Your TR Source
William Lafayette Strong, mayor-elect of New York City, invites Theodore Roosevelt to take over leadership of the Street Cleaning Bureau for the city.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1894-12-18
F. V. Greene is disappointed that Commissioner Roosevelt declined the invitation to head the street cleaning bureau for New York City. He believes the problem of municipal government is more important than the work of the Civil Service Commission and that Roosevelt would have direct influence in New York City, whereas on the Commission he is merely an adviser. Greene hopes Roosevelt might consider a role in city administration when his term on the Commission ends.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1894-12-27
Thomas R. Lounsbury thanks Theodore Roosevelt for returning some articles he had sent him and discusses a recent visit he made to the Roosevelts’ home.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1895-01-18
Receipt for $269.77 taxes paid by Theodore Roosevelt to the town of Oyster Bay, New York, on real property assessed at $13,500 and personal property assessed at $2,000.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1895-02-01
Hermann Speck von Sternburg reports on the fighting between Japanese and Chinese forces in Manchuria. He finds the Chinese ill prepared both on land and sea to meet the Japanese offensive and believes the Japanese could approach Peking within two months. In the naval battle of Yalu, for instance, the Chinese had the wrong ammunition on their ships. Had they had the right ammunition, they ought to have won the battle and kept control of the sea.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1895-02-19
James Bryce thanks Civil Service Commissioner Roosevelt for the new volume of The Winning of the West, which he is enjoying reading. He agrees with Roosevelt’s view that much modern American character is “traceable to the frontier life.” Bryce also notes that he and his wife have enjoyed seeing Roosevelt’s sister, notes that the liberal party in England is “having a pretty hard fight” and that politics are dominated by “currency problems.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1895-02-22
Thomas O’Gorman compliments Theodore Roosevelt on his recent talk. He encloses a copy of a speech by Archbishop John Ireland, in which he quotes Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1895-02-27
Speaker of the House Henderson shared Civil Service Commissioner Roosevelt’s letter with a gentleman who claimed the law had been violated by a particular appointment. The complainant calmed down on reading the letter but still insisted that improprieties were being committed regarding places on the register of special pension examiners. Henderson acknowledges that it may be impossible to prevent all violations of the law, but he believes in Roosevelt to confront any one who might do so.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1895-02-28
James Bryce thanks Theodore Roosevelt for his recent letter and returns a letter he had enclosed. The political situation in the U.S. Congress concerns Bryce, especially “the steady decline…in the composition and character of the Senate.” He wishes he could visit with Roosevelt about these matters. He is tired of the burdens of office and wishes to have the opportunity to travel and visit friends like Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1895-04-10
Richard Harding Davis thanks Civil Service Commissioner Roosevelt for taking an interest in the case of Stephen Bonsal, a member of the U.S. diplomatic service. Davis has known Bonsal a long time and admires him greatly. He fears that President Grover Cleveland takes the charges against Bonsal seriously, and that Bonsal will consider himself disgraced if he is dismissed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1895-04-12
President Cleveland accepts Theodore Roosevelt’s resignation as Civil Service Commissioner and thanks him for what he accomplished in the service of good government.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1895-05-03
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
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