Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Eugene Hale
Subject(s): Bonaparte, Charles J. (Charles Joseph), 1851-1921, Cortelyou, George B. (George Bruce), 1862-1940, Dorr, Bryan R. (Bryan Ripley), 1881-1958, Government investigators, Governmental investigations, Knight, John B. (John Broadus), 1879-1950, Lee, William E. (William Erwin), 1882-1955, Reeder, Frank W. (Frank William), 1837-1929, Root, Elihu, 1845-1937, Tillman, Benjamin R. (Benjamin Ryan), 1847-1918, Watkins, George, 1851-1923
Click on image to zoom in
President Roosevelt sends Senator Hale reports from the various governmental departments on the use of special attorneys, special agents, and investigators, as Hale requested. Roosevelt believes it is Congress’s right and duty to investigate these things, but also says that the system of using these special investigators is necessary to safeguard the popular interest. To prove his point, Roosevelt highlights several instances where these agents have been used, and says that even when adhering strictly to their duty, they can discover facts that expose other elements that deserve investigation. Roosevelt uses the recent case involving the sale of Oregon lands in which Senator Benjamin R. Tillman was involved as an example of this.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1909-01-05
Creator(s)
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Recipient
Language
English
Period
U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
9
Production Method
Record Type
Multi-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 Eugene Hale. [January 5, 1909]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o206029. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Eugene Hale. [5 Jan. 1909]. Multi-image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. January 23, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o206029.
APA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919., [1909, January 5]. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Eugene Hale.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o206029.
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.
