Your TR Source
William Dudley Foulke describes and praises President Roosevelt’s character, and declares that “all these things fit him better than any man living to be President of a young, vigorous, great and flourishing Republic.” This essay is accompanied by a portrait of Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-09
William Dudley Foulke writes to Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt to express his condolences on the loss of her son, Quentin Roosevelt in combat during World War I.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1918-07-18
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-10-24
Foulke, William Dudley, 1848-1935
Although William Dudley Foulke has an “utter abhorrence” of President Woodrow Wilson, he fears that the Republican Party offers even worse alternatives. Foulke disagrees with the Republican Party about tariffs and the formation of the League of Nations and discusses the challenges facing railroad and communications privatization now that the war has ended. He also believes that momentum is with the nationalization of industries and that America cannot go back to “reduced wages, longer hours.” As when he was advocating for Theodore Roosevelt’s progressive principles, Foulke believes that the greatest security against “the menace of socialism” is offering equal opportunity.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1918-12-24
William Dudley Foulke encloses an editorial that expresses the opinions of everybody in his area. Almost all of them are insurgents, and the platform Foulke discussed with Roosevelt at Oyster Bay most closely expresses their convictions. He thanks Roosevelt for what he said about his speech at the Civic Federation, and was very satisfied with Roosevelt’s letter regarding his disagreement with Simeon E. Baldwin.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-02-06
William Dudley Foulke and his wife, Mary T. R. Foulke, hear gossip and “cock-and-bull stories” about Theodore Roosevelt during their stay in Washington D.C. He believes “one cannot argue with absolute unreason” and advises Roosevelt wait until the tide turns. Foulke finds the new Japanese ambassador, Baron Kōsai Uchida, admirable and sincere in his appreciation of Roosevelt’s friendship for Japan.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-12-24
William Dudley Foulke discusses the political situation in Indiana before Theodore Roosevelt’s trip to the state. He commends Roosevelt’s speech at Osawatomie, Kansas.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-09-13
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-05-17
Foulke, William Dudley, 1848-1935
William Dudley Foulke recently gave a speech condemning libel in the press. Foulke shares that people respond enthusiastically to President Roosevelt’s name in the middle west. Uncharacteristically, according to his own perceptions of their correspondence, he commends Roosevelt for an excellent run as president rather than sharing distressing news.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-25
William Dudley Foulke informs President Roosevelt that he recently received a letter from Lucius B. Swift, whose views coincide with Roosevelt’s.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-01
William Dudley Foulke informs President Roosevelt that The Indianapolis News has been alleging that Roosevelt and his administration, along with president-elect William H. Taft, were involved in a conspiracy involving the improper payment of funds for the Panama Canal. Foulke asks what the facts are relating to this alleged scandal.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-29
William Dudley Foulke details the conditions which led to a Republican slump in Indiana during the election. Men such as Lucius B. Swift who offered their services to the Republican committee were boycotted. Foulke also believes that editorials and false articles in papers such as the Indianapolis News also contributed to a distrust of President Roosevelt and William H. Taft. He details a telephone conversation he had with editor Delavan Swift about a letter that Roosevelt had written about him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-07
William Dudley Foulke understands that what is being written about President Roosevelt is false. Foulke has experience with Louis Ludlow, an Indiana journalist who published libel about him in the past. The article that Foulke sent to Charles J. Bonaparte “amounts to a charge of personal corruption” against both Roosevelt and Secretary of War William H. Taft, and Foulke believes that men who write libel should be held accountable for their actions. They could be charged under existing libel laws, but it is not customary for public figures to do so.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-17
William Dudley Foulke tells President Roosevelt that he has heard from Elliot H. Goodwin about his interviews with Roosevelt and Charles J. Bonaparte. Foulke cannot pursue an investigation himself, and thinks that it should not be done until it can be done adequately. He comments on several newspapers in Indiana, and encloses an address he gave yesterday on the topic of criticism concerning Roosevelt’s attitude toward William H. Taft.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-07
William Dudley Foulke writes to President Roosevelt about accusations that Roosevelt is manipulating patronage in favor of Secretary of War William H. Taft’s candidacy. Foulke presented a statement from Roosevelt to the executive committee of the Indiana Civil Service Reform Association and offered an investigation of the matter, but the critics of Roosevelt did not want that, and instead demanded a blanket statement against official interference. Foulke sends Roosevelt a copy of a statement he gave to the Indianapolis News for his own information.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-02-23
William Dudley Foulke tells Elliot H. Goodwin that he is always in favor of investigation of improper use of patronage, but thinks that the suggestion to investigate the use of patronage in favor of William H. Taft, as suggested by the Indianapolis News, does not make sense. Foulke also tells Goodwin about some of the proceedings of a recent Indiana Civil Service Reform Association meeting.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-02-22
On behalf of his former classmate, David B. Ogden, William Dudley Foulke asks President Roosevelt to reconsider the charges of disloyalty brought against Francis Augustus MacNutt when he was in Spain. Foulke says that minister Archibald Loudon Snowden has made contradictory statements about the matter. Foulke also notes that attacks on Roosevelt in the press are becoming milder, perhaps because they seem to be ineffectual.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-12-12
William Dudley Foulke sends President Roosevelt several new clippings regarding the ways his enemies in Ohio and Indiana have been trying to discredit him, particularly allegations he has done nothing to limit political corruption in Cincinnati driven by George Barnsdale Cox and that his antitrust investigations are responsible for the current financial crisis. Foulke also offers his own suggestions as to how Roosevelt could best curb the power of monopolies.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-14
William Dudley Foulke approves of President Roosevelt’s handling of the Falconio matter. He was surprised that Roosevelt found the time to read his work “Life of Morton” and write him a letter about it. Foulke feels that even during Reconstruction, Morton was correct, and comments on the question of suffrage for African Americans, saying that even though the fifteenth amendment does not seem particularly effective at present, future generations may be able to figure out a solution. Foulke says that if he could choose one person of which to write a biography, he would choose Roosevelt, but he guesses that Roosevelt will outlive him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-12
William Dudley Foulke calls President Roosevelt’s attention to a paper he encloses which was “published ostensibly by negroes” and distributed widely in Indianapolis. Foulke also comments on the situation of Francis Augustus MacNutt, who had been in the service of the United States as a diplomat until certain charges were raised against him. MacNutt was acquitted at Rome, but subsequent statements attributed to Roosevelt led to his not being received at the Vatican. MacNutt begs the privilege of answering any definite charge against him. He is still abroad, but would return to the United States to have the opportunity to prove his innocence.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-28