Your TR Source
Thomas B. Reed tells Commissioner Roosevelt that he has ceased to answer the letters and telegrams of “T.” He is glad that Roosevelt likes the photograph he sent.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1895-07-05
Henry Cabot Lodge discusses the impact on the Republican and Democratic parties of the debate over the gold vs. silver standard. He also considers the level of support in various regions of the nation for several likely presidential candidates. Lodge responds to Theodore Roosevelt’s critique of Representative Thomas B. Reed for not speaking out firmly enough in support of the gold standard when he cast a vote on legislation dealing with gold bonds. Lodge asks Roosevelt to “straighten out” George W. Smalley, the American correspondent of the London Times and a personal friend and promoter of Roosevelt’s, on the true American sentiment regarding the Monroe Doctrine.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1895-08-10
Senator Lodge writes Police Commissioner Roosevelt about an article by George W. Smalley. The article indicates that public opinion on Roosevelt’s enforcement of the excise law has shifted in his favor and gives an account of his reply to Senator T. C. O’Sullivan.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1895-08-11
Representative Reed discusses an article in which Civil Service Commissioner Roosevelt is quoted speaking highly of Reed, which Reed could not finish reading for fear he “could not live up to it,” but he has kept the article for when he is “low” in his mind and needs support. Reed praises a letter Roosevelt wrote to the “Goo Goo’s,” a nickname given to Progressive reformers who were in support of good government.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1895-10-29
Representative Reed tells Civil Service Commissioner Roosevelt that he has a “big fight” on his hands and whether Roosevelt is right or wrong, Reed will not hinder him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1895-12-16
John L. Hamilton recommends President Grover Cleveland appoints a nine-person commission on currency to cooperate with the banks on monetary practices for the United States. Hamilton outlines the powers the commission would have and what the banks could do with the money allotted to them.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1895
Poet and novelist H. C. Bunner thanks Police Commissioner Roosevelt for being an American and not cowardly like the “made in England” kind in New York. Bunner also reports that he is getting over his “bad time,” but is still shaky. He wishes Roosevelt a happy New Year, and plans to see him soon.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1896-01-01
Senator Lodge informs Police Commissioner Roosevelt he believes that things are improving for Roosevelt in New York because the Republican Legislature in the state cannot afford to go back on his policy. Lodge then tells Roosevelt his letter to the Harvard Crimson is a great success. Remarking on the success of Roosevelt’s letter to the Harvard Crimson, Lodge notes his amusement at Roosevelt’s use of “baboo” since he had suggested that he substitute it for “grocer,” and he predicts that “baboo” will become as popular as “cuckoo.” Lodge believes they will come out successful in Venezuela and vindicate the Monroe Doctrine.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1896-01-11
Receipt for $269.77 taxes paid by Theodore Roosevelt to the town of Oyster Bay, New York, on property assessed at $13,500 and personal property assessed at $2,000. Inscribed at bottom, “Please pay E.K.R.” and stamped “Please return receipted bill to Douglas Robinson, 55 Liberty St., New York.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1896-02-07
Senator Lodge is glad to hear from Commissioner Roosevelt that his note to Mrs. West Roosevelt pleased her. Lodge is also glad Roosevelt likes reading works of Gustave Le Bon. From his experience seeing socialism in Europe last summer, Lodge understands why men in Europe are carried away by fear of it. The best thing Lodge likes about Le Bon is what he said in regard to races. It was the best exposition of about races that he has come across anywhere. Lodge informs Roosevelt that Eliot’s speech did not go well at the peace meeting. Eliot declared that their misfortunes were because of having men in the Cabinet who were taken from the bar without training in public affairs. It seems to Lodge that people like Eliot are always against having politicians in office and it appears they are against having people without political training in office. Supposedly, the result would be a government by college professors, giving Lodge a pleasing picture.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1896-04-30
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-04-07
English
U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)
Speaker of the House Reed tells Police Commissioner Roosevelt that his wife, Susan Prentice Merrill Reed, is impatient to get back to Grand Beach, Maine, where from a “happy distance” they can observe “the struggles of police commissioners and candidates for the presidency and other kinds of unfortunate beings” doing reform work that is going unrecognized.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1896-05-13
Washington Hastings encloses an article that advocates for Police Commissioner Theodore Roosevelt as a candidate for the Vice Presidency. Hastings then notifies Senator Lodge that he will be in St. Louis assisting with the political campaign there.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1896-06-03
Prescription written by Doctor Stadler to be sent to Sargent’s Drug Store in Chicago. An advertisement for Dr. E Stadler’s medical infirmary in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A business card for Eimer & Amend Apothecaries in New York City.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1896-07-15
Speaker of the House Reed believes it was his duty to “go in again” and that his refusal to stand for reelection would make things unsatisfactory in his state given present conditions. Reed expresses distaste for Chairman of the Republican National Committee Marcus Hanna’s “coarse ways,” but it will not deter Reed from doing what “ought to be done.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1896-07-28
Major General Sickles urges United States military veterans to set aside partisan differences to oppose the election of the Democratic Party’s candidate for the 1896 presidential election, William Jennings Bryan. Sickles primarily denounces Bryan on the issue of replacing the gold standard with a looser silver standard, which will, according to Sickles, allow debtors to pay off creditors and government bonds with less valuable currency, defrauding many veterans and army widows of the value of their pensions. Sickles considers this an unconstitutional attack on the public credit, a move towards Populist mob-rule. Sickles also accuses Bryan of encouraging the type of sectionalism that sparked the American Civil War. Although Sickles identifies as a Democrat himself, he denounces the platform and candidate, Bryan, approved at the 1896 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, and voices support for the Republican Candidate, William McKinley.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1896-07
Vice presidential candidate Thomas E. Watson writes Police Commissioner Roosevelt regarding Roosevelt’s recent article in the Review of Reviews, which criticized Watson’s populist platform. Watson explains his position as tied into his advocacy for the poor, upon whom the burdens of government most often fall. He believes Roosevelt has misjudged him and asserts that if the two spent time together, Roosevelt would see that they have much in common.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1896-08-30
Thomas E. Watson gives Police Commissioner Roosevelt permission to use his previous letter as Roosevelt proposed. Roosevelt does not need to send Watson his article before it is published, as Watson is sure there would not be anything objectionable in it. Watson will unfortunately not be able to come visit Roosevelt in New York because of some important law cases.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1896-11-07
H. H. Lyman is not too sure what Senator John Raines meant in his statement. Raines led him to believe that his statements were off the record. Lyman and others appreciate the work Commissioner Roosevelt has done enforcing the excise law in a city as large as New York, although there are issues with fake clubs and hotels.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1896-11-28
Senator Lodge writes Commissioner Roosevelt about a lunch he recently had with Presidential Nominee William McKinley. The pair talked about McKinley’s plan for his time in office, including policy on Hawaii and McKinley’s desire not to go to war over Cuba. They also spoke extensively about McKinley’s plans for his cabinet. Lodge assures Roosevelt that his chances of an appointment in the naval department are good, though McKinley sought assurance that Roosevelt did not have “preconceived plans which he would wish to drive through the moment he got in.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1896-12-02