Butler, Nicholas Murray, 1862-1947

Letter from Nicholas Murray Butler to Theodore Roosevelt

Columbia University President Nicholas Murray Butler is delighted that President Roosevelt might be able to receive the visiting Kaiser Wilhelm Professor Rudolf Leonhard and his wife at the White House. Butler has enclosed a letter with additional details and a list of committee members for the event. Butler notes that the the event should be on a similar scale with what is done in Germany, and that the date is flexible based on Roosevelt’s schedule.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10-31

Creator(s)

Butler, Nicholas Murray, 1862-1947

Letter from Nicholas Murray Butler to Theodore Roosevelt

Nicholas Murray Butler encloses a letter from his college friend, Thomas A. Painter, on the topic of resource pooling and antitrust law that Butler thinks President Roosevelt will find interesting.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-01

Creator(s)

Butler, Nicholas Murray, 1862-1947

Letter from Nicholas Murray Butler to Theodore Roosevelt

Nicholas Murray Butler, President of Columbia University, writes to ask President Roosevelt if he will invite visiting Kaiser Wilhelm Professor Rudolf Leonhard and his wife, Klara Wilhelmina Goll Leonhard, to dinner at the White House. Butler feels this is an important gesture for the academic cooperation between the two countries, particularly given the warm reception of American academics in Germany. If Roosevelt would invite the Leonhards to a dinner he is having with German Ambassador Hermann Speck von Sternburg, Murray is confident that German Emperor William II would appreciate the gesture.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10-28

Creator(s)

Butler, Nicholas Murray, 1862-1947

Letter from Nicholas Murray Butler to Theodore Roosevelt

Columbia University President Butler will not be able to come to Washington, D.C., to meet President Roosevelt as he is very busy. Butler despairs of the actions taken by the Nebraska Republican Convention concerning the federal courts which he believes threatens the fourteenth amendment. He feels these ideas are antithetical to the ideals of the Republican Party, and hopes they will be criticized by the press.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-25

Creator(s)

Butler, Nicholas Murray, 1862-1947

Letter from Nicholas Murray Butler to Theodore Roosevelt

Columbia University President Butler discusses the ongoing economic panic and gives President Roosevelt advice on how to maintain a sound relationship between economic development and politics. Butler believes an adjustment to the tariff is necessary and suggests the Department of Commerce and Labor look into the matter. He feels that the “inanity” of Democratic Party leadership may allow Republicans to win the next presidential election, if they choose the right candidate. Though Secretary of War William H. Taft is well-regarded, there is not much enthusiasm for his candidacy. Butler may see Roosevelt in Washington, D.C., at the end of the week.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-23

Creator(s)

Butler, Nicholas Murray, 1862-1947

Letter from Nicholas Murray Butler

In a letter to an unspecified party, Columbia University President Butler speaks about how organizer of the Association for International Conciliation baron Paul-Henri-Benjamin Balluet Estournelles de Constant has requested Butler’s help organizing public relations in regards to the agency. He states that it is particularly desirable for the American representatives at the upcoming Hague Conference to be able to rely upon “instructed and sympathetic public opinion.” Butler asks for the recipient’s opinion on who should be asked to join a related committee.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-05

Creator(s)

Butler, Nicholas Murray, 1862-1947

Letter from Nicholas Murray Butler to Theodore Roosevelt

Nicholas Murray Butler thinks Herbert Parsons showed far more power of leadership than he had anticipated, and the Republican party has been saved from making a critical blunder. Butler believes that the Republican party will win, but he recognizes the intensity of the political struggle ahead. Professor Hermann Schumacher gave a successful inaugural address, and Butler finds him personally very agreeable.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-28

Creator(s)

Butler, Nicholas Murray, 1862-1947

Letter from Nicholas Murray Butler to Theodore Roosevelt

Nicholas Murray Butler notes that President Roosevelt was correct in his assessment of matters concerning Maksim Gorky and that there is “clearly” a “break-up of all order and restraint” going on in Russia. Butler also excitedly tells of “some most astonishing things” going on in Kassel, Germany, in relation to Herman Ridder of the Staats-Zeitung. After struggling for an imperial audience with Kaiser Wilhelm II, Ridder was helped by American ambassador Charlemagne Tower to get access. However, when Ridder arrived and did not see as much of the Kaiser as he would have liked, Ridder fabricated a story about his visit and what the Kaiser told him, which was printed in the papers. Butler shares the press statement from the Palace, which reacted by contradicting Ridder’s claims. Butler is excited to see what the American papers will publish in relation to the incident since Ridder telegraphed his own story to America.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-23

Creator(s)

Butler, Nicholas Murray, 1862-1947

Letter from Nicholas Murray Butler to Theodore Roosevelt

Nicholas Murray Butler recently dined with German Emperor William II, who asked him to send President Roosevelt a special message of his regard. Butler additionally sends Roosevelt an interesting article regarding Roosevelt’s historical writing. Regarding Roosevelt’s previous mention of taxation, Butler comments that he hopes to be back in the United States in time to be of use to Roosevelt, but suggests that in the meantime Roosevelt consult with some experts on the topic. He is enjoying the rest he is getting while abroad.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-12

Creator(s)

Butler, Nicholas Murray, 1862-1947

Letter from Nicholas Murray Butler to Theodore Roosevelt

Nicholas Murray Butler tells Theodore Roosevelt that William Torrey Harris, upon his retirement from the Bureau of Education, has accepted the first retiring allowance of the Carnegie Foundation for his service to American education. Butler enthusiastically supports the appointment of Professor Elmer Ellsworth Brown of Berkeley, California, to replace Harris at the respectful time.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-08

Creator(s)

Butler, Nicholas Murray, 1862-1947

Letter from Nicholas Murray Butler to Theodore Roosevelt

Nicholas Murray Butler writes to President Roosevelt expressing his disgust with Congressman James Wadsworth for opposing passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act in the House of Representatives. Butler indicates that he will rally support for Roosevelt through his influential connections.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-11

Creator(s)

Butler, Nicholas Murray, 1862-1947

Letter from Nicholas Murray Butler to Theodore Roosevelt

Nicholas Murray Butler writes to President Roosevelt to say there is plenty of time for thinking before September 1908. (Butler had suggested that Roosevelt run for Senate representing the State of New York, once he leaves the presidency.) Butler assures Roosevelt he does not need to worry about Senator Thomas Collier Platt, and he thinks that Benjamin B. Odell could be managed with a little skill.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-01

Creator(s)

Butler, Nicholas Murray, 1862-1947

Letter from Nicholas Murray Butler to Theodore Roosevelt

The Executive Committee of the Carnegie Foundation has authorized Dr. Pritchett to tender to Dr. Harris, commissioner of education, a retiring allowance of $3,000 in case Dr. Harris wishes to take the opportunity to retire from active services in order to spend the rest of his life in study and literary work. This will be done in the next few weeks and will be done with all possible tact. If Harris decides to retire, Nicholas Butler suggests Professor Brown, of the University of California, be considered for commissioner.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-10

Creator(s)

Butler, Nicholas Murray, 1862-1947

Letter from Nicholas Murray Butler to Theodore Roosevelt

Nicholas Murray Butler does not want President Roosevelt to feel committed to Brown simply on his recommendation, but Butler does feel that Brown is the best man available in case Harris retires.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-14

Creator(s)

Butler, Nicholas Murray, 1862-1947

Letter from Nicholas Murray Butler to Theodore Roosevelt

Nicholas Murray Butler was able to see Irving Ramsay Wiles’s portrait of President Roosevelt and believes that is it is better than the John Singer Sargent portrait.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-17

Creator(s)

Butler, Nicholas Murray, 1862-1947

Letter from Nicholas Murray Butler to Theodore Roosevelt

Nicholas Murray Butler writes to President Roosevelt about a pending visit to Washington, D.C. Butler also mentions the District of Columbia school matter and says he is not able to get involved, despite solicitations to do so. Butler encloses a letter from Francis R. Lane for Roosevelt to read instead.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-03-08

Creator(s)

Butler, Nicholas Murray, 1862-1947

Letter from Nicholas Murray Butler to Theodore Roosevelt

Nicholas Murray Butler is preparing to sail for Jamaica, and he writes to thank President Roosevelt for setting a date in May for Butler and his wife to visit the White House. Butler also comments that he is glad to be out of the country for some time, as he is unhappy with what is going on in the United States Congress. He notes that the New York Sun has called for the resignations of Senators Chauncey M. Depew and Thomas Collier Platt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-03-10

Creator(s)

Butler, Nicholas Murray, 1862-1947

Letter from Nicholas Murray Butler to Theodore Roosevelt

Nicholas Murray Butler writes to President Roosevelt about the state of public schools in the District of Columbia and the pending legislation in Congress that addresses these issues.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-02-19

Creator(s)

Butler, Nicholas Murray, 1862-1947

Letter from Nicholas Murray Butler to Theodore Roosevelt

Nicholas Murray Butler writes to Theodore Roosevelt about the upcoming bill HR 10501 which involves the reincorporation of the National Educational Association and is facing some opposition. Butler clarifies his opinions regarding the bill and asks for Roosevelt’s support.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-02-23

Creator(s)

Butler, Nicholas Murray, 1862-1947

Letter from Nicholas Murray Butler to Theodore Roosevelt

Nicholas Murray Butler writes to President Roosevelt about an upcoming trip to Washington, D.C. Butler also mentions the senior senator from Rhode Island, most likely referring to Nelson W. Aldrich.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-02-27

Creator(s)

Butler, Nicholas Murray, 1862-1947