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Dr. Mitchell asks Secretary of State Root to speak with President Roosevelt about presenting the Benjamin Franklin Medal to the representative of the French Republic at the Franklin Bi-Centennial Celebration in Pennsylvania.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-12-07
S. Weir Mitchell, medical doctor, has received news that he has lost the appointment previously made by William McKinley. Though Mitchell had asked McKinley to enact the “rule of appointing sons of officers,” Mitchell mentions his contributions to the world of medicine and he and his brothers’ service during the Civil War to justify asking for this “little” appointment. He claims that in England he would have received high and honorable awards for his work. McKinley allowed for the appointment and then died. Now Mitchell has received news that the appointment has been lost. However, he has heard no official word from the Navy and hopes that he has been mistaken. He asks for President Roosevelt’ s final decision. (It is possible that the appointment spoken of is for Mitchell or his son.)
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-10-11