The Letters And Lessons Of Teddy Roosevelt For His Sons

by Douglas W. Phillips

Edited and Compiled by Doug Phillips Roosevelt adored his children, four of whom were boys, each of whom he was intent on turning into a man of action. He once commented that his own father was the greatest man he ever knew. His commitment to being the same example for his sons was evident not only in the remarkable globe-trotting adventures on which they accompanied him, but also in the copious letters that he wrote to them, many of which communicated deep truths about manhood, Christianity, and courage. The Letters & Lessons of Teddy Roosevelt for His Sons contains some of the most interesting letters and lessons that T.R. wrote to his boys and ably demonstrates how fathers can embrace with vigor their charge to raise up manly sons.

Genres: History, Biography, Historical

297 pages, Paperback

First published December 21, 2001

About the author

Doug Phillips is a sinner, saved by grace. God was pleased to place him in the home of Howard and Peggy Phillips, two outstanding parents who loved him and poured their lives into him. His father personally discipled Doug for much of his life, taking Doug with him around the country, such that Doug had traveled with his family through 49 of the 50 states by the time he was 18. His father — a former candidate for President of the United States who served as Acting Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity under Richard Nixon — faithfully read both Old and New Testament to him at the dinner table, taught him constitutional law, public policy, and communicated to Doug a remarkable passion for history. They listened together to more than 2,000 audiocassettes on history, books, and theology.

As a young man, Doug was also discipled by Robert Gifford, a great preacher of the Word and pastor of Sovereign Grace Baptist Church, who communicated to Doug a passion for Christian apologetics and the sovereignty of God. Because of his father’s work as a statesman, Doug had the opportunity to spend time with, and learn from, many of the great Christian leaders of the last 30 years. It was during this time, however, that Doug came to realize that the greatest witness a man could offer for Jesus Christ was not what he knew, but how he lived his life as a father and a husband. It was at this time that God began to build a vision in Doug’s life for seeing the restoration of biblical manhood, godly femininity, and the Christian home.

While running a Christian newspaper in college, Doug met Beall, a young woman who ran a ministry to unwed mothers called “Alternatives to Abortion” (interestingly enough, Beall herself had been adopted). Five years later, on “the happiest day of my life — except for every day after that,” Doug and Beall were married. Doug attended law school for the purpose of developing skills that would help him defend home educators and Christian parents from State tyranny. He graduated from George Mason School of Law, where he studied under judges Robert Bork and Doug Ginsberg. He served for six years at the Home School Legal Defense Association in multiple capacities including staff attorney and Director of the National Center for Home Education.

Reviews

[Jalen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of letters and essays from Theodore Roosevelt is truly delightful. It is filled with enthusiasm and joy, wisdom and good counsel, manliness and courage.

The selection of writings is wisely and judiciously apolitical so that we get a more focused portrait of Roosevelt as man and father. And to say the portrait is impressive would be an understatement. It is almost unbelievable that one person could have lived so many lives, done so many courageous and dangerous things, while also possessing so many human qualities that do not often run together: intellectual brilliance with wisdom and good judgment, charm and grace with rugged endurance and courage, good humor and childlike playfulness with sincerity and honesty, humility with magnanimity, etc. On top of all of this, his prose writing is close to perfection and almost lyrical in places. Whatever else one might think of his imperialist politics, it is impossible to read through this work and not be inspired by such an incredible human being!

A minor complaint is that the principle of order in the editing and selection of texts is a little unclear. It would have been good to have introductions between major sections and a more natural conclusion to the work, an afterword or something of that nature.

[Tucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

My review is 100% biased. I love Teddy, and wish he were my own Father.

[Nicholas Maulucci · Rating 2 out of 5]

Teddy was definitely better than Franklin. Ok book. A little bit of a novelty book.

[Drew Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the letters are mundane but some have beautiful, tender and powerful lessons and perspectives. Any parent would benefit from reading these and one can’t help but have more admiration for TR after doing so.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

With soul of flame and temper of steel we must act as our coolest judgment bids us. We must exercise the largest charity towards the wrong-doer that is compatible with relentless war against wrong-doing. We must be just to others, generous to others, and yet we must realize that it is a shameful and a wicked thing not to withstand oppression with high heart and read hand. With gentleness and tenderness there must go dauntless bravery and grim acceptance of labor and hardship and peril. All for each, and each for all, is a good motto; but only on condition that each works with might and main to so maintain himself as not to be a burden to others. ~Teddy Roosevelt

[Darrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The voice of our twenty-sixth President lovingly speaks to his four sons in this valuable collection of letters. Theodore Roosevelt had a passion for living and for living under his moral code that he aggressively passed down to all six of his children. History books are full of his actions; but you need to discover who the man was. This would be a fine place to start. Thank you Douglas Phillips for making this treasure available.