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President Roosevelt informs Senator Platt that he has investigated the record of Lieutenant-Commander John Allen Dougherty, and has found a uniformly excellent record. After consulting with Secretary of the Navy Charles J. Bonaparte, Roosevelt has directed that Dougherty be assigned as Naval Attaché at the United States Embassy at Tokyo.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-23
President Roosevelt asks Assistant Secretary of War Oliver for the circumstances surrounding Raymond W. Hardenbergh’s appointment as a military attaché. Several years ago Roosevelt had to deny the request of Ashton H. Potter for such a position on the grounds he did not have enough experience, but has heard now that Hardenbergh has gained a post without having any more experience than Potter did.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-23
President Roosevelt asks Secretary of War Taft whether he has considered Colonel George S. Anderson as a candidate for promotion to brigadier general.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-09
President Roosevelt tells Judge Jones the only safe way to make promotions was to “rely purely upon military opinion” and is therefore unable to do as Jones requests.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-03
Because of Senator Redfield Proctor’s interference, President Roosevelt wants to issue an order preventing promotions and transfers of individuals who seek recommendation and assistance outside of the army or navy. He asks Secretary of War Taft how to frame it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-05-27
President Roosevelt reviewed the official reports of Wounded Knee, including those by Edward Settle Godfrey, and informs Cyrus Townsend Brady that there is no doubt of what occurred. Roosevelt is not surprised if Godfrey knows why he did not promote him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-20
Attorney General Moody does not think C. H. Davis should be promoted to Admiral. President Roosevelt has requested that Moody write to inform Secretary of the Navy Morton of the situation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-24
President Roosevelt encloses a document that Senator Alger can quote from if Senator Henry Moore Teller attacks General Leonard Wood.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-02-25
President Roosevelt assures Mary Merrill Scott that he will not forget about her husband. However, he must be careful as there is an evident conspiracy against General Leonard Wood and those connected to Wood. Roosevelt states he will consult Secretary of War Root about the matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-01-12
Vice President Roosevelt received Lieutenant Ode C. Nichols’s letter and is happy he could provide assistance to Nichols. Roosevelt believes that all his letter did was prevent Nichols from being overlooked. (Nichols was a member of the 1st Volunteer Cavalry (Rough Riders), but the war in Cuba ended before his squadron sailed.)
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-09-07
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt thanks Charles Deering and if he gets “absolute power,” he will promote Deering to “at least an admiral.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-05-08
Alban B. Butler discusses with Theodore Roosevelt the potential of the Artillery School in Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Butler shares his concerns about the Dan T. Moore having instructors under him who outrank him, a situation which can lead to “petty strife” or potentially insubordination. Butler believes that this issue can be be avoided if Moore is promoted, and asks if Roosevelt would send a letter to General Leonard Wood and Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson, who will be visiting Fort Sill, asking them to address this situation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-08-30
Frederick E. Windsor recounts Theodore Roosevelt’s attempts to brevet him for his involvement in the Coamo, Puerto Rico affair in 1898, though nothing materialized “owing to [the] Senate.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-05-29
Weldon B. Page, a private in the United States Army, seeks advice from Theodore Roosevelt in how to secure a promotion to 2nd lieutenant despite his age and time served. He explains that the Secretary of War promised his consideration, though Page was forgotten.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-05-19
Dan T. Moore, Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt’s cousin, writes to President Roosevelt to wish him a merry Christmas and happy New Year, and to update him on recent events. Moore’s wife, Luvie Jones Butler Moore, has recently been ill, but has seen doctors in Germany and seems to be recovering now. Moore was pleased to hear that President-elect William H. Taft had won the election, although he regrets that Roosevelt did not run himself. Moore has been enjoying his time studying with the German army, and hopes to be able to extend his time abroad in order to attend an artillery shooting school. If it is convenient, he would like to receive a copy of Roosevelt’s message to Congress, and comments on several sections of it that he has already heard about, including sections addressing promotions in the military. Moore will be having his son, Dan T. Moore, Jr., baptized while they are in Geneva, and asks if Roosevelt would want to be the godfather.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-26
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Newberry discusses the topic of upcoming legislation streamlining the process of promotion within the Navy. Newberry agrees with assessments made by experts and by President Roosevelt himself that the current system is “politically impractical,” and reiterates that the Department of the Navy and nearly all fighting officers support the bill.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-20
Secretary of War Taft gives President Roosevelt a review of the various vacancies and those appointed to fill them. He approves appointing Colonel Charles S. Smith to brigadier general based on his experience with coastal defense. However, he does not endorse the similar appointment of Colonel Medorem Crawford, describing him as a “humdrum, mediocre officer.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-18
Secretary of War Taft sends President Roosevelt a letter from General William Crozier regarding promoting Colonel Charles S. Smith to Brigadier General. Colonel Medorem Crawford has also been recommended for a promotion. Of the two, Taft feels Smith is more entitled to promotion due to his service record.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-17
Secretary of War Taft informs President Roosevelt that, based on his service record, Brigadier General William Penn Duvall should succeed Major General William Spencer McCaskey.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-16
General Crozier, chief of the Army Ordnance Department, presents General Corbin with a letter of recommendation for promoting Colonel Charles S. Smith to brigadier general. Crozier details Smith’s career and accomplishments as an ordnance officer, particularly in establishing the armament of the coast defenses.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-15