Teddy Roosevelt 3rd Person WWI-Dated ANS as "Colonel" 2 Weeks After Quentin Was K.I.A.

An autograph note signed in the third person by former 26th U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) as "Col. Roosevelt." July 28, 1918. N.p. Inscribed in Roosevelt's hand as: "July 28th 1918 / Col. Roosevelt / thanks you and deeply / appreciates your kind / letter and the little / 'speech.'" The note, on gray blue-speckled stationery, is in near fine condition, and is displayed under a large, high-resolution glossy black and white photograph after the original one taken of Colonel Roosevelt and his Rough Riders at the Battle of San Juan Hill, at Santiago de Cuba, ca. July 3, 1898. Four vintage lapel pins are mounted in the bottom corners of the frame: these include one bust portrait of Roosevelt; one "The White Squadron / United States War Ship / New York"; one depicting Uncle Sam "On the Way to Cuba"; and a "United States." Expected wear to the pins including age-related crazing, else vivid and very good, the average size approximately .875" dia. The autograph note signed and photograph are framed behind non-reflective glass. Not examined out of the frame. The sight size of the note is 5.25" x 3.375" while the overall size of the frame is 15" x 18.25" x 1."

Ex-president Roosevelt penned this thank-you note to an unidentified correspondent just two weeks after his youngest son Quentin Roosevelt (1897-1918), a 20-year-old U.S. Army Air Service fighter pilot, was shot down on the Western Front on July 14, 1918. The loss of his beloved favorite son was a staggering blow to Roosevelt, but it was especially bitter because Roosevelt's wish to fight himself had been foiled by sitting 28th U.S. President Woodrow Wilson.

In March 1917, the U.S. Congress had authorized Theodore Roosevelt to raise a maximum of four volunteer divisions, similar in structure to the heroic "Rough Riders" (members of the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry that Roosevelt had commanded during the Spanish-American War), to join the European conflict. Wilson destroyed Roosevelt's dreams of resurrecting the Rough Riders in May 1917, when he stated in no uncertain terms that the divisions would not be organized; and that they would not be commanded by Roosevelt. Roosevelt viewed this mandate as the ultimate betrayal. He later condemned Wilson's decision in "The Foes of Our Own Household" (New York: George H. Doran, 1917). All four of Roosevelt's adult sons--Theodore Roosevelt III, Kermit Roosevelt, Archibald Roosevelt, and Quentin Roosevelt--served in the U.S. armed services, so Roosevelt could live somewhat vicariously through them. To bolster civilian support for the war effort, Theodore Roosevelt also campaigned for the Red Cross.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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