George W. Goethals, Theodore Roosevelt, John F. Stevens: The transfer of authority (February-April 1907)
Subject(s): Advertising--Confectionery, Bishop, Farnham, 1886-1930, Bishop, Joseph Bucklin, 1847-1928, Gaillard, David Du Bose, 1859-1913, Goethals, George W. (George Washington), 1858-1928, Gorgas, William Crawford, 1854-1920, Loeb, William, 1866-1937, McCullough, David G., Panama--Panama Canal, Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919, Rousseau, Harry H. (Harry Harwood), 1870-1930, Shonts, Theodore P. (Theodore Perry), 1856-1919, Sibert, William L. (William Luther), 1860-1935, Stevens, John F. (John Frank), 1853-1943, Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930, United States. Army. Corps of Engineers, Wallace, John Findley, 1852-1921
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Thomas R. Goethals describes the appointment of his grandfather, George W. Goethals, as chairman and chief engineer of the Panama Canal Commission in 1907. He recounts President Theodore Roosevelt’s repeated reorganization of the commission and his desire to place the project under the authority of the Corps of Engineers of the United States Army. Goethals notes the rapport quickly established between Roosevelt and Goethals, and he details Goethals’s concern over having to replace the very popular John F. Stevens as chief engineer of the project. Goethals notes that his grandfather was most worried about managing the people who would actually build the canal, and he highlights Goethals first speech in Panama in which he tried to reassure them that he would not militarize the project. Goethals also stresses the important role played by Secretary of War William Howard Taft in staffing and overseeing the construction of the canal.
The article includes nine photographs, including five of George W. Goethals, four illustrations, and one map of the canal zone. An advertisement for the Chocolate Lady candy store of Oyster Bay, New York, appears at the conclusion of the article.
Collection
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal
Creation Date
2010
Creator(s)
Language
English
Period
Theodore Roosevelt and Public Memory (1919-present)
Page Count
28
Production Method
Record Type
Image
Resource Type
Rights
No permission is required from the Theodore Roosevelt Association to use items in the Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal collection for educational purposes. For permissions, contact William Tilchin at (516) 921-6319 or by email at wnt@bu.edu.
Citation
Cite this Record
Chicago:
George W. Goethals, Theodore Roosevelt, John F. Stevens: The transfer of authority (February-April 1907). [2010]. Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o308386. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Goethals, Thomas R., Jr.. George W. Goethals, Theodore Roosevelt, John F. Stevens: The transfer of authority (February-April 1907). [2010]. Image.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. February 26, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o308386.
APA:
Goethals, Thomas R., Jr.., [2010]. George W. Goethals, Theodore Roosevelt, John F. Stevens: The transfer of authority (February-April 1907).
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o308386.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/theodore-roosevelt-association-journal. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. February 26, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/theodore-roosevelt-association-journal.
APA:
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/theodore-roosevelt-association-journal.
