Your TR Source
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt shares with William S. Cowles that Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt enjoyed dining on the Fern. He found the Sun‘s account amusing. Regretfully, Roosevelt cannot meet Anna Roosevelt Cowles but will send a welcome letter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-04-29
Envelope addressed to Admiral Cowles.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-02-07
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-08-26
Roosevelt, Edith Kermit Carow, 1861-1948
Cowles, Wm. S. (William Sheffield), 1846-1923
English
Vice President Roosevelt had an interview with Mr. Borda in the company of William R. Corwine. He was careful not to say anything improper and that the inhabitants of Puerto Rico must rely on Governor Charles H. Allen. Roosevelt will attempt to discuss the matter with Allen.
1901-04-20
President Roosevelt has already made arrangements for Admiral Cowles to remain as Chief of the Bureau of Equipment until the end of Roosevelt’s presidential term. He has also spoken with Secretary of War Taft about Cowles’s career. Roosevelt is delighted with Mr. Winslow’s request to Cowles and he would like an admiral at the Quebec celebration.
1908-06-10
Governor Roosevelt believes that the proposed canal should be fortified. If it is not, the canal would be another weak point to watch over during a conflict. If the canal had existed during the Spanish-American War, American forces would have needed to defend the canal to prevent the Spanish fleet from crossing into the Pacific Ocean and causing problems in a new theater. Roosevelt also favors an American canal as he does not want to see European powers gain new interests in the Americas.
1900-02-26
Governor Roosevelt encloses a document from an Oyster Bay, New York, neighbor who has questions regarding what circumstances would allow his discharge. Roosevelt is confused over Secretary of State Hay’s and President McKinley’s views on the canal treaty. If such a canal as they suggest existed during the Spanish-American War there would have been a great deal of anxiety over the Spanish fleet using the canal to attack the Pacific coast or Admiral Dewey in the Philippines. Roosevelt wants a canal held and fortified by the United States.
1900-02-16
Governor Roosevelt has been busy with “parochial politics” and is in a fight over the “Payn business.” He believes that Louis F. Payn “is a crook, pure and simple.” Roosevelt has been wrestling for exercise but his various injuries have him considering a switch to boxing.
1900-01-22
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt has been directed to use the USS Dolphin during maneuvers instead of Captain Cowles’s ship, the USS Fern. He will make sure to visit the Fern so they can have a “real talk.” Roosevelt agrees with Cowles regarding the “flower show business.”
1897-08-27
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt and several associates will be visiting Hampton Roads to review the fleet. They will be housed on the USS Fern, currently under the command of Captain Cowles. Roosevelt is looking forward to seeing the “squadron of iron clads maneuvering, and at gun practice.”
1897-08-25
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt enjoyed Captain Cowles’s letters and will try to get an “automatic gun and small arms” from the ordnance department so Cowles can properly face “Baptist filibusters.” Roosevelt is enjoying his work and believes he is accomplishing a great deal at the Navy Department. He requests Cowles’s help in determining when an unnamed admiral will be at Hampton Roads. In a subsequent handwritten note, Cowles provides Anna Roosevelt Cowles with information on his travel schedule.
1897-08-18
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt regretted sending the order from the Bureau of Navigation but did not want any appearance of favoritism. He was pleased to meet with Captain Cowles’s brother the other day.
1897-08-09
Commissioner Roosevelt was pleased to receive letters from Captain Cowles and Anna Roosevelt Cowles. He believes that Anna’s marriage to Cowles was the “best and wisest thing she could do.” Roosevelt lunched with Speaker of the House Thomas B. Reed and is afraid that Reed will not stay on good terms with President McKinley. He would not mind being “legislated out of office” as the law hampers his work and he does not get along with his colleagues.
1896-12-06
Commissioner Roosevelt reflects on the 1896 presidential election which he found to be the most exciting and important since 1860. The Republicans were victorious but Roosevelt was disappointed that their opponents received such significant support. The Democratic divisions over free silver helped the Republicans. He denies a quote attributed to him calling farmers “the basest class” and is enjoying his work on the Board of Police Commissioners.
1896-11-19
Commissioner Roosevelt was interested in the volumes sent by Captain Cowles, a life of Admiral James and Brassey’s Naval Annual. He disagrees with T. A. Brassey over classing American battleships as inferior to British ships. Due to their armor piercing ability, Roosevelt favors using 8-inch guns over 6-inch quick-fires. He would also like to see more protection for the small quick-fires.
1896-06-20
Commissioner Roosevelt is interested in a “properly vigorous foreign policy,” including seacoast defense and a “first class navy.” He would like American intervention in Cuba and a farsighted policy that would remove European powers from the western hemisphere. He asks how American warships are armed compared to European navies. Upcoming legislation will determine the influence Roosevelt can wield on the Board of Police Commissioners.
1896-04-05
Commissioner Roosevelt is working hard to organize the New York Police Department as he might be “legislated out of office.” He believes that he has accomplished a great deal. Roosevelt agrees with Captain Cowles that if Great Britain accepts arbitration or peacefully settles with Venezuela then European nations will recognize the Monroe Doctrine. Corinne Roosevelt Robinson has been staying with Roosevelt. Her health is poor but everyone is enjoying her company.
1896-02-11
Commissioner Roosevelt appreciates Captain Cowles’s letter to Ted Roosevelt and has been enjoying the Hakluyt volumes. He is interested in the Venezuelan crisis and does not want the government to back down. If there is a war with Great Britain, Roosevelt intends to take part.
1895-12-22
Commissioner Roosevelt thanks Captain Cowles for the kind note. Roosevelt has been reading two books on the Duke of Wellington by Earl Roberts and Viscount Wolseley. He was disappointed with both.
1895-12-10
Commissioner Roosevelt has been reading the book Captain Cowles gave to him and has found it interesting. He hopes to see Cowles soon.
1895-11-14