the Spanish-American War.

Spanish-American War (1898-99

Roosevelt was Assistant Secretary of the Navy when the crisis with Spain developed. While only the assistat Secretary, Roosevelt tookn his position very seriouly, more seriously than Secretary Daniels and as aesult, Roosevelt not uncommionly eceeded his authority and this occurred as the crisis developed. Roosevelt started sending orders out to the fleet without clearing them with Daniels. Roosevelt was not content with that at wanted to be part of the War. He resigned his position nd forned a volunteer regiment--the Rough Riders and their exploits were carried in newsoapers all over the ciountry. .

Vice President (1901)

Rooseveklt had already made a mame for himself in New York politics. His heroics in Cuba made headlines. He as arformer. And the leaders of the New York Republican Party did not want him back in the state. They enguneered his selection as Vice President (1900). What they did not antiipate. The Vice President in American history had been the road to political oblivion.

President (1901-09)

What the New York Republican leaders did not anticipate was that PresidentbMcKinnley woukd be asaasinated and Roosevelt would become president. His presidency was a time of peace, although the situation in Europe was deteriorating. What Roosevelt did do was significntly expand the U.S. Navy. He sent America’s splenduid new Great White Fleet on a 2-year tour of the world to demonstrate America’s power (1907-09). Thhe visuts included Japan. The expansion of the U.S. Navy was one reason that when America entered World War I, the Navy could do so immediately and the Army was not.

Bull Moose Party (1912)

Roosevelt was a trenemebously popular president and he loved being president. He could have been elected for a third term (1908), but had impusively said that he wiukd not runni, hinoring the twoi term tradituiion. And once out of office, he chafed at the inactivity. And he began criticizing his friend Bill Taft who he had largely pushed into the presidency after him. He decided to run again (1912). But there were only a few primries at the time. He won them, but the momination was in the hand of the Party stalwarts who denied him the nomination. So Roosevelt ran the Third Party Bull Moose campaigm. As a result, the Republican vote was split and they lost to the Democrats and Woodrow Wilsom was elected. This badly hurt Roosevelt's standing and infuence within the Republican Party.

World War I (1914-18)

Former Presuident Roosevelt at the outbreak of World War I expressed sympathy with the Allies and denounced the neutrality policy adopted by President Wilson. Just as the world fell into the calderion of War, however, Roosevelt was frustrated that he saw his influence turning to impotence--even within the Reoublican Party. Roosevelt believed America should at least prepare for war. He advicated training Arnmy troops and preoparing the Navy. President Wilson wanted to keep America neutral and sty out of a Europeans war. He famously insisted, "There is such a thing as a man being too proud to fight." Roosevelt believed neutrality would inecitably fail. And after the Germans sank the British liner RMS Lusitania in whuch Americans were killed (1915), Roosevelt was astionished that and saw America's lack of involvement as 'inconceivable'. As the War progressed, Roosevelt became a pasionate advovate for America entering the War on the Allied side. He was apauled by the revelations of the Zimmerman telegram. He actually called President Wilson a 'coward' for keeping America neutral. Wilson after being reelected in a close vote (1916) moved to seek a negitiated settlemebt of ghe War. The Kaiser, however, sought a military sollution. As Wilson had warned the Kaiser, the resumtion of unconditional submarine warfare would mean war. When America finally entered the War (1917), because there had been no preparations, as Roosevelt had warned, the United States did not have an Army ii could immediately commit. It would be a year before the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) could be committed to combat and even then it was not yet fully prepared for combat. Roosevelt wanted to enlist. President Wilson denined Roosevelt the possibility of participating in any official capacity. The former President had to watch his four sons (Theodore Jr. Kermit, Archibald and Quentin), head off to war in his stead. All his four sons enlisted and served with destinction. This made Edith a Blue Star Mother four times over. Teddy Jr, Archibald, and Kermit were all wounded. Teddy Jr joined up again in World War II and died after leading the Utah Beach operation at Normandy. Quentin tragicall was killed in the War.

Quentin

Quentin was 3 years old when his father became president and the family moved to Washinton. He grew up in the Ehitev House unfer the public eye. The public was enamored by his White House shanagigans. grew up in the White House. By far the favorite of all of President Roosevelt's children, Quentin was also the most rambunctious. His mother described him aa a "fine bad little boy". He was by far President Roosevelt's favorite and the most rambunctious. After America entered the War, he volunteered to serve as a fughter pilot. Now some 120,000 Americans died in World War I, but that was a small fraction of the 4.7 million Americans who died in the War. There was one military service in which casulties were extrodinarily high--and that was serbuce as a fighter pilot. Tragedy struck the Roosevelts as so many families. One day T.R. wrote Quentin sadly: "I putter around like the other old frumps, trying to help with the Liberty Loan and Red Cross and such like." Another day word cameback to Sagamore Hill that Quentin, a pilot, aged 21 had been shot down over the trenches and killed. This was the boy that the president called "dear little Quintikins". His father, grievously afflicted, wrote this tribute to his son: "Only those are fit to live who do not fear to die, and none are fit to die who have shrunk from the joys of life and the duty of life. Both life and death are part of the same Great Adventure." Roosevelt was never quite the same after Quintin's death. 【Burns】

Sources

Burns, Eric. The Golden Lad: The Haunting Story of Quentin and Theodore Roosevelt (Pegasus Books: 2016), 300p.

Created: February 4, 2001
Last updated: 1:57 AM 6/21/2023