Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft
Subject(s): Hale, Eugene, 1836-1918, Naval tactics, Panama--Panama Canal, Perkins, George C. (George Clement), 1839-1923, Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), Tillman, Benjamin R. (Benjamin Ryan), 1847-1918, United States. Navy. Atlantic Fleet. Battleship Force
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President Roosevelt warns President-Elect Taft under no circumstances to divide the battleship fleet between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans prior to the completion of the Panama Canal. Roosevelt lambasts “enemies of the navy,” “timid fools,” and “conscienceless scoundrels” in Congress who are trying to sway public opinion towards dividing the fleet. Roosevelt believes that a large reason for Russia’s defeat in the Russo-Japanese War was because it divided its navy between the Baltic and Pacific while the entire Japanese fleet was also deployed together.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1909-03-03
Creator(s)
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Recipient
Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930
Language
English
Period
U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
2
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 William H. Taft. [March 3, 1909]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o207043. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft. [3 Mar. 1909]. Multi-image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. February 6, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o207043.
APA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919., [1909, March 3]. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o207043.
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 6, 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.
