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President Roosevelt expresses sympathy for Rear Admiral Evans’s “sad homecoming” and will see him whenever Evans feels able. He believes that Evans should be made a vice admiral, but has not had success getting the consent of the Senate committee.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-05-17
President Roosevelt asks Senator Platt if there is any chance for Robley D. Evans to be made vice admiral, and suggests it may be possible to pass a bill in order to accomplish this.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-05-17
President Roosevelt tells William Austin Wadsworth that unfortunately Samuel R. Jones is a lieutenant-colonel, and has not done enough to warrant Roosevelt “jumping him over colonels in the line.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-05-11
President Roosevelt thinks that it would be “an injustice” to jump Lyman over David Dixon Porter’s head, as Porter’s services have been distinguished. Lyman does not measure up.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-05-14
President Roosevelt thanks German Emperor William II for his letter and the volume on Wartburg. He is glad that William II appreciates the American fleet, but notes that he wishes he could pass legislation to allow younger officers to attain higher grades.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-05-14
Per the request of Governor Gillett and others, President Roosevelt would like to make Robley D. Evans a Vice-Admiral, but a law would have to be passed for him to do so.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-05-10
President Roosevelt will see Colonel Jones, although he does not believe he will be able to promote him. He wishes that Joel Chandler Harris could experience how difficult it is to decide which officers get promotions. He greatly enjoyed Harris’s visit to the White House.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-27
President Roosevelt was pleased to appoint Charles Morton Brigadier General. However, he did it on personal initiative, rather than by Congressional request, so he doubts he can promote Morton to Major General.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-22
President Roosevelt’s letter to Senator Daniel includes the text of a memorandum from the War Department. The memorandum states that it does not recommend allowing Lieutenant Colonel Junius Levert Powell to retire with the rank of brigadier-general. Other veterans with more distinguished careers and accomplishments have not retired with that rank. Roosevelt tells Daniel that there would be “considerable difficulty” caused by promoting Powell.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-20
President Roosevelt informs Senator John W. Daniel that it will not be possible for him to promote Colonel Junius Levert Powell. He has spoken with the Military Affairs Committee, and six other surgeons with better records and longer service than Powell have not been able to retire as brigadier general, so Roosevelt does not think Powell’s promotion would be confirmed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-22
President Roosevelt tells Joseph Bucklin Bishop that he joins George W. Goethals and the rest of the Isthmian Canal Commission in their enthusiasm over Harry H. Rousseau’s marriage. He will not punish Rousseau for marrying Gladys Fargo Rousseau against her parents’ wishes and instead wishes to promote him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-17
President Roosevelt has fixed the Clarence Northrup Jones issue after all, as he simply told the board not to issue the commission. Roosevelt says that the four years’ detail will also be attended to, although the abuses were not as bad as he thought.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-17
President Roosevelt informs Dan T. Moore that he does not know anything about Clarence Northrup Jones’s case. Roosevelt had already signed his commission when he got Moore’s letter, and doubts if anything can now be done about it. He asks Moore to send any information indicating that Jones has acted poorly in the past year.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-04
President Roosevelt believes that Albert L. Key’s main objections to his plan for the administration of the Navy stems from the fact that officers eligible for positions are too old. Roosevelt would like to promote younger men to higher grades in the Navy, but his experience attempting this in the Army has made it clear that he cannot successfully do so.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-10
President Roosevelt instructs the War Department to forward the proceedings of the case against Clarence Northrup Jones to him. Roosevelt has heard of Jones’s poor moral character, and thinks he should be out of the army.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-31
President Roosevelt has received James R. Sheffield’s letter about Colonel James Rockwell’s application for promotion. While Roosevelt has nothing against Rockwell, other officers who are more senior have a better claim. However, he will take up Rockwell’s case with Secretary of War William H. Taft.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-02
President Roosevelt tells Mississippi Representative Byrd that he cannot appoint Mr. McCatto as a second lieutenant as he is over-age and married. Roosevelt found that by making one exception to the age limit, he was forced into making a host of other exceptions, and has therefore decided that there should be no exceptions for anyone. If Byrd can nominate someone who is eligible, Roosevelt will gladly designate him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-05
President Roosevelt explains to Colonel Crowder that he still intends to promote him to brigadier general before he leaves office, but has encountered resistance from both the Army and from Congress. He has met with opposition in all of his efforts to promote younger men, and there seems to be more opposition to Crowder in particular.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-03-09
President Roosevelt regards Thomas Henry Barry very highly, and gave him the Brigadier Generalship that he currently holds. He tells Juliet Lamont that he is not sure, however, if he can promote him to Major General.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-10
President Roosevelt sends General Smith a copy of a letter he received from Chief of Ordnance William Crozier applauding the appointment of Smith to brigadier general before his retirement. In the letter Crozier details Smith’s triumphs, including the widespread adoption of the built-up forged steel cannon gun and revitalizing coastal defenses in the United States. Roosevelt appreciates Smith’s service to the country, as this efforts advanced the development of seacoast defenses in the United States.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-12-04