Nobel Prize Awards Ceremony, Norwegian Parliament
Oslo, Norway
December 1906
Theodore Roosevelt was absolutely delighted when the cable arrived at the White House. Rushing into their bedroom, he called out to his wife Edith as she was dressing. “Darling, wonderful news! The Nobel Committee in Norway has sent official notification that I have been selected to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for 1906! My God, isn’t that wonderful?”
“That is wonderful, indeed!” Edith replied, smiling with pride.
“You know what I think I’ll do with the prize money? I will donate it to establish an organization dedicated to world peace. Won’t that be bully?”
“Yes, dear, it certainly would.”
“Damn! The Nobel ceremonies are scheduled for December 10 in Oslo. I have other commitments then. Well, I’ll just have Herb Peirce accept it for me.”
United States ambassador to Norway, the Honorable Herbert H. D. Peirce, stood in front of the Norwegian Parliament on December 10, 1906, to accept the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of his president. Radiating pride and confidence, Peirce announced to the audience that President Theodore Roosevelt intended to establish a foundation in Washington, D. C., dedicated to improving relations among all nations and to the maintenance of peace throughout the world. As the audience erupted into enthusiastic applause, Peirce could not hold back his tears of delight. “Good Lord,” he said softly, “how they love the man!”
Several weeks later, the diplomatic pouch from Norway arrived at the White House. Its contents were brought to the president. They included an engraved certificate from the Nobel Committee, announcing the award of the 1906 Nobel Peace Prize “to Theodore Roosevelt, President of the United States, for his extraordinary efforts in promoting world peace by mediating the end of the Russo-Japanese War.” Beaming with pride, Roosevelt removed a small leather case from the pouch and opened it to find a gold medal. The front contained a profile image of Alfred Nobel. The backside had the image of three men embracing in a fraternal bond, with the inscription, “Pro pace fraternitate gentium,” meaning, “For the peace and brotherhood of man.” Tears welled in Roosevelt’s eyes as he held the medal in his hand. This honor belongs to so many others, he thought to himself. Lastly, the pouch contained a sealed envelope that he gently opened with a letter opener. It contained a check from the Bank of Norway, drawn on the account of the Nobel Committee, in the amount of thirty-seven thousand dollars.
The following week, Roosevelt scheduled a meeting with Calvin Briggs, his private attorney. He told Briggs in advance that he wanted to draw up papers for the peace foundation that he would be funding and, in addition, he had a private estate matter that he wanted to discuss. When Briggs entered the Oval Office, Roosevelt asked him to be seated, and proceeded to outline his vision for the peace foundation to be funded with thirty-five thousand dollars of the Nobel Prize. When he handed the bank draft to Briggs, the attorney noted the amount of the draft and said, “Mr. President, this check is for thirty-seven thousand dollars. You are earmarking only thirty-five thousand of it for the foundation. What is your intention for the rest of the money?”
Roosevelt sat across from his lawyer with his hands folded and stared down at his desk for a few moments before speaking. “Yes, Calvin, you are correct. The entire amount of the draft won’t be used for the foundation.” Looking up at the attorney, he continued by saying, “You know, as always, I expect strict attorney-client privilege to be the rule with this matter that we are about to discuss. No one other than the two of us must know about it. Do you understand?”
The president’s demeanor puzzled Briggs. This sudden serious tone seemed so atypical of him. In addition, Briggs felt a little offended that the president thought it necessary to remind him of attorney-client privilege. “Of course, Mr. President,” he replied. “That goes without saying. Now, what are you intending? What do you want me to help you with?”
“I want you to establish a trust fund with the remaining two thousand dollars. I want this funding to be anonymous. My name must never be linked to it. That is critical. Not even my wife must know about this trust, and you are to ask me no specifics or questions in regard to this trust fund. I just want to set these rules before we continue, agreed?”
“Yes, sir. Who is to be the beneficiary of the trust? What name will go on the legal paperwork?”
“The name of the beneficiary is Mrs. Helen Morrison. Her late husband was a naval officer, a Lieutenant Stephen Morrison. That is all you really need to know. Remember, Calvin, no one, especially Mrs. Morrison, must ever link this fund to me, even after my death. This anonimity is crucial to me. I never want this woman to want for anything. Now, if there are no further questions, we can end this meeting.”
“I understand, sir. I will contact you when the paperwork is ready. And I guarantee you that no one will know who funded this trust, especially not Mrs. Morrison, when its benefits accrue. Thank you for your confidence in me, Mr. President.”
As his attorney departed the office, Roosevelt remained very somber. The memory of Lieutenant Morrison will cause pain in my heart as long as I live, he thought.