Theodore Roosevelt Manifests the Leadership Principle That Patriotism Must Triumph Over All Personal Considerations

TR: “I am not concerned about his attitude towards me personally. I am concerned only with the attitude of every such leader of thought towards the affairs of the nation. I am with any man who in the stormy days through which we are passing, and which are ahead of us, takes the right stance…”

 

Refusing to look back on disagreements or slights, he says “I care nothing for the past, except insofar as it affects the future”

Theodore Roosevelt was interested in South America, and in 1913 he journeyed to Brazil and took a trip down an uncharted tributary of the Amazon: the mysterious River of Doubt. The expedition collected many new animal and insect specimens, but TR nearly died during the voyage and his health was permanently damaged. He remained widely known for his interest in both South America and zoology.

Dr. Carl Eigenmann was an alumnus of Indiana University, an instructor/professor in IU’s department of zoology, and an administrator at the university for more than forty years. He was also the first dean of the IU graduate school from 1908 to 1927. As a German-American, he faced hostility during the anti-German hysteria in World War I. Will Irwin was a businessman in Indiana, and a member of the Finance Committee of the Indiana State Council of Defense, which was dedicated to defense purposes. The organization was formed when World War I broke out, at the suggestion of the National Council of Defense, and was engaged in work supporting the war. In 1918, Irwin financed an academic expedition to South America, and insisted that Eigenmann come along despite the anti-German feeling abroad in the land. The Irwin Expedition to South America took place in 1918, and Eigenmann was its chronicler. It was a success, and the participants brought home many specimens.

Typed letter signed, on his letterhead, Oyster Bay, July 26, 1918, to William Irwin, in response to a letter from Irwin, apparently sending some samples collected by his expedition. “I thank you for your letter, and for the enclosure, and I am much obliged to you for what you tell me about Mr. Smith. I know you will understand me when I say that, I am not concerned about his attitude towards me personally. I am concerned only with the attitude of every such leader of thought towards the affairs of the nation. I care nothing for the past, except insofar as it affects the future. I am with any man who in the stormy days through which we are passing, and which are ahead of us, takes the right stance, and I will work most heartily with him if he does take that right stand. It was a great pleasure seeing you at Indianapolis. I am extremely pleased to learn through Frank Polk that Dr. Eigenmann is to be allowed to go to the Andes.” Smith was likely a relative of Mrs. Eigenmann, as her maiden name was Smith.

It takes a great man and masterful leader to put aside personal feelings for the sake of the country, as Roosevelt (and Lincoln) did. It’s a rare letter indeed in which TR manifests this principle, this being the first we have ever seen.