Private Correspondence

1910 November 10 — Letter from Pierre de Coubertin to Theodore Roosevelt

Conferral of the Diplôme des Débrouillards:
“On behalf of the Société de Sports Populaires I beg to present you with this Diploma — the same which we give to our young 'débrouillards' and the only one which was ever conferred without examination. But the Council, as I wrote before, considered that Mr. Roosevelt had made it clear to everybody that he was capable of doing 'all that and much more.'”

Context:

• Coubertin confers upon Theodore Roosevelt the Diplôme des Débrouillards without examination, an unprecedented honor.

• Roosevelt is recognized as embodying the spirit of the débrouillard: resourceful, resilient, capable across domains of action.

• The act affirms that the débrouillard ideal is not limited to sport but applies to civic life at the highest level.

Reflection on the Movement’s Growth:
“I think the Débrouillard movement, which has already taken root in several European countries, is an up to date movement and I hope some American branch may come out some day.”

Context:

• Coubertin positions the débrouillard ideal as a broader educational movement, already gaining ground across Europe.

• He expresses hope that through Roosevelt’s example, an American tradition of fostering débrouillard traits might take root.

Key Insight:
This letter stands as a rare and direct affirmation of Coubertin’s belief that the débrouillard represents a univseral model of leadership, transcends nationality, athletics, and even formal education. By honoring Roosevelt with the Diplôme des Débrouillards, Coubertin made clear that adaptability, initiative, and resilience formed the true core of leadership in the modern world.