The man of honor

A Modern-Day Knight

as the chief military adviser to two presidents, Major Archibald "archie" Butt was an officer destined for valorous service and heroic deeds.

After losing his father at an early age, young Archie worked hard to provide for his family - particularly his dear mother - before volunteering to uphold another family legacy appropriately dear to him: military service.

Archie joined the US Army in 1900 and served as a Captain in the Philippines and Cuba, where he showed remarkable acumen at logistics, military transportation, and animal care in tropic climates. he also came in close contact with William H. taft, the then Governor-General of the Philippines and later Secretary of War. With Taft's endorsement, Butt became military Aide to President Theodore Roosevelt in 1908, and after the elections that year, to Taft himself. After so many years together, Taft and Butt had become INSEPARABLE friends.

Respected in uniform, adored by his president, and the Toast of Washington high society, the only question surrounding a man as beloved as archie Butt is how he could possibly still be a bachelor, never mind where he is frequently disappearing at such strange hours.

A Man of Letters

Throughout his time in Washington, Archie wrote a plethora of letters to his mother, Pamela Butt, and to his sister-in-law Clara. Due to the frequency of these letters and their politically sensitive content - such as the crisis Taft faced shortly into his tenure - they are considered a treasure trove by presidential historians.