Your TR Source
President Roosevelt writes a personal and private letter to the editors of the Outlook criticizing their support of naturalist writer “Mr. Long,” whom Roosevelt asserts is a fraud. Roosevelt believes that integrity in naturalist writing must be upheld to the same standards as that of other literature and provides several examples from Long’s writing that are fabricated accounts.
1907-07-03
President Roosevelt writes to the editor of The Outlook, Lyman Abbott, regarding edits to an article. He also expresses his opinion about “Seaman,” whom he describes as an “extreme political prohibitionist,” unreliable and vain.
1905-10-03
President Roosevelt records the facts about his influence on the nomination of William H. Taft in the Southern states, countering reports in the press. Roosevelt analyzes the breakdown of support for candidates in each area of the country, and summarizes that the Northern officials followed the trajectories in their districts, and opposition to Taft in the Southern states was largely a result of the influence of outside interests.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-05
President Roosevelt did not feel it was necessary to respond to William Jennings Bryan’s letter, and instead he has written the enclosed statement regarding Edward Henry Harriman and Paul Morton. He will not fight dishonest publications like the Sun and the Evening Post, and the enclosure will clear up any questions about contributions from Harriman.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-30
President Roosevelt writes to Lyman Abbott that while they should not be aristocrats, they should be “gentleman democrats.” Roosevelt occasionally gets frustrated with the William H. Taft campaign, and argues for a more aggressive fight, especially against Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker. Roosevelt discusses Republican National Committee Treasurer George Rumsey Sheldon’s error in requesting a contribution from John D. Archbold. The China article will count towards what Roosevelt has agreed to write for the Outlook, and so he returns the check.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-22
President Roosevelt explains to Lyman Abbott that the correspondence with Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker and John D. Archbold proves that Foraker is obscuring his true political goals. Foraker says he is against Roosevelt on issues related to African Americans, but this is actually a cover for his opposition to Roosevelt and William H. Taft’s anti-corruption stance regarding companies like Standard Oil.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-19
President Roosevelt informs Lyman Abbott of The Outlook about the situation with New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes. Although the major papers covered Hughes as a figure in stark contrast to Roosevelt, he was in fact originally nominated on Roosevelt’s suggestion, and dependent on him for reelection. Politicians such as Hughes have often catered to the press and refused to work beside others in their party, and it has weakened their ability to serve. Even with these misguided acts, Roosevelt investigated the situation thoroughly and felt that Hughes had been a good governor, which is why he intervened for his renomination. Any resentful action Hughes takes to upset Roosevelt does not hold power now, as Roosevelt will never run for office or request anything from Hughes.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-15
President Roosevelt received Lyman Abbott’s letter about his interview with journalist Eleanor Franklin Egan. He has reviewed the articles in Egan’s collection and hopes they will be widely circulated as they provide a comprehensive account of the situation in the Philippines. He lists various articles and their titles and hopes they will “convert indifference to the Philippines into active interest.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-09
President Roosevelt encloses the letter as Lyman Abbott suggested. Eleanor Franklin Egan permits Abbott to publish her materials in the September 14 edition of The Outlook. Roosevelt advised Egan that publishing “this really remarkable collection of articles” during the campaign is a mistake. However, he is doing what he can to help.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-09
President Roosevelt sends an editorial letter on Christian education in China to Lyman Abbott of The Outlook, permitting him to make any necessary edits.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-07
President Roosevelt asks if Lyman Abbott or his son, Lawrence F. Abbott, can come for lunch and talk about Representative J. S. Sherman.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-04
President Roosevelt believes an article “gives a totally unfair coloring” to the peace talks surrounding the end of the Russo-Japanese War. He explains to Lyman Abbott his reasoning behind using every effort to show Japan and Russia the error of breaking with each other during negotiations between the countries. He will forward a contemporary letter he wrote to Senator Henry Cabot Lodge detailing the negotiations.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-31
President Roosevelt hopes to speak with Howard Richards soon, and if he is able to, will gladly write an article for The Outlook based on Lyman Abbott’s considerations. While he did not appreciate Woodrow Wilson’s standings on recent issues, Roosevelt feels the quote from his book “is a really first class piece.” Roosevelt will inquire if the federal government has the power to act in the case mentioned by Abbott’s son’s brother-in-law.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-29
President Roosevelt praises Lyman Abbott’s “first class editorial.” Many political friends protest Roosevelt’s attitude favoring the renomination of Governor Charles Evans Hughes. The reasons for renominating Hughes outweigh those opposing it. Roosevelt encloses a letter from Charles Eliot Norton on farming for Abbott’s consideration. He apologizes if he seems too familiar with Abbott and explains his reasons for sending pieces written by others.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-24
Roosevelt despairs of the issues surrounding renominating Governor Charles Evans Hughes, discussing with Lyman Abbott “how the theory that a man in public office should not try to do anything but fulfill the duties of his public office breaks down in practice.” Roosevelt does not want to dictate that Hughes be renominated, but believes he should be and has told Republican party leaders his views.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-21
President Roosevelt encloses a letter to Lyman Abbott, which he received from Chancellor of Oxford, George Nathaniel Curzon, inviting him to present the Romanes lecture in 1910. Roosevelt is frustrated over the issue of renominating Governor Charles Evans Hughes.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-18
President Roosevelt sends Lyman Abbott two letters indicating a plan to sell editorial columns for advertising purposes by Harper’s Weekly.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-10
President Roosevelt asks Lyman Abbott to schedule a lunch for him and Wilfred Thomason Grenfell at the White House, and wants Abbott to join them.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-23
President Roosevelt tells Lyman Abbott that he agrees with his position about the naturalization of the Japanese in Hawaii.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-18
President Roosevelt thinks that the enclosed communications between himself and David Starr Jordan, president of Stanford University, will interest Lyman Abbott.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-09