“When I became a member of the New York State Legislature, there was considerable commotion up at Albany by a faction that was opposed to boxing. I took up the issue with them. Like my father, who believed that a fair, stand-up fight would do a boy a lot of good, I arose to defend boxing. I surprised, even shocked, many mothers when I said that ‘the boy that won’t fight is not worth his salt. He is either a coward or constitutionally weak. I have taught my boys to take their own part and fight their way whenever they must. Cowardice is not in their make-up. I do not know for which I should punish my boys quicker—for cruelty or flinching. Both are abominable.’ “I have never been able to sympathize with the outcry against boxing. The only objection I have to prize fighting, is when there is talk of fake or crookedness, and such talk is common. Where there is smoke, there is fire and I figure that such gossip is never entirely unfounded. “Outside of that, I regard boxing, professional and amateur, as a vigorous, healthful sport that develops courage, keenness of mind, quickness of eye, and a spirit of combativeness that fits every boy who engages in it for the daily tasks that confront him. “It is not half so brutalizing or demoralizing as many forms of big business, and certain legal work that is often carried on to help such business. “I have often thought that if we had more boys’ clubs where the manly art was taught, we would have fewer youthful criminals, the street corner type of hoodlum, and would breed a better class of young American citizens—the future voters. Boxing develops elements of character that are difficult to obtain in other sports—fairness, the spirit of give-and-take, courage, and alertness. “It is only the bully who always wants to give and to avoid the taking. If boxing were taught in every public and secondary school and in college, this nation would soon find itself rid of the bullies and would develop in our youth a spirit of manhood, a spirit that teaches fairness to our fellow men. We would be rid of street corner rowdies and cowards, and make our boys a better, sturdier, healthier lot.” In Washington, President Roosevelt frequently boxed with Professor Mike Donovan of the New York Gymnasium and Steve O’Donnell, another former fighter. When, after a long lapse, Harvard, of which Roosevelt was an alumnus, decided to restore boxing as an inter-collegiate sport, Roosevelt was instrumental in obtaining for his friend O’Donnell the post of boxing instructor. After the appointment, O’Donnell received a letter from Roosevelt which he permitted me to publish in the _Morning Sun_. Here is the letter which is now in my museum: “Dear Steve: