Armed Forces--Officers--Promotions

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Sally Pickman Loring Dwight

President Roosevelt apologizes to Sally Pickman Loring Dwight for “the query that caused [her] such discomfort.” A misunderstanding between Roosevelt and First Assistant Secretary of State Francis B. Loomis led Loomis to offer her husband, Theodore F. Dwight, a new position. Roosevelt has made it clear to Loomis that the Dwights should stay where they are.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-14

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Redfield Proctor

President Roosevelt has received letters from both Vermont Senator Proctor and New Jersey Senator John Kean on behalf of Colonel Hugh Lenox Scott. In addition, General Leonard Wood has praised Scott and said that he should be made brigadier general. Roosevelt will make this promotion if he can but reminds Proctor of the resistance to promote men who are “nominally” junior.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-20

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Anna Roosevelt Cowles

President Roosevelt hopes that his nephew William Sheffield Cowles continues to improve, and he looks forward to seeing his sister Anna Roosevelt Cowles on the 30th. He believes that both John C. Bates and Henry Clark Corbin will be promoted to lieutenant general.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-14

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Kean

Senator Kean had spoken with President Roosevelt in the past about promoting Major Hugh Lenox Scott, but his promotion has been unfortunately delayed. Roosevelt has had trouble promoting men on merit rather than seniority, but believes that if Kean works with other senators on the Senate Committee on Armed Services, it may be possible to nominate Scott for a promotion.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-08-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Redfield Proctor

President Roosevelt explains how his view of military promotions differs from Senator Proctor’s view. Proctor wants men to be promoted to “recognize” a particular state, in his case, Vermont, while Roosevelt wants to promote people based on merit. Roosevelt does not want to run the army in the interest of politicians. Instead, he wants to run the army “in the interest of the entire American people, and with an eye single to making it the best it can possibly be.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-03

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Redfield Proctor

President Roosevelt tells Senator Proctor “the question is now academic,” as Major Eugene Frederick Ladd was recommended for a vacancy, which has “from the beginning” put him second to Captain Benjamin Alvord.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-05

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John H. Parker

President Roosevelt regretfully informs Captain Parker that Benjamin Alvord has been selected for the promotion. If Roosevelt had “consulted [his] personal feelings,” he would have chosen Parker, but he did not want to fill the position on grounds of favoritism. Alvord’s recommendations all came from his superiors and his promotion was recommended by the army staff.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-31

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Redfield Proctor

President Roosevelt explains to Senator Proctor why he chose Captain Benjamin Alvord to be promoted to Assistant Chief of the Record and Pension Office. Roosevelt personally wanted to appoint his friend John H. Parker, while Proctor suggested Eugene Frederick Ladd. However, in order to avoid the appearance of favoritism, Roosevelt asked Secretary of War William H. Taft to have the general staff evaluate all the candidates and make a recommendation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-31

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Poultney Bigelow

President Roosevelt objects to an article in which Poultney Bigelow suggested that his and Secretary of War William H. Taft’s army promotions are based on political considerations. Ordinarily, he would pay no heed to such stories, but Bigelow is a college friend of Taft’s and a personal friend of Roosevelt’s. Roosevelt asks Bigelow to name one officer who has been promoted for political reasons during his presidency, and says that he will prove that this is not the case.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-04-03

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John C. Bates

While he has not authorized an official announcement, President Roosevelt informs John C. Bates that he had always intended to make him Lieutenant General after Adna Romanza Chaffee.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-23

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Grenville M. Dodge

President Roosevelt advises General Dodge on which generals will become senior upon the retirement of G. L. Gillespie and George Morton Randall. He adds that following its conduct during the “Missouri accident,” he will not give the Army and Navy Journal authoritative statements of his positions.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-28

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt would like to promote Joseph H. Dorst, Stephen C. Mills, and John J. Pershing to Brigadier General, “after a certain number of old men.” In a handwritten postscript, Roosevelt clarifies, “this is for the future.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-13

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt instructs Secretary of War Taft to have John P. Story, Chief of Artillery, submit a report to the General Staff regarding the separation of coast and field artillery, the best way to accomplish this task, and related goals including training, drills, and examination for officers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-13

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles M. Kimbrough

President Roosevelt tells Indiana State Senator Charles M. Kimbrough that he agrees General Frank Dwight Baldwin has many excellent qualities. Roosevelt promoted General Frank Dwight Baldwin to his present rank, but he cannot say if he will be able to promote him again at the present time.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-02

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William P. Frye

President Roosevelt informs Senator Frye that while he holds Charles G. Ayers in high esteem in the field, his peacetime activities make it impossible for him to be promoted.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02-20

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to C. W. Larned

President Roosevelt agrees with most of the fundamentals outlined in Colonel Larned’s article. He would like private soldiers to fill out the officer vacancies that are left after West Point cadets have been appointed, and he would like to see pay increased. He is especially concerned about placing a premium on the long service of non-commissioned officers. However, Roosevelt advises Larned of the difficulties of getting Congress to increase the army’s expenses.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-01

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt tells Secretary of War Taft he hates to disagree with Colonel Albert Leopold Mills–and possibly with Taft himself–but he plans to ask to have Major Robert Lee Howze appointed as Commandant of Cadets at the United States Military Academy. As Roosevelt says, “He seems to me to be, of all the younger men I know in the Army with the exception of Pershing, the man I would most like to have as a model for the cadets in West Point.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-21

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt informs Secretary of War Taft he desires to appoint Captain Robert Lee Howze as the Commandant of Cadets at the United States Military Academy and can tell Taft in person “the many things” that influenced him in this decision.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-03

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Memorandum from Theodore Roosevelt to War Department

President Roosevelt would like to appoint Captain Robert Lee Howze to succeed Commander of Cadets C. G. Treat next spring if the War Department considers it proper.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-16

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Memorandum from Theodore Roosevelt to Robert Shaw Oliver

President Roosevelt would like for Second Lieutenant James P. Barney of the 4th Cavalry to be promoted instead of retired. Roosevelt has been told Barney’s “physical disability” is temporary, but understands if he is found to be unable to serve “he will have to go.” Roosevelt simply wants to give him a chance.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-27

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919