Wood, Leonard, 1860-1927

President Roosevelt agrees with General Wood’s assessment that it is necessary for the United States to have a navy superior to every other navy in the world if it wants to retain the Philippines. However, it is difficult to get Congress to agree on such matters. Roosevelt believes that Japan will not be a threat to the Philippines at present given the current international politics. Roosevelt also states he would never approve legislation allowing Chinese labor into the United States. Wood’s assessment about legislation for the Philippines amused Roosevelt, because shipping laws of the United States do not apply to the islands.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-22

After hearing that the tropical climate of the Philippines has affected General Wood’s head wound, President Roosevelt has made arrangements that will allow Wood to travel to Europe to rest and recover after he has had command in the Philippines for two or three months. Roosevelt intends to carry out this plan unless Wood gives him satisfactory reasons, that he is willing to accept, as to why he should not do so.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-08

President Roosevelt and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt were glad to hear from General Wood. Roosevelt is taking up the publication of Young’s letter, although he doubts if it will be worthwhile. He sends Wood a copy of a letter from Consul General of Cuba Frank Maximilian Steinhart and says he has asked Secretary of State Elihu Root to look into the matter. Roosevelt was pleased with Frank Ross McCoy’s “fine showing.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-12-12

President Roosevelt thanks General Wood for the note and telegram, and comments how greatly he enjoyed seeing Wood briefly. Roosevelt found that he already dismissed Consul Daniel S. Kidder for drunkenness after receiving a report from Ambassador William Woodville Rockhill. He will ask the War Department to recommend the one-year reenlistment plan to Congress.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-08-31

President Roosevelt will not bind General Wood by giving a definite order, as that would do more harm than good, but he strongly discourages Wood from taking risks. He will wait some weeks and then invite Wood and his wife, Louise Adriana Wood, to visit him at Sagamore Hill where they can make the decision.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-08-03

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-26

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Recipient

Wood, Leonard, 1860-1927

President Roosevelt shares his thoughts about his recent inauguration and the work he hopes to do in his second term with Major General Wood. In particular, Roosevelt is proud of his work building up the United States’s battleship fleet. Roosevelt mentions that Secretary of War William H. Taft will travel to the Philippines the upcoming summer.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-09

President Roosevelt is shocked by the result of the election, particularly in carrying Missouri. Even though the campaign had been extremely dishonest in Roosevelt’s opinion, he still won by “such a landslide.” Roosevelt tells Major General Wood that he realizes he will have difficulties during the next four years, but at least there will not be “criminal blunders” regarding the Philippines, the Army and Navy, or foreign policy in general.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-14

President Roosevelt is not sure what the outcome of the election will be. He thinks the Republicans have 216 electoral votes. According to current vote calculations, they may win by a small majority. Roosevelt is keeping busy as president and as a presidential candidate.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-06

President Roosevelt shares a humorous incident from the campaign with Governor Wood; a rumor that Roosevelt was not at the battle of San Juan. Roosevelt thinks he has good chance in the election. The Democratic platform calls for the immediate independence of the Philippines, but Alton B. Parker has been non-committal on that subject.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-08-22

President Roosevelt relays to General Wood the contents of a letter, from Hugh Douglas Wise, a sailor in the United States Navy, regarding conditions in the Philippines. Wise writes that people who have been in the Philippines for any length of time believe the only way to civilize districts containing bad elements is to “clean them out,” but politicians will not permit this. According to the sailor, there is only one officer who the bad Filipinos are afraid of, and that is Wood. Having said this, the sailor describes Wood’s actions as leading to the tensions in the Philippines.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-08-12

President Roosevelt sends Leonard Wood a report by Admiral George Dewey regarding American occupation of the Philippines and notes that he agrees with this report. Roosevelt also tells Wood that he is in the midst of the Presidential campaign and is unsure what the outcome will be.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-08-05

President Roosevelt writes a detailed explanation to General Wood about why he did not receive the military appointment he wanted. There was great opposition to Wood’s promotion. Most newspapers that supported Wood, only did so out of a duty to support the administration. The perception was that Wood was being appointed through favoritism.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-08

President Roosevelt is interested in what General Wood is doing with the Moros. Roosevelt had a challenging time getting Albert Leopold Mills confirmed and must pay more attention to seniority with his next brigadier general appointment. Roosevelt is also bracing himself for negative press coverage during the election. Roosevelt has tried to keep fit by doing Japanese wrestling over the winter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-04

President Roosevelt congratulates General Wood on being confirmed as Major General with a vote of 45 to 16.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-03-18

President Roosevelt informs General Wood that he was confirmed as Major General with a vote of 45 to 16. Roosevelt laments the bitter attacks made on Wood during the election and believes Senator Marcus Alonzo Hanna was the chief cause, as well as negative coverage from the press.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-03-19

President Roosevelt relates the recent events of the bitter fight over the confirmation of General Wood’s promotion.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-12-01

President Roosevelt put off writing in the hope that the Senate would confirm Leonard Wood but deliberation continues. General Miles has been showing the Senators confidential letters from Wood which refer to difficulties with General Lawton. Miles hopes to prove that Wood was disloyal to General Lawton.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-11-24

President Roosevelt is gathering support for Leonard Wood’s promotion and doubts that there will be any difficulty. There are accusations that Roosevelt is showing favoritism towards Wood, but Roosevelt believes that the facts will support the promotion. On the advice of several friends, Roosevelt is opposed to sending Alice Roosevelt to the Philippines at this time.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-09-23

There was considerable opposition to Leonard Wood’s promotion but President Roosevelt supports Wood, denies favoritism, and will continue to defend Wood.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-09-12