Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George Edmund Foss
Subject(s): Bills, Legislative, Hawaii--Pearl Harbor, Mason, Newton E., 1850-1945, Newberry, Truman Handy, 1864-1945, United States. Marine Corps, United States. Navy, United States. Navy. General Board
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President Roosevelt explains his concerns with the naval bill to Representative Foss of Illinois, chairman of the committee on naval affairs in the House of Representatives. Roosevelt thinks that having marines on fighting ships is unnecessary, but does not think this is the most problematic part of the bill. Rather, Roosevelt argues that provisions preventing the purchase of torpedoes and gunpowder inhibit the Navy’s ability to prepare for war. Roosevelt concludes by urging the speedy construction of a new dock at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and stresses the importance of keeping the fleet together to best protect the United States.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1909-02-18
Creator(s)
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Recipient
Foss, George Edmund, 1863-1936
Language
English
Period
U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
4
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 George Edmund Foss. [February 18, 1909]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o206664. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George Edmund Foss. [18 Feb. 1909]. Multi-image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. February 27, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o206664.
APA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919., [1909, February 18]. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George Edmund Foss.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o206664.
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. February 27, 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.
