Key, Albert L. (Albert Lenoir), 1860-1950

Letter from Albert L. Key to Theodore Roosevelt

Commodore Key expresses to President Roosevelt about Senator Eugene Hale’s opposition to the naval personnel bill. Key feels sure that if the House of Representatives passes it, Hale will almost be forced to support the bill because he has never opposed a bill with wide popular support. However, Key fears that Representative George Edmund Foss, Chairman of the House Committee on Naval Affairs, will table the bill until the next session to appease Hale. Hale’s resolution has resulted in little attention even from the Senate Naval Committee of which he is the chairman. Lastly, Key encloses a memorandum that has made its rounds among Navy circles and asks for advice on how to help encourage passage of the bill.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-27

Creator(s)

Key, Albert L. (Albert Lenoir), 1860-1950

Letter from Albert L. Key to Theodore Roosevelt

Commander Key is glad that President Roosevelt understands the issues with the Navy administration system and suggests that the future ships to be approved by the coming Congress will be an improvement. Key congratulates Roosevelt on the conference at Newport, which confirmed all his criticisms of the North Dakota and the Delaware except one, which he expands upon. After first-hand experience with the Navy Department, Key suggests the creation of a legal addition to oversee the fleet. He is pleased to hear that Roosevelt plans to create an investigative commission that will be reviewing the current Naval organizational structure.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-18

Creator(s)

Key, Albert L. (Albert Lenoir), 1860-1950

Letter from Albert L. Key to Theodore Roosevelt

Albert L. Key congratulates President Roosevelt about the way in which the reduction of Navy personnel has gone, with all retirements being voluntary. Key thinks that some of the possible officers to be promoted will be inefficient, but overall believes that Roosevelt has handled the matter in a way that will benefit the Navy. He comments briefly that the ship “Salem” has gone through official trials successfully, and raises the question of showing Archibald B. Roosevelt, Roosevelt’s son, the ship in the summer, as he is interested in the Navy. Key saw Archie at Groton during the spring, and was very impressed about his description of Groton school. He is thinking of sending his own sons there when they are the right age.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-07

Creator(s)

Key, Albert L. (Albert Lenoir), 1860-1950

Report from Albert L. Key to Victor Howard Metcalf

Commander Key submits a report to Secretary of the Navy Metcalf presenting comments and suggestions related to the construction of the Battleship USS North Dakota. He strongly criticizes the use of 5″ armor to protect the guns, as it will likely be torn apart during an actual battle against a corresponding class of ship. Key also says that if it is not possible to protect torpedo defense guns, then the ships will be defenseless at night. He makes several suggestions for removing portions of the armor that he considers not necessary in favor of having some other more heavily defended positions, as well as commenting more generally on the size and design of the ship, including engine placement, gun sizes, and armor belts.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-09

Creator(s)

Key, Albert L. (Albert Lenoir), 1860-1950

Letter from Albert L. Key to Theodore Roosevelt

Albert L. Key notes that the legislation regarding line officers that President Roosevelt has called for is “essential for the efficiency of the fleet,” and that those who oppose it stand to lose something. He submits a memorandum outlining an updated procedure to include in the new operation which would give officers confidential warnings before they were dismissed from duty.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-05-11

Creator(s)

Key, Albert L. (Albert Lenoir), 1860-1950

Letter from Albert L. Key to Theodore Roosevelt

Albert L. Key argues that President Roosevelt has been more successful in placing younger officers in higher positions in the Army than he believes, and thinks that he could have the same success in the Navy. Key argues that many of the problems in the Navy right now, both practically and administratively, could be solved by placing younger and more efficient officers in higher-graded positions and promoting based on merit, rather than age. Key also briefly comments on the controversy concerning the placement of armor belts on battleships, disagreeing with Admiral Robley D. Evans’s position that it would be a mistake to raise the armor belts of ships.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-14

Creator(s)

Key, Albert L. (Albert Lenoir), 1860-1950

Letter from Albert L. Key to Theodore Roosevelt

Albert L. Key writes President Roosevelt about Lieutenant Commander Frank K. Hill, who has been actively directing attention to the armor belt question. A group of naval officers are conspiring to have him detached from his post and sent away from Washington. Key speaks to Hill’s quality and good standing and asks Roosevelt to step in to prevent him from being sent away.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-06

Creator(s)

Key, Albert L. (Albert Lenoir), 1860-1950

Letter from Albert L. Key to Theodore Roosevelt

Albert L. Key makes recommendations regarding the administrative structure of the Navy Department. He compares and contrasts the management of the department with the management and authority structure on a naval vessel, and recommends that the Assistant Secretary of the Navy be a line officer who has legal responsibility for supervising and coordinating the subordinate bureaus.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-27

Creator(s)

Key, Albert L. (Albert Lenoir), 1860-1950

Letter from Albert L. Key to Theodore Roosevelt

Albert L. Key sends President Roosevelt a copy of his written statement and printed testimony given before the Senate Committee. He wants Roosevelt to know that he is not an “irresponsible agitator,” that he advocated for moving the naval base from Subic to Manila, and that he is not responsible for the criticism of the Navy and naval vessels in the press. His investigation into the Navy was done independently, and his report and recommendations are based on facts.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-22

Creator(s)

Key, Albert L. (Albert Lenoir), 1860-1950

Letter from Albert L. Key to Eugene Hale

Albert L. Key encloses an additional statement he is submitting in regard to Admiral George Albert Converse’s report on defects in American naval vessels. He has complied with Senator Eugene Hale’s ruling and limited his report to comments made by Converse and Chief Constructor W. L. Capps, and left out any mention of administrative organization in the Navy Department. He tells Hale that his only aim is to establish the facts and point out errors in testimony.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-21

Creator(s)

Key, Albert L. (Albert Lenoir), 1860-1950

Letter from Albert L. Key to Theodore Roosevelt

Albert L. Key wishes to reassure President Roosevelt that he was not disloyal to him during a recent encounter with Senator Benjamin R. Tillman in which Key insisted that William Sowden Sims be given a chance to make a full statement to an investigating committee. While he was visiting Tillman, Pay Inspector Samuel McGowan also visited and, Key later learned, urged Tillman to suppress Sims’s testimony. Key does not trust McGowan’s character, but says that Roosevelt can judge for himself.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-06

Creator(s)

Key, Albert L. (Albert Lenoir), 1860-1950

Letter from Albert L. Key to Theodore Roosevelt

Captain Richmond Pearson Hobson has read the papers President Roosevelt asked Albert L. Key to show him and is in favor of Roosevelt’s special message. He has some suggestions if Roosevelt will meet with him. Key has heard that Admiral George Albert Converse is basing his report on misleading data from the Bureau of Ordnance and the Bureau of Construction and Repair. Roosevelt was right to talk to Captain Cameron McRae Winslow before acting on the report. Thankfully, the facts will quickly be discovered after the report is submitted.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-02

Creator(s)

Key, Albert L. (Albert Lenoir), 1860-1950

Letter from Albert L. Key to Theodore Roosevelt

Albert L. Key cites different recommendations President Roosevelt and his administration have made over the years regarding organization of the Navy and Navy Department. In spite of the recommendations, Congress and the naval committees have not acted on them. Rather, they seem more concerned with appropriations. Key asks Roosevelt to push the issue of new legislation in a special message to Congress.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-01-25

Creator(s)

Key, Albert L. (Albert Lenoir), 1860-1950

Letter from Albert L. Key to Theodore Roosevelt

Albert L. Key writes to President Roosevelt regarding attempts to form a personnel committee made up of naval officers to oversee United States Navy personnel decisions. Key states Senator Eugene Hale wants to form a board of elected officials instead. Hale will use the board to advance the careers of his friends and not for the benefit of the Navy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-07-12

Creator(s)

Key, Albert L. (Albert Lenoir), 1860-1950

Letter from Albert L. Key to Theodore Roosevelt

Lieutenant-Commander Key encloses a copy of the current issue of the “Proceedings of the United States Naval Institute.” Key hopes that President Roosevelt finds the time to read the articles by Commander Stanton, Lieutenant McLean, and Key. The article by Commander Rittenhouse, however, is so “purely academic” that Key does not think it has value. Key has written his article in the hopes of stirring up some interest in his plan regarding the naval committees and the public press. The weaknesses pointed out in the plan are not exaggerated, and Key believes the correction is essential if the United States is to have “an efficient fighting Navy.” He adds that he knows Roosevelt realizes this, but the inaction by Congress is discouraging.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04-13

Creator(s)

Key, Albert L. (Albert Lenoir), 1860-1950

Letter from Albert L. Key to Theodore Roosevelt

Albert L. Key writes to President Roosevelt about the medical condition of General Leonard Wood.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-02-19

Creator(s)

Key, Albert L. (Albert Lenoir), 1860-1950

Letter from Albert L. Key to Theodore Roosevelt

Lieutenant Commander Key writes to President Roosevelt regarding an article by Lloyd H. Chandler, son of former Secretary of the Navy William E. Chandler, which he thinks Roosevelt would enjoy reading.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-25

Creator(s)

Key, Albert L. (Albert Lenoir), 1860-1950

Letter from Albert L. Key to Theodore Roosevelt

Albert L. Key, Lieutenant Commander of the Navy, writes to President Roosevelt regarding General Leonard Wood and his appointment in the Philippines. Wood and the army will appreciate Roosevelt’s effort to retain the grade of lieutenant general.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-10

Creator(s)

Key, Albert L. (Albert Lenoir), 1860-1950

Letter from Albert L. Key to Theodore Roosevelt

Lieutenant Commander Key writes to President Roosevelt regarding the appointment of Major General Wood to the Philippines Division. Key is willing to accept Roosevelt’s proposition as the best plan for stationing Wood in the Philippines and then in Europe.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-07

Creator(s)

Key, Albert L. (Albert Lenoir), 1860-1950

Additional statement by Commander A. L. Key, U.S. Navy, to the chairman and members of the Senate Naval Committee

Commander Key responds to reports by Rear Admiral George Albert Converse and Chief Constructor of the Navy W. L. Capps about the construction of American battleships compared to Japanese and British battleships. Key points out errors and inconsistencies in the reports, and argues that the water line armor belts on American battleships are incorrectly placed and not thick enough. He believes the United States needs to be building ships based on the most up-to-date knowledge about battleship construction and design. He also takes issue with the lack of battle tactics practice in the Atlantic Fleet’s maneuvers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-21

Creator(s)

Key, Albert L. (Albert Lenoir), 1860-1950