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President Roosevelt is not hurt by Finley Peter Dunne’s cartoons, and thinks they are written in “the nicest possible style.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-09
President Roosevelt is sorry that Finley Peter Dunne’s son is ill.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-03
Theodore Roosevelt has read Finley Peter Dunne’s article about the Navy. Roosevelt agrees with what Dunne said about Grover Cleveland’s administration and the needs of the Navy then as compared to the present. Roosevelt notes that when he took office, Congress had stopped appropriating money for new battleships or further upbuilding of the Navy because there was no immediate need for naval defense after the Spanish War. Therefore, Roosevelt had to fight against inertia and hostility in order to inspire popular sentiment in favor of the Navy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-12-22
President Roosevelt apologizes to Finley Peter Dunne, as he does not think the Taft party will be able to bring magazine writers along with him on his trip to the Panama Canal. Roosevelt is interested, however, in having Dunne write an article like he has proposed, and invites him to come to Washington, D.C., to attend either reception or dinner, and then to additionally have lunch with him the following day where they would be able to speak.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-23
President Roosevelt sends Finley Peter Dunne a copy of his correspondence with Norman Hapgood for Dunne’s personal use. Roosevelt asks if Dunne prefers to attend the target practice with him or go to Boston with Connolly.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-04
President Roosevelt invites Finley Peter Dunne and his wife, Margaret Ives Dunne, to join him on the presidential yacht Mayflower on September 3 to watch a naval review. Robert Bacon will be attending also, and Roosevelt suggests that Dunne try to get a ride to Oyster Bay with him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-31
President Roosevelt sends Finley Peter Dunne three cheers, and asks him to come visit soon. Roosevelt remarks that at some point he must “have a serious talk with you about some of your present associates,” such as William Randolph Hearst or David Graham Phillips. Roosevelt wishes that “the men who profess to be most sensitive about evil conditions in public life and in the business world would themselves refrain from at least those grosser forms of wrong-doing which range from slander of what is decent to the advertisement, and therefore support, of what is indecent.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-18
President Roosevelt jokes that when he read Finley Peter Dunne’s letter to his Cabinet the reaction was an uncomfortable amount of laughter. Roosevelt likes Dunne’s article on insurance matters noting that it was bitter because sometimes it is necessary to be bitter. However, Roosevelt does not think there is any use in feeling discouraged about things that need correction in the United States.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-12-15
President Roosevelt asks if Finley Peter Dunne and his wife Margaret Ives Abbott Dunne can attend any upcoming receptions in Washington this winter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-12-04
President Roosevelt encloses a letter from Reverend Endicott Peabody, whom he calls “Plantagenet Peabody.” Roosevelt tells Finley Peter Dunne, “He is wrong about my ‘persuading’ you to enter the name of Rollo Dooley, but you see he has got the right spirit.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-14
President Roosevelt is looking forward to seeing Finley Peter Dunne and his wife, Margaret Ives Dunne, at dinner and the musical and invites them to lunch on Friday as well. The president is sorry the Dunnes are unable to stay at the White House, especially the spare room is better than when they visited before. In a handwritten addition, Roosevelt adds, “Better not be haughty; come and spend the night in our little ‘doll house'”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-07
President Roosevelt agrees with Finley Peter Dunne about protesting against the “Anglo-Saxon alliance” theory because he believes Americans are “a new race, composed of many Old-World stocks.” While the president is not against friendliness to the English government, he is not going to ignore other European governments. Roosevelt declares himself a “strong home-ruler” and gives examples of a number of individuals who have hated their country of origin, noting it is impossible for him to champion every hatred. The president expresses his gratitude for the support he has received from young men, “Catholic by faith and of Irish descent,” and discusses a number of Irish and Catholic individuals he has put in government positions.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-03
After inviting Finley Peter Dunne and Margaret Ives Dunne to the White House, President Roosevelt spends the rest of his letter discussing Finley Peter Dunne’s recent article entitled the “Anglo-Saxon Triumph.” Roosevelt takes umbrage with Dunne’s belief that individuals should look down on particular Americans due to their ancestry and specifically references those of Irish and German ancestry. In a postscript, Roosevelt states the current temptation is toward Anglophobia, not Anglomania, and the easiest thing for a politician to do is find fault with England. The president prides himself in getting a greater portion of Irish and Catholic Americans to vote for him than any previous Republican candidate without any significant attack on England.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-23
President Roosevelt enjoyed Finley Peter Dunne’s humorous review “Alone in Cubia.” He asks when Dunne and his wife, Margaret Ives Abbott Dunne can come for dinner, and possibly stay a night at the White House.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-09
President Roosevelt is sorry Finley Peter Dunne cannot visit. He assures Dunne that regardless of the election results the Roosevelts will still be in the White House in the winter and they would like to have the Dunne family visit.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-04-25
President Roosevelt invites Finley Peter Dunne and his wife to visit Washington, D.C., in the spring.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-04-14
President Roosevelt would like to have dinner with Finley Peter Dunne this spring.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-04-06
President Roosevelt regrets that the Dunnes could not attend the diplomatic dinner. He suggests they stop in Washington, D.C., on their way back from Florida.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-01-07
President Roosevelt congratulates Finley Peter Dunne on his marriage and invites the newlyweds to the White House.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-10
President Roosevelt invites Finley Peter Dunne to the White House in January.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-02