Copy of letter from William H. Taft to Jose Domingo de Obaldia
Subject(s): American newspapers, Ehrman, John, Entertaining, Libel and slander, Panama, Panama--Panama Canal, Philippines, Public contracts, Public contracts--Law and legislation, Rogers, Richard R. (Richard Reid), 1867-1949, Taft, Helen Herron, 1861-1943, Timber--Government policy, United States
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President-elect Taft advises President Obaldia of Panama that going forward with his country’s proposed government timber contract would be a critical mistake. If the deal proved to be good for the government and bad for the company that received the contract, there are insufficient safeguards in place to ensure the work is completed. If the timber is extremely profitable, the Panamanian government could find itself controlled by a private company. The United States would also be displeased to see another entity gain so much power in Panama. Taft shares this advice confidentially, and in an unofficial capacity. In a postscript, he assures Obaldia that he was not influenced by the “malignantly slanderous reports” on this topic in the American press, and he thanks Obaldia for the previous night’s “beautiful and magnificent entertainment.”
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1909-02-05
Creator(s)
Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930
Recipient
Obaldia, Jose Domingo de, 1845-1910
Language
English
Period
U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
5
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:
Copy of letter from William H. Taft to Jose Domingo de Obaldia. [February 5, 1909]. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o60217. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930. Copy of letter from William H. Taft to Jose Domingo de Obaldia. [5 Feb. 1909]. Multi-image. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. December 2, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o60217.
APA:
Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930.: , [1909, February 5]. Copy of letter from William H. Taft to Jose Domingo de Obaldia. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o60217.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. 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 Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. December 2, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
APA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
