Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt
Subject(s): American Occupation of Cuba (1906-1909), Associated Press, Bell, James Franklin, 1856-1919, Burnside, Ambrose Everett, 1824-1881, Cuba, Disarmament--Political aspects, Estrada Palma, Tomás, 1835-1908, Funston, Frederick, 1865-1917, Halstead, Murat, 1829-1908, Insurgency, Interim governments, International relations--Political aspects, International relations--Press coverage, Root, Elihu, 1845-1937, Runcie, James Edward, 1858-1933
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Secretary of War Taft updates President Roosevelt on a number of matters concerning the American occupation of Cuba, the establishment of the Cuban provisional government, and disarmament of the insurgents. Taft reports that disarmament is going smoothly, and that in “four or five days,” the insurgents will have complied with the orders. The United States have created a provisional government. Taft believes that Cuban President Tomás Estrada Palma is a good man and one of “two or three men in politics in Cuba who is absolutely honest,” but notes that Estrada Palma is not politically talented. Taft also addresses problems that American liberals and moderates have with the compromise that has been set up in Cuba, and offers justifications against a government investigation. Taft notes that it will not be possible to hold a free and fair election until June. He is frustrated that the Associated Press quoted him regarding matters in Cuba without his permission. Taft encloses a speech he gave at the university that offers justification for the Americans’ presence in Cuba. Taft also offers justifications for American intervention in Cuba and discusses the merits of maintaining a provisional government via the Platt Amendment.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1906-10-03
Creator(s)
Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930
Recipient
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
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 William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt. [October 3, 1906]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o54539. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930. Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt. [3 Oct. 1906]. Multi-image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 5, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o54539.
APA:
Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930., [1906, October 3]. Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o54539.
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. March 5, 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.
