Armed Forces--Officers

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Francis E. Warren

President Roosevelt tells Francis E. Warren, chairman of the Senate Committee on Military Affairs, that he does not believe there is need for a court of inquiry regarding the stationing of Colonel William F. Stewart at Fort Grant. It is within Roosevelt’s authority to do so, and he points out that any punishment in such a posting is incidental to the goal of keeping the best and most efficient officers in command. Stewart has not proven himself fit to command troops.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-05-14

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Franklin Bell

President Roosevelt requests that General Bell see him and bring in a letter from Captain Harry O. Williard addressed to Commissioner Francis E. Leupp about his being detailed to the army school at Fort Leavenworth. Roosevelt remembers that Williard did well with the Navajos and would like to grant his request if possible.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-05-15

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Lyman Abbott

President Roosevelt sends Lyman Abbott letters he wrote to various Senators about the Brownsville incident and a matter concerning Colonel William F. Stewart. Roosevelt asserts his executive authority as President to make determinations about the dismissal and stationing of soldiers, citing past precedents. He also provides his rationale for dismissing the Brownsville soldiers and for refusing to grant Stewart a court of inquiry.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-05-10

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Franklin Bell

President Roosevelt agrees with General Bell that the proposed law would not currently be in the best interest of the service. However, as General Robert Shaw Oliver suggested, he believes a list should be published that shows the amount of time officers have spent in various classes and areas of duty. He asks Bell to go over the list with Secretary of War William H. Taft.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt instructs Secretary of War Taft to revoke the promotion of Field Artillery officer Clarence Northrup Jones on the grounds of both his physical condition and his moral conduct. He asks for another investigation into Jones’s conduct.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Victor Howard Metcalf

Given that Captain Royal Rodney Ingersoll’s opinion contradicts Captain Richard Wainwright’s, President Roosevelt asks Secretary of the Navy Metcalf to submit any statement of Ingersoll’s to him before it goes to the Senate Committee. Roosevelt has “certain very interesting information” regarding the views of the Japanese military and naval authorities, which he will submit to Metcalf and the General Board confidentially after Secretary of State Elihu Root goes through it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-17

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Victor Howard Metcalf

President Roosevelt asks Secretary of the Navy Metcalf to find out about Admiral Robley D. Evans’s health when he visits the fleet. Roosevelt is afraid that he is not well enough to take the fleet to Australia and home.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-06

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Franklin Bell

President Roosevelt believes that officers should not be allowed to pass between details without serving with troops. He asks General Bell for a list of officers who have not served with troops for more than four years who had not previously served with troops for two years. He drafts verbiage of an order Bell could issue requiring officers to serve with troops.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-01-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Franklin Bell

President Roosevelt’s request for an evaluation of the riding abilities of field officers in the Army has been questioned by the press. He asks General Bell to research how American horsemanship requirements compare to those of Europe’s leading armies, and would like photographs of the tests taken by their field officers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-28

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt was appalled by the physical fitness and horsemanship of some United States field officers, so he directs Secretary of War Taft to have United States Army candidates for promotion to field officer tested for “skill and endurance in riding.” He also wants an annual or biannual horsemanship test of all field officers and details the specifics of the test. Field officers who are the subject of General Orders No. 44 must “participate in all practice marches, encampments and field exercises.” Roosevelt believes that the officers of the Inspector General’s Department should report on the physical fitness of field officers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-05-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Franklin Bell

In a letter to General Bell, President Roosevelt communicates the need to get rid of “worthless” cavalry field officers and infantry field officers currently in the United States Army.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-20

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles William Eliot

President Roosevelt updates President of Harvard Eliot on Secretary of War William H. Taft’s investigation into American agitators’ influence in the Cuban conflict. He discusses the “curious” opinion of having General Leonard Wood take control in Cuba given the previous backlash against him, even though Roosevelt considers him one of the “best officers we now have.” While Cuba is his immediate concern in foreign affairs, Roosevelt discusses the issues concerning the Hague and the Panama Canal.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-22

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Franklin Bell

President Roosevelt appreciates Chief of Staff Bell “taking thought in advance.” He instructs Bell to show the letter to General Fred C. Ainsworth, who will follow through with Bell’s suggestions concerning sending officers to Cuba.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles Laurie McCawley

President Roosevelt congratulates Major McCawley once again on his recent marriage to Sarah Helen McCawley, and hopes to see both of them next winter. Roosevelt tells McCawley that they have chosen Captain Frank Ross McCoy to be his replacement as White House aide. They would have liked to get is opinion beforehand, but did not have the opportunity to do so. Roosevelt comments, in a handwritten note, that no one can really take McCawley’s place.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-16

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Jesse Matlock Lee

President Roosevelt already had a high opinion of Colonel Joseph H. Dorst, and he feels that General Lee’s testimony about him carries great weight. Roosevelt would like to see Lee as soon as possible after he returns from the Philippines.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-18

Letter from William Loeb to William H. Taft

On behalf of President Roosevelt, William Loeb sends Secretary of War Taft a letter from William Allen White to Roosevelt, a newspaper clipping containing charges against General Leonard Wood, and a copy of Roosevelt’s reply to Allen.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-04

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles J. Bonaparte

President Roosevelt was amused by a newspaper article Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte sent him concerning the Cabinet, and is considering forwarding it to Secretary of State Elihu Root “for his prayerful consideration!” Roosevelt directs Bonaparte to follow whatever course he deems wise concerning  Paymaster General H. T. B. Harris, and is willing to leave him in office until after the next session of Congress. He is not able to follow Bonaparte’s advice on a different appointment, having told Sydney Emmanuel Mudd that he would follow his recommendation if he suggested a good candidate, and therefore being committed to Felix Agnus.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-07-09

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt is concerned regarding the case of First Lieutenant Albert S. Odell. Judge Advocate General George B. Breckenridge reported that Odell may be able to mend his ways. Given Odell’s positive service record of over seven years, Roosevelt asks whether Secretary of War Taft thinks a punishment less severe than dismissal may meet the case. Roosevelt has asked Odell’s father, William S. Odell, to speak with Taft.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-23

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Nehemiah D. Sperry

President Roosevelt has looked into the case of Lieutenant Arthur D. Budd and reports to Congressman Sperry that he cannot consent to Budd being detailed to the White House as an aide. Such appointments are generally given as rewards for good service, and Budd is still very early in his career and has not shown any particular qualifications for the position.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-09

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to J. J. Jusserand

President Roosevelt informs Ambassador Jusserand of a change to an upcoming social event. Due to the large number of French officers, Roosevelt worries that “it will be difficult to get the right number of ladies to meet them at dinner.” He is therefore is planning to hold a dinner only for the men, and then have a general reception afterwards where the women will join them. This will also allow him to invite a number of Congressmen to meet the French officers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04-15