Nairobi Dec 14th 1909 Dear Needham, It was a real pleasure to hear from you. Will you particularly thank Cosgrave & Medill McCormick from me? I deeply appreciate their kindness. Moreover I quite agree with you that it would be well for me if I could to stay away [from] [2] America until after the congressional elections. But I don't see how it is possible, I am not a public man now, but a private citizen; my main thought is not again to be seperated [sic] from Mrs. Roosevelt, and as soon as I can to be in my own home where I can see my children. Moreover the summer [3] would be a horrid time to take Mrs. Roosevelt to India; and I ought to be back to take up my work on the Outlook, and to correct my book. I liked your articles, including the one on Taft. But arent my "sentimental appointments;" I never asked Taft to retain a man for me; I merely pointed out certain men [4] in office, headed by Loeb, who had been his staunchest and most efficient friends, and to whose ardent support of him - from loyalty to me - I deemed I ought to hear testimony; I merely told him the facts, leaving him to act as he thought best, the action to be determined by his gratitude to the men, not to me. Always yours Theodore Roosevelt