Steffens, Lincoln, 1866-1936

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-20

Creator(s)

Steffens, Lincoln, 1866-1936

Recipient

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Language

English

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-09

Creator(s)

Steffens, Lincoln, 1866-1936

Recipient

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Language

English

Reporter Lincoln Steffens urges President Roosevelt to consider campaign finance reform which would replace large corporate donations to politicians with smaller individual contributions instead. He agrees with Secretary of the Treasury George B. Cortelyou that it may be impracticable but thinks that even a suggestion of such a plan from Roosevelt would serve as an effective warning to corporations attempting to purchase influence.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-06

Creator(s)

Steffens, Lincoln, 1866-1936

Lincoln Steffens promises that if he uses the card President Roosevelt sent to get information from Senators and Congressmen, he will report the information to Roosevelt before it is published. When Steffens returns to the east, he would like to meet with Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-26

Creator(s)

Steffens, Lincoln, 1866-1936

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-06

Creator(s)

Steffens, Lincoln, 1866-1936

Recipient

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Language

English

While in Arizona, Lincoln Steffens was impressed by the good things happening in the state and chose to look more into them. He met with Governor Joseph Kibbey and was “really delighted.” Steffens writes to President Roosevelt to learn the truth of the possibility that Roosevelt might remove Kibbey.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-20

Creator(s)

Steffens, Lincoln, 1866-1936

Lincoln Steffens discusses with William Loeb when it would be possible for him to meet President Roosevelt to discuss the Presidential election. Steffens talks about an article for Wall Street that he thought was bad, but may include the information in another article that he is working on. He also discusses some other issues related to the conventions.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-13

Creator(s)

Steffens, Lincoln, 1866-1936

Lincoln Steffens thanks Theodore Roosevelt for the note of sympathy (his wife Josephine Bontecou Steffens recently died).

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-01-12

Creator(s)

Steffens, Lincoln, 1866-1936

Lincoln Steffens confirms plans to meet with Theodore Roosevelt next Friday afternoon.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-12-02

Creator(s)

Steffens, Lincoln, 1866-1936

Lincoln Steffens apologizes for his slow reply to President Roosevelt, as the previous letter came in the middle of the Republican National Convention. Steffens thinks that if it is necessary to reach socialism, so be it, but his hope is that it is possible to save democracy by getting rid of some of the greater privileges of government, such as those of private owners of public utilities, that drive corruption such as Tammany Hall. Steffens thinks that if they could get rid of some of the biggest sources of corruption, it would become much easier to deal with the smaller ones. He congratulates Roosevelt for driving a progressive agenda at the Republican National Convention.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-20

Creator(s)

Steffens, Lincoln, 1866-1936

Lincoln Steffens writes to President Roosevelt to put some facts and conclusions on record that they have come to together. Steffens clarifies that Roosevelt is not responsible for any articles that Steffens writes, and illuminates the course of an interview that he had with Roosevelt–having an open conversation with him and offering him every chance to correct any errors that may have slipped into the record of the interview. Steffens reiterates a point that he had raised to Roosevelt in the interview that he was trying to get him to think more deeply on political criticism in the United States, and to reflect on the actions of the government and the ways in which it is able to relate to corporations and trusts. Steffens has always respected Roosevelt, in spite of their disagreements, and looks forward to speaking to him in person soon.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-09

Creator(s)

Steffens, Lincoln, 1866-1936

Lincoln Steffens informs William Loeb that after Francis J. Heney visited him in Washington, he is clear on the matters relating to W. C. Bristol, United States Attorney for Oregon, and Colonel Stewart, who has been accused of being unfit to lead. As a potential successor to Bristol, Christian Schuebel’s competence had been questioned, but the suggested alternative, William Simon U’Ren, would not accept the appointment. Regarding Stewart, the president should know that though Stewart’s colleagues may see him as unfit, there is not sufficient evidence for discharge, and he hopes Roosevelt will review General William Penn Duvall’s malicious behavior surrounding the matter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-12-28

Creator(s)

Steffens, Lincoln, 1866-1936

Lincoln Steffens encloses a letter written by his friend Charles Stewart defending his brother Colonel William F. Stewart, who has been sent into “exile” at Fort Grant, in the hopes that President Roosevelt will intervene on the colonel’s behalf. Steffens also assures Roosevelt that he is looking into the matter of Supreme Court Justice William H. Moody and District Attorney Francis J. Heney.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-29

Creator(s)

Steffens, Lincoln, 1866-1936

Journalist Lincoln Steffens will talk to Francis J. Heney concerning Supreme Court Associate Justice William H. Moody, and Heney will explain the situation to President Roosevelt. Steffans claims a friendly relationship with Moody. Whereas, the issue he wrote about was “thrashed out” with Roosevelt and Cabinet attorneys in favor of Heney concerning the letter from William C. Bristol. Roosevelt may disagree with Steffans, but they can agree it is easy to misunderstand what a man has said. While generally right, gossip is merely a guide for investigation since Steffans intends his articles to be correct and truthful. He will further discuss the issue with Roosevelt and promises to correct any injustice.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-11

Creator(s)

Steffens, Lincoln, 1866-1936

Lincoln Steffens tries to make plans to see Theodore Roosevelt in Colorado or in Oyster Bay.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-30

Creator(s)

Steffens, Lincoln, 1866-1936

Lincoln Steffens relays reports of political corruption in Philadelphia with regard to the last election and wishes President Roosevelt would speak publicly against it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-10-17

Creator(s)

Steffens, Lincoln, 1866-1936

Lincoln Steffens writes to President Roosevelt to discuss campaign contributions. Steffens suggests that Roosevelt urge those who do not seek any special legislation to donate to his campaign fund. He believes this would result in great loyalty to and support of Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-21

Creator(s)

Steffens, Lincoln, 1866-1936

Lincoln Steffens discusses the political situation in Cincinnati and invites President Roosevelt to talk to Mr. John Vandercook.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-08-07

Creator(s)

Steffens, Lincoln, 1866-1936

Lincoln Steffens thanks President Roosevelt for Roosevelt’s recommendation of Charles J. Bonaparte to write an article, but another individual has been selected.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-01

Creator(s)

Steffens, Lincoln, 1866-1936

Lincoln Steffens informs William Loeb that since Grover Cleveland has agreed to be the writer for one side, they cannot pick a regular journalist to write the other piece. He hopes that Elihu Root will agree to write the article and suggests that Senator William P. Frye could be an alternative if Root is not able to do so. Steffens notes that only Root or Secretary of State John Hay would carry the same weight as Cleveland.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-08-17

Creator(s)

Steffens, Lincoln, 1866-1936