Your TR Source
President Taft is grateful Theodore Roosevelt approves the message. Secretary of State Philander C. Knox will visit Roosevelt later in the week to discuss Japan. Taft is anxious for Roosevelt’s opinion on the matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-12-11
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-11-30
Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930
President Taft thanks David H. Wright for dedicating a recent translation of Henry Dunant’s work Un Souvenir De Solferino to him in his capacity as President of the American Red Cross.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-11-09
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-05-26
Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-02-19
Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930
President Taft has heard that the Associated Press has assigned Robert O. Bailey to accompany Theodore Roosevelt to Africa. Although Taft understands that Roosevelt wants no press accompaniment, he assures him that Bailey is “one of the least objectional persons” he could have with him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-03-08
President Taft informs Oscar S. Straus that Ambassador Thomas J. O’Brien does not want to transfer from his post in Japan to Turkey because he has not been in Japan very long and feels he has done good work there. Taft asks if Straus would be willing to take the post in Constantinople in the hopes that after a year he can be transferred to Japan.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-03-13
President Taft wishes Theodore Roosevelt well on his African safari and discusses the strangeness of being referred to as “Mr. President.” He compares his presidential and political prospects with what Roosevelt achieved in office and assures Roosevelt that he plans on furthering the same agenda.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-03-21
President-Elect Taft solicits President Roosevelt’s opinion on various political matters, including his inaugural address, pending statehood bills, and cabinet appointments. In particular, Taft would like Roosevelt to review the enclosed passage regarding Asian immigration and related laws. Taft also discusses the rationale behind his potential cabinet appointments, explaining that his choices are based on the individual’s experience, conduct, and character.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-23
President-Elect Taft writes to President Roosevelt about the upcoming inauguration and legislative debates. Taft reiterates that he has not changed his mind about Fowler (presumably the Fowler Bill relating to financial reform, H.R. 12677) but will attempt to subvert any machinations by that bill’s sponsor, Representative Charles N. Fowler. Taft requests feedback on his inaugural address regarding relations with Japan, and shares that several prominent African American leaders, including Booker T. Washington, have evaluated his speech as it relates to African Americans. Taft concludes by warmly accepting an offer to stay in the White House during the last night of the Roosevelt administration, partially to undermine rumors that he and Roosevelt have been in conflict.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-25
President-Elect Taft shows President Roosevelt an example of many heated correspondences he has received regarding the retention of Edward S. Fowler as Collector of the Port of New York.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-20
President-Elect Taft explains his positions on the New Mexico and Arizona statehood bills and the postal savings bank bill to President Roosevelt. Assuming that the bills have gone through the proper processes, Taft has no problems signing them into law but does not think it will be possible in such a short session.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-21
President-elect Taft advises President Obaldia of Panama that going forward with his country’s proposed government timber contract would be a critical mistake. If the deal proved to be good for the government and bad for the company that received the contract, there are insufficient safeguards in place to ensure the work is completed. If the timber is extremely profitable, the Panamanian government could find itself controlled by a private company. The United States would also be displeased to see another entity gain so much power in Panama. Taft shares this advice confidentially, and in an unofficial capacity. In a postscript, he assures Obaldia that he was not influenced by the “malignantly slanderous reports” on this topic in the American press, and he thanks Obaldia for the previous night’s “beautiful and magnificent entertainment.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-05
President-elect Taft was sorry to hear about Harry Johnston’s unpleasant stay in Colón, and he addresses Johnston’s grievances in detail. The natural geography of the Colón harbor would make the kind of breakwater Johnston suggests both difficult and expensive to construct, but the board of engineers does plan to address the matter. The weather conditions that stranded Johnston in Colón were unusual, so travelers rarely have to stay at the Hotel Imperial. Although Taft agrees that the hotel is “dreadful,” it will probably be impossible to open the government’s hotels in Colón to ordinary travelers. These government hotels anger local hotel owners who must compete with them for customers. The Hotel Tivoli in Panama City is an exceptional case. Colón’s water supply has already improved greatly, but a filtration system is currently being added.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-06
President-elect Taft encloses a letter from Sir Harry Johnston about the dreadful conditions at the Hotel Imperial in Colón, and his own reply. He found Johnston’s decision to complain at length about his personal discomfort to another country’s head of state perplexing. Taft’s wife, Helen Herron Taft, did not share his “intense amusement” at Johnston’s “extremely English” tone. Taft also encloses the self-explanatory letter he wrote to President Jose Domingo de Obaldia of Panama after a call from Obaldia’s competitor, Ricardo Arias. Taft is disgusted by Representative Henry Thomas Rainey’s “diatribes” in the House of Representatives.
President-elect Taft describes his pleasant journey to Colón to inspect the construction of the Panama Canal. He informs President Roosevelt that changes among the engineering staff have resulted in clear improvements. The committee is not inclined to change the plans for the canal’s locks and dams. They worry that too much money is being spent on safety precautions, but Taft disagrees. He approves of Roosevelt’s decision to widen the canal, and is optimistic that it will be finished before the projected completion date. Additionally, Taft discusses cabinet and diplomatic appointments he is considering.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-01
President-Elect Taft thinks he might have told Timothy L. Woodruff too much in regards to his plan to keep William Loeb as his secretary for a short time after his inauguration.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-22
President-Elect Taft writes President Roosevelt about collaborating on an article for Collier’s about their presidential administrations and relationship with one another. Taft does not like what he wrote for article and asks Roosevelt to look it over and provide feedback and additional comments.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-24
President-Elect Taft advises President Roosevelt to “go slow” about an appointment for judge in North Carolina due to the politics involved. Taft advises against the appointment of H. F. Seawell, and points out the influence of the Southern Railway Company and Seaboard Air Line Railroad on multiple North Carolina statesmen.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-17
President-elect Taft acknowledges Alford Warriner Cooley’s recommendation of Harry Skinner for judgeship in North Carolina. Taft notes that President Roosevelt will likely appoint Skinner, but will consider the matter if it should come to him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-18