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OYSTER BAY； NEW YORK；
August 5； 1902。
MY DEAR AMBASSADOR WHITE：
It is with real regret that I accept your resignation； for I
speak what is merely a self…evident truth when I say that we
shall have to look with some apprehension to what your successor
does； whoever that successor may be； lest he fall short of the
standard you have set。
It is a very great thing for a man to be able to feel； as you
will feel when on your seventieth birthday you prepare to leave
the Embassy； that you have been able to serve your country as it
has been served by but a very limited number of people in your
generation。 You have done much for it in word and in deed。 You
have adhered to a lofty ideal and yet have been absolutely
practical and； therefore； efficient； so that you are a perpetual
example to young men how to avoid alike the Scylla of
indifference and the Charybdis of efficiency for the wrong。。。。
With regards and warm respect and admiration；
Faithfully yours；
（Signed） THEODORE ROOSEVELT。
HON。 ANDREW D。 WHITE；
Ambassador to Germany；
Berlin； Germany。
WHITE HOUSE；
WASHINGTON。
OYSTER BAY； NEW YORK；
September 15； 1902
MY DEAR MR。 AMBASSADOR：
Will you read the inclosed on your seventieth birthday？ I have
sealed it so you can break the seal then。
Faithfully yours；
（Signed） THEODORE ROOSEVELT。
HON。 ANDREW D。 WHITE；
U。 S。 Ambassador；
Berlin； Germany。
WHITE HOUSE；
WASHINGTON。
OYSTER BAY；
September 15； 1902。
MY DEAR MR。 AMBASSADOR：
On the day you open this you will be seventy years old。 I cannot
forbear writing you a line to express the obligation which all
the American people are under to you。 As a diplomat you have come
in that class whose foremost exponents are Benjamin Franklin and
Charles Francis Adams； and which numbers also in its ranks men
like Morris； Livingston； and Pinckney。 As a politician； as a
publicist； and as a college president you have served your
country as only a limited number of men are able to serve it。 You
have taught by precept； and you have taught by practice。 We are
all of us better because you have lived and worked； and I send
you now not merely my warmest well…wishes and congratulations；
but thanks from all our people for all that you have done for us
in the past。 Faithfully yours；
（Signed） THEODORE ROOSEVELT。
HON。 ANDREW D。 WHITE；
U。 S。 Ambassador；
Berlin； Germany。
FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE。
NEWBURY； N。 H。；
August 3； 1902。
DEAR MR。 WHITE：
I have received your very kind letter of the 21st July； which is
the first intimation I have had of your intention to resign your
post of ambassador to Germany。 I am sorry to hear the country is
to lose your services in the place you have filled with such
distinguished ability and dignity。 It is a great thing to sayas
it is simple truth to say itthat you have； during your
residence in Berlin； increased the respect felt for America not
only in Germany but in all Europe。 You have thus rendered a great
public service；independent of all the details of your valuable
work。 The man is indeed fortunate who can go through a long
career without blame； and how much more fortunate if he adds
great achievement to blamelessness。 You have the singular
felicity of having been always a fighting man； and having gone
through life without a wound。
I congratulate you most on your physical and mental ability to
enjoy the rest you have chosen and earned。。。。
My wife joins me in cordial regards to Mrs。 White； and I am
always；
Faithfully yours；
（Signed） JOHN HAY。
DEPARTMENT OF STATE；
WASHINGTON；
November 7； 1902。
DEAR MR。 WHITE：
I cannot let the day pass without sending you a word of cordial
congratulation on the beginning of what I hope will be the most
delightful part of your life。 Browning long ago sang； 〃The best
is yet to be；〃 and； certainly； if world…wide fame troops of
friends； a consciousness of well…spent years； and a great career
filled with righteous achievement are constituents of happiness；
you have everything that the heart of man could wish。
Yours faithfully；
（Signed） JOHN HAY。
His Excellency ANDREW D。 WHITE； etc。； etc。； etc。
FROM THE CHANCELLOR OF THE GERMAN EMPIRE。
Wilhelm Str。 77。
MY DEAR AMBASSADOR：
On the occasion of this memorable day； I beg to send you my best
wishes。 May God grant you perfect health and happiness。 Be
assured that I always shall remember the excellent relations
which have joined us during so many years； and accept the
assurance of the highest esteem and respect of your most
affectionate
BULOW。
7 Nov。 1902。
CHAPTER XLIV
MY RECOLLECTIONS OF WILLIAM II1879…1903
At various times since my leaving the Berlin Embassy various
friends have said to me； 〃Why not give us something definite
regarding the German Emperor？〃 And on my pleading sundry
difficulties and objections； some of my advisers have recalled
many excellent precedents； both American and foreign； and others
have cited the dictum； 〃The man I don't like is the man I don't
know。〃
The latter argument has some force with me。 Much ill feeling
between the United States and Germany has had its root in
misunderstandings； and； as one of the things nearest my heart
since my student days has been a closer moral and intellectual
relation between the two countries； there is； perhaps； a reason
for throwing into these misunderstandings some light from my own
experience。
My first recollections of the present Emperor date from the
beginning of my stay as minister at Berlin； in 1879。 The official
presentations to the Emperor and Empress of that period having
been made； there came in regular order those to the crown prince
and princess； and on my way to them there fell into my hands a
newspaper account of the unveiling of the monument to the eminent
painter Cornelius； at Dusseldorf； the main personage in the
ceremony being the young Prince William； then a student at Bonn。
His speech was given at some length； and it impressed me。 There
was a certain reality of conviction and aspiration in it which
seemed to me so radically different from the perfunctory
utterances usual on such occasions that； at the close of the
official interview with his father and mother； I alluded to it。
Their response touched me。 There came at once a kindly smile upon
the father's face； and a glad sparkle into the mother's eyes：
pleasing was it to hear her； while showing satisfaction and
pride； speak of her anxiety before the good news came； and of the
embarrassments in the way of her son a