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President Roosevelt asks Army Chief of Staff Bell about requiring field officers to ride thirty miles for three days in the spring and fall. Ultimately Roosevelt would like to test field officers thoroughly in jumping and rough riding before promotion. Roosevelt wants to hold American officers up to the high standards of the French and German armies.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-05
President Roosevelt tells Lieutenant Commander Key that he does not need to thank him for his upcoming promotion because Key is worthy of it. Roosevelt believes that the Navy retirement bill worked well. He encourages Key regarding a visit to the Tennessee mountains.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-05
President Roosevelt shares his thoughts on several personnel matters with Secretary of War Taft, and returns several letters.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-02
President Roosevelt assures Commandant of Cadets Howze of his high regard, which has been demonstrated by his having recommended Howze for appointment or advancement three times in the past, the last two times over the protest of the War Department. Despite this, Roosevelt cannot nominate Howze for promotion to brigadier general at this time, and does not believe such a nomination would be confirmed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-04-05
President Roosevelt is friends with Brown and will see if he can promote him to brigadier general as Cecil Andrew Lyon suggests. He will follow up with various issues and congratulates Lyon for his work in Texas politics.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-04
President Roosevelt congratulates Robert B. Brown on his election as Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic. He shares a humorous anecdote about General S. B. M. Young and General Adna Chaffee, showing the camaraderie that is built by the army.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-21
President Roosevelt received Captain Frank Ross McCoy’s letter, and is glad that he has decided to come. He will succeed Major Charles Laurie McCawley as White House aide.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-15
President Roosevelt has heard good things about Colonel Patton, but is not yet prepared to say who is the best man for the position. He tells Senator Platt that he will take the issue up with Secretary of War William H. Taft in the fall.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-17
President Roosevelt is concerned about Senator Alger’s health, but feels that “if you do not let your abounding energy drive you into attempting too much, you will enjoy health for many years to come.” Roosevelt would like to do what Alger requests regarding appointing William S. Patten for the position of quartermaster general, but believes that the first consideration is getting the best candidate for the job.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-04
President Roosevelt asks his sister, Anna Roosevelt Cowles, to tell her husband, Rear Admiral William Sheffield Cowles, that he will consider appointing John A. Mudd, but is not so favorably inclined towards appointing him because of his tendency to promote himself. Roosevelt likes Chinese Ambassador Liang Cheng, and thinks he will be a good influence on China. He is pleased to hear about Cowles’s son William Sheffield Cowles, and promises to try to teach Kermit Roosevelt, who is Sheffield’s companion, some tennis also.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-10
President Roosevelt was interested to read what Dan T. Moore has had to say about Colonel Arthur Murray. Secretary of War William H. Taft and senior War Department officers think highly of Murray, and Roosevelt believes that “in spite of certain defects he is on the whole the best man for the position.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-11
President Roosevelt congratulates Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte regarding the armor plate for ships and the contracts. He agrees with Bonaparte’s feeling that Naval Paymaster John N. Speel may not be the best fit for a position high in the Naval Department. Roosevelt was not surprised to read Senator Eugene Hale’s letter, and says that while Bonaparte should consult with Assistant Secretary of the Navy Truman Handy Newberry, he believes they should go ahead with appointing the board regardless of what Congress does.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-14
President Roosevelt thanks Senator Alger for the letter. He believes William S. Patten is the same man who General Leonard Wood spoke to him about, but does not know enough about the situation at present to say who may become Commissary General.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-06
President Roosevelt agrees with Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte regarding the paymaster generalship, and instructs him to make the appointment anytime in August or September that he deems wise, and to report to Roosevelt on the candidate he believes should be appointed. Roosevelt also asks Bonaparte to give current paymaster general Rear Admiral H. T. B. Harris ample notice.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-07
President Roosevelt sends his former Rough Rider Comrade Eugene W. Waterbury a letter for Mr. Baily. He comments that he has heard good things about Thomas, and that he is not barred from promotion because of his civil war record. Roosevelt promises that Thomas will be judged on an equal basis.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-12
President Roosevelt chides Mary Merrill Scott for her repeated letters asking for her husband, Hugh Lenox Scott, to be appointed Superintendent of West Point. The letters did not help, and were in fact violations of regulations saying that applications should be made through military channels. Roosevelt tells Scott her husband would have had the position regardless of her letters because of his high regard for Hugh Lenox Scott’s character and service.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-08
President Roosevelt agrees that William W. Wotherspoon is “a very fine fellow,” but as he is only a lieutenant colonel, Roosevelt does not think he would be justified in jumping him to a brigadier generalship. He tells Captain Wainwright, of the General Board of the Navy Department, that Secretary of War William H. Taft agrees on both points.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-05-22
If a man earns a promotion on merit, he is under no obligation to President Roosevelt for awarding it to him. Roosevelt will be pleased to sign General Grant’s commission.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-02-08
President Roosevelt will appoint Admiral Clark’s brother-in-law’s son if he can, but reminds him that many officers’ sons are candidates for every vacancy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-02-01
President Roosevelt warns J. Frank Watson and Herbert S. Huson against writing dispatches such as the one they wrote to him, offering political backing for Colonel Allison if he was promoted. Advancement of officers based on political considerations would lead to a decline in patriotism in the Army. Roosevelt assures them that General Henry G. Sharpe was the best man for the position, and was promoted solely on merit, rather than political consequence.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-10-16