Higginson, Henry Lee, 1834-1919

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-28

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Recipient

Higginson, Henry Lee, 1834-1919

Language

English

President Roosevelt is sorry that he can not appoint Hugh Lenox Scott, but tells Major Henry Lee Higginson that the Senate Military Committee has made it clear that only colonels will be supported for promotion.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-30

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt replies to Henry Lee Higginson that he would rather punish the “sinning officer than the stockholders of the corporations.” However, juries tend to punish corporations over individuals.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-15

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

In addition to Henry Lee Higginson’s letter, President Roosevelt received many communications from individuals and businesses concerned about the economic downfall and panic. Roosevelt mostly agrees with Higginson, but is confused by some of his points. Roosevelt thinks the global economic circumstances have little to do with any action by his administration.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-12

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt regretfully declines Henry Lee Higginson’s invitation to be his guest at the Tavern Club. He will be busy seeing his sons at Harvard and Groton and therefore will not have any spare time for other engagements.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-27

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt thanks Henry Lee Higginson for his well-wishes during his address at the Harvard reunion.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-10-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt thanks Henry Lee Higginson for the letter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-09-30

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt agrees with most of Henry Lee Higginson’s letter. He particularly believes in the movement’s effort to protect the shareholders’ widows and orphans. Roosevelt comments on Edward Henry Harriman’s fortune. While he does not want to hurt Harriman’s small securities holders, there should be supervision to prevent future Harrimans from getting disproportionate rewards. It is easy to handle corrupt small businessmen by refusing their service, but the same is not possible with large businessmen. Roosevelt agrees with Higginson on the overall increase in commercial honesty, the effect of certain unions, and the classification of rebates. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-02

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt cannot accept the Tavern Club’s invitation, and asks Henry Lee Higginson to tell the people who invited him that he appreciates the courtesy. Roosevelt agrees with what Higginson says about the United States Steel Corporation and the Calumet and Hecla Mining Company, and is immensely interested in what Higginson told him about Agassiz’s action the previous year. Roosevelt thinks that if he writes a letter like Higginson suggested, he will be attacked for trying to give too much advice.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-20

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt thanks Colonel Higginson for the letter and looks forward to seeing him in December. He tells Higginson that the Comptroller he thinks was to blame in Morse’s case was not the man in charge at the time. The current Comptroller’s questions were framed to avoid the troubles that Higginson complains about.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-11

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt thanks Henry Lee Higginson for the letter, and says he will show it to Luke E. Wright. He tells Higginson to come visit with Perkins whenever he can, and if there is room he will have them spend the night. Otherwise, he will take them to lunch.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt tells Henry Lee Higginson that while Louis Dembitz Brandeis spoke to him about various matters, including the New Haven Railroad, he did not mention Higginson’s firm. He assures Higginson that it would be a waste of time for anyone to speak to him against Higginson.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-25

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt writes to Henry Lee Higginson about some of the actions that railroads and corporations have taken to try to influence public opinion regarding legislation in congress related to trusts and interstate commerce laws. Roosevelt agrees with Higginson about wanting a good system of banking and currency, and says that while Higginson may not like the bill put forward by Senator Nelson Wilmarth Aldrich, it is the only one that has been proposed.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt congratulates Major Higginson for his work introducing new hemp stripping machines in the Philippines.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10-28

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt thanks Henry Lee Higginson for the the biography of Charles Russell Lowell, and says he was pleased to receive it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-29

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt is confused by what type of assistance Henry Lee Higginson is asking for concerning the “money market.” He believes it is the responsibility of the “railroad and corporation people”, or those who have exploited stocks, to reassure investors and the American people regarding railroad rate regulation. He also reminds Higginson that he is expanding upon the same regulations that already exist in Higginson’s home state of Massachusetts.  

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-28

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt shares his view on railroad rates, currency regulation, and reconstruction with Henry Lee Higginson. He disagrees with Higginson, believing that railroad rates should be further regulated by the federal government, but agrees with him about the need for currency regulation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-11

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt tells Colonel Higginson that he is sorry to hear of his “indisposition,” and that Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt hopes that the “quartette” in question can play the White House soon.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-04

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt is sorry to hear that the Higginsons cannot attend his daughter Alice Roosevelt’s wedding.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-02-16

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Isabella Hagner provides Henry Lee Higginson with information and final instructions for a musical performance in celebration of Alice Roosevelt’s wedding.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-02-09

Creator(s)

James, Isabella (Belle) Hagner, 1876-1943