Letter from John F. Stevens to Theodore Roosevelt
Subject(s): Civil engineers--Employment, Isthmian Canal Commission (U.S.), Panama--Panama Canal, Resignation
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John F. Stevens thanks President Roosevelt for accepting his resignation as chief engineer of the Panama Canal construction project. Stevens elaborates on his comments towards the Isthmus Commission, stating that the commission works adequately but lacks “intelligent leadership”, citing a lack of communication between the Chairman, committee, and himself. This, along with the political hostility in Congress concerning the project, influenced his decision, stating “when a man must adjust the balance of his life to certain conditions, he would not be wise to overlook any of them.”
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1907-02-26
Creator(s)
Stevens, John F. (John Frank), 1853-1943
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
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 John F. Stevens to Theodore Roosevelt. [February 26, 1907]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o55577. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Stevens, John F. (John Frank), 1853-1943. Letter from John F. Stevens to Theodore Roosevelt. [26 Feb. 1907]. Multi-image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. January 30, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o55577.
APA:
Stevens, John F. (John Frank), 1853-1943., [1907, February 26]. Letter from John F. Stevens to Theodore Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o55577.
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 30, 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.