Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Robert Underwood Johnson
Subject(s): California--Hetch Hetchy Valley, Columbia College (New York, N.Y.), Endowments--Moral and ethical aspects, Garfield, James Rudolph, 1865-1950, Pinchot, Gifford, 1865-1946, Pulitzer, Joseph, 1847-1911, Universities and colleges, Water rights
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President Roosevelt shared Robert Underwood Johnson’s indignation at Columbia College’s acceptance of money “for such a purpose from such a knave,” (Joseph Pulitzer had recently proposed the creation of a school of journalism at Columbia College). Roosevelt tells Johnson that he was extremely doubtful about the Hetch Hetchy matter, but ultimately decided he had to stand behind the judgement of Secretary of the Interior James Rudolph Garfield and Chief Forester Gifford Pinchot.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1908-12-17
Creator(s)
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Recipient
Johnson, Robert Underwood, 1853-1937
Language
English
Period
U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
1
Production Method
Record Type
Image
Resource Type
Rights
These images are presented through a cooperative effort between the Library of Congress and Dickinson State University. No known restrictions on publication.
Citation
Cite this Record
Chicago:
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Robert Underwood Johnson. [December 17, 1908]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o205722. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Robert Underwood Johnson. [17 Dec. 1908]. Image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. January 23, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o205722.
APA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919., [1908, December 17]. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Robert Underwood Johnson.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o205722.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. January 23, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
APA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
