President Theodore Roosevelt 1898 Typed Letter Signed - "Didn't Dewey Do Well?"

Description

26th President. Typed letter signed (TLS) "
Theodore Roosevelt
", "Theodore Roosevelt, Assistant Secretary, Navy Department, Washington" stationery, May 4, 1898, to James Eckles at the Commercial National Bank in Chicago, in full:
I thank you heartily for your kindness. Didn't Dewey do well?
I will have all the documents I can get sent to you.
Presented custom framed and matted and with an image of TR as a Rough Rider.
On May 1, 1898, Admiral George Dewey destroyed the Spanish Asiatic fleet on Manila Bay in the Philippines. According to the book "Teddy Roosevelt at San Juan: The Making of a President", "According to Roosevelt, only he in all of Washington had been been prepared for a Pacific triumph of that magnitude. He let everybody know his contribution 'Didn't Admiral Dewey do wonderfully well?' he rejoiced 'I got him the position out there in Asia last year, and I had to beg hard to do it; and the reason I gave was that we might have to send him to Manila. And we sent him - and he went!" The quote used comes from a letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Wingate Sewall dated the very same date as the letter we offer here.
Just 2 days later - May 6, 1898 - TR would officially resign his post as Assistant Secretary of Navy and volunteered to head a cavalry unit that would fight in Cuba against Spain in the Spanish-American War of 1898. This cavalry unit eventually came to be known as "Roosevelt's Rough Riders". Volunteers were assembled from Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Indian Territory and included cowboys, gamblers, hunters, prospectors, Buffalo soldiers, college boys, and Native Americans. The term "Rough Riders" was adapted from Buffalo Bill's famous rodeo show called "Buffalo Bill's Wild West and Congress of Rough Riders of the World".
In addition to the Shafran Collectibles LOA, this letter also has a Letter of Authenticity from PSA/DNA.
We authored the Presidential Autographs chapter in the 7th Edition of The Sanders Autograph Price Guide. We guarantee the authenticity of this item with our written certification, without time limit. We are full-time autograph dealers specializing in Presidential, Historical and Sports collectibles.
Additional information and/or images gladly sent promptly. Some images are stock photos for items we have multiples of. All buyers will receive our once-a-month specials email. Please alert us if you would prefer not to receive these specials. Please view our other auctions for additional material including historical autographs, Steiner Sports and Yankees memorabilia and Presidential signatures.
Shipping
on this item is within the Continental USA. All international orders are sent at buyers risk and all customs forms fully declared. All items sent via USPS with their insurance as well as private insurance.
We prefer
payment
via Paypal and ship within one business day. We can also accept VISA, Mastercard and Discover cards directly. All NY residents must pay 8.625% sales tax unless a valid NY State resale certificate is submitted.
We are full-time autograph dealers. We appreciate your interest in Shafran Collectibles.