Letter from former US President Theodore Roosevelt; typewritten on official stationery and hand-signed by Roosevelt, with three emendations by hand. Addressed to the Jewish-American journalist Herman Bernstein, founder and editor of the Yiddish daily newspaper "Der Tog." Oyster Bay, Long Island, New York, April 12, 1915. English.
In this letter, Teddy Roosevelt, ex-president at the time, responds to an appeal from Herman Bernstein, and insists that on account of an error of omission in an article he published in "The Metropolitan Magazine" (presumably Roosvelt's article "The Need for Preparedness, " April 1915), his message was taken out of context, and distorted.
It is possible that owing to the misprint, Bernstein interpreted the article as anti-Semitic, perhaps in reference to the words "if he remains merely 'a Jew in America, ' and votes as a Jew, then he has no business in America at all." In this regard, Roosevelt clarifies as follows: "The sentence to which you seemingly refer, in the Metropolitan, in its present form does not make any sense at all. Through some error, it was telescoped out of two sentences." He then goes on to quote his own text in its full, original form: "It is an outrage to seek to shape American governmental policies with a view to favoring the foreign country with which a certain percentage of our citizens are connected by birth or descent […] The Jew who has become in good faith an American is entitled in every way to exactly the same treatment as the Christian; but if he remains merely 'a Jew in America, ' and votes as a Jew, then he has no business in America at all."
Roosevelt asserts that the two sentences, taken together – and, for that matter, the article in its entirety – need no explanation from him: "On the contrary, they are entitled on their face to the hearty approval of every good American citizen." As he sees it, in the article he is making the simplest of demands of any American citizen, whoever he may be, regardless of religion, birthplace, or origin: "Jew and Gentile, Catholic and Protestant, should all alike be held to the same standard of duty, and all alike receive the same treatment, strictly on the merits of each man, as a man."
This message is in keeping with Roosevelt's opposition to what would later be termed "hyphenated American, " that is, the self-image of many American citizens who insist on preserving collective, non-American ties of loyalty – with epithets such as Jewish-American, Italian-American, and so on – and, by so doing, fail to exhibit absolute loyalty to the United States, aspiring instead to exert influence on American policy in a manner that serves foreign interests.

Theodore ("Teddy") Roosevelt Jr. (1858-1919), 26th President of the United States (1901-1909), Republican. Widely regarded as one of the greatest of American presidents; military figure, historian, writer, and adventurer. In the realm of America's internal affairs, he promoted progressive policies, including enhanced regulation in various fields, challenging the power of large corporations, battling to preserve and conserve natural resources, and advancing the causes of civil rights and workers' rights. Adopted a hawkish foreign policy, enlarging the country's naval fleet and aspiring to broaden its global influence. Nevertheless, for the sake of global stability, he favored supporting and strengthening international bodies. Gained the respect and gratitude of American and world Jewry for his bold stance in condemning pogroms and other anti-Jewish campaigns in Russia and Romania. By appointing Oscar Straus as his Secretary of Commerce and Labor, he became the first US president to appoint a Jew to the position of cabinet secretary in his administration. In the course of the First World War, following his term as president, he publicly advocated adopting a combative approach toward Germany, and frequently scorned the unpatriotic attitudes of the Irish-American and German-American communities. His own concept of patriotism was of a plain nature, demanding from all American citizens – regardless of religion or origin – nothing more and nothing less than unconditional loyalty to the American republic.

Herman Bernstein (1876-1935), journalist, intellectual, Zionist-Jewish activist, and diplomat. Founder and editor of the Yiddish-language Jewish daily newspaper "Der Tog" ("The Day"). Born within the territorial boundaries of the Russian Empire. Immigrated to the United States in his youth with his family. Published an anthology of his own poems, as well as short stories, nonfictions, a novel, and English translations of Russian classics. Served as a correspondent for a number of leading American newspapers, covering, among other things, the Russian Revolution, and accompanying the US expeditionary forces during the First World War. Acclaimed for his landmark work "The Willy–Nicky Correspondence" (1918), in which he revealed and documented secret correspondence in the form of telegrams exchanged between Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany and Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, and whose foreword was written by Teddy Roosevelt. Served as US Ambassador to Albania (1930-33).

[2] ff. (2 typewritten pp). Good condition. Leaves were glued together at upper left corner; separating them caused open tear to left corner of first page (not affecting text). Residue of glue and paper in left corner of second page. Minor stains. Fold lines and minor creases. Narrow strips of acid-free adhesive tape on edges of leaves, on back.