Your TR Source
President Roosevelt directs Alexander Rudolf Lawton to send the report to Chief of Staff General James Franklin Bell since it explains why he could not do as Lawton wanted regarding Captain Lawton.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-22
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-22
President Roosevelt is delighted with the army’s preparations under Secretary of War Taft. He thanks Taft for sending Judge Advocate General George B. Davis’s opinion on the right to intervene in Cuba. However, if intervention is necessary, he would “not dream of asking the permission of Congress.” He regards the treaty as the law and he “shall execute it.” Roosevelt requests Taft give speeches in Colorado and Idaho.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-17
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 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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-03-28
President Roosevelt is pleased with what Harry Teackle said about Leonard Wood, and wishes it could be published.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-12
President Roosevelt was not surprised by Bishop Rooker’s letter since he had already heard of the conflict between Rooker and the Filipinos, as well as the American government officials. Many people have contradicted what Rooker said and Roosevelt hopes that the Catholic prelates in the Philippines can convince the Filipinos that they are their friends and not their enemies like the friars who preceded them. Roosevelt has taken steps to create a special tribunal regarding the Aglipayan quarrel, disregards Rooker’s “groundless” claims against Commissioner Smith and is committed to increasing Filipino independence.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-06-22
President Roosevelt defends the promotion of General Leonard Wood and the administration’s refusal to commend General Nelson Appleton Miles upon his retirement.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-01-22
President Roosevelt thanks J. W. Hardin for the letter. He has always thought highly of General James Franklin Bell and hopes to promote him at the next opportunity.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-01-19
Johnson Hagood requests Theodore Roosevelt autograph the enclosed photograph. He sends clippings to remind Roosevelt who he is and lists the Chiefs of Staff he has served under as aid or assistant.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-01-17
Frank Ross McCoy sends Theodore Roosevelt birthday greetings and also sends what he believes are the first holiday greetings to Roosevelt and his hunting party in Africa. McCoy has seen many of his and Roosevelt’s mutual friends and tells him about activities that they have been undertaking in the southwest, including marches and hunting trips. He updates Roosevelt on changes in military training and updated service regulations and also discusses the International Horse Show, in which Americans are competing against British officers.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-10-27
Secretary of War Wright submits to President Roosevelt a report from Chief of Staff General James Franklin Bell regarding the advisability of constructing and staffing defenses in Subig Bay. Bell cites maps and reports from the Japanese siege of Port Arthur. He suggests that it would be too costly and not feasible to put the main defenses there, in the event of a similar siege by Japan.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-30
Representative Hobson of Alabama writes to President Roosevelt that due to the probability of war with Japan, he feels they must maintain permanent control of the Pacific. After attempting to warn others at the Resolutions Committee at Denver, Hobson now asks Roosevelt if he will consider raising the issue in the next message to Congress, to secure the building of additional battle ships and the creation of an emergency fund, and to make his feelings on the matter clear.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-21
In a memorandum requested by President Roosevelt, Secretary of War Taft outlines the reasons for the reversal of the Joint Board of the Army and Navy’s 1903 unanimous decision to construct a defensive naval base at Subic Bay in the Philippines. The decision was reversed in 1907 due in part to the emerging strength of Japan and the cooling of relations with Japan, and to the indefensibility of the area by land.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-14
Secretary of War Taft returns a letter from General Leonard Wood to President Roosevelt. He comments on some aspects of Wood’s character that he feels that the letter illustrates, as well as some of Wood’s observations about the state of the Philippines. Taft thinks that Wood is correct regarding the necessity of completing fortifications in the Philippines, and agrees with the desirability in keeping the United States’ fleet in the Pacific, but realizes that it may be impractical. He thinks that Wood is perhaps overly suspicious of the Japanese.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-10
A list of letters concerning rising tensions with Japan received by President Roosevelt and members of his administration during July, 1907. Summaries of the contents, creators, and recipients of the letters are included.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-31
Secretary of War Taft updates President Roosevelt on the progress of his trip across the United States, as he gives speeches to help candidates in the upcoming election. Nebraska is likely to go Republican, as the prosperity there under Roosevelt’s policies has hampered William Jennings Bryan’s campaign. The person nominated for the Senate, however, is someone who Taft and Roosevelt did not wish. Public sentiment is the same as in Illinois in calling for Roosevelt’s running for president again, as his policies have been very successful. The only place Bryan may have a foothold is in Ohio. Taft thinks that William Randolph Hearst’s strength in New York has been overstated. He also informs Roosevelt about several conversations he has had with people, and about a letter he received from Gifford Pinchot.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-01
General Barry was very glad to hear President Roosevelt say at lunch that he would put in a good word for the Army War College in his annual report. Because the college’s work is confidential, they are never able to explain themselves or give reply to abuse heaped upon them. Barry also notes that he encloses a memorandum that he yesterday sent to the Chief of Staff of the Army, Colonel James Franklin Bell, and he has marked the section that he feels is relevant to what Roosevelt discussed at lunch.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-12
Secretary of War William H. Taft relays to President Roosevelt his view that the Cuban government should pay for the construction and maintenance of quarters for the United States Army’s stay in Cuba during the occupation. However, Army officers’ salaries should not be taken from the Cuban treasury. Taft hopes that United States Comptroller of the Currency William Barret Ridgely will agree that U.S. funds can be expended so that construction can begin immediately and then the Cuban treasury can reimburse the expense. Both Army Chief of Staff General James Franklin Bell and newly named Provisional Governor of Cuba Charles Edward Magoon concur with Taft’s view.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-10
Secretary of War Taft updates President Roosevelt with the latest news regarding the disarmament of Cuban rebels. Taft worries about bitterness between different factions and wants troops on the ground to enforce the peace. Taft has sent Frank Maximilian Steinhart to negotiate peace in Cienfuegos and he expects to leave Cuba with Robert Bacon on the USS Louisiana (BB-19) the same day that Charles E. Magoon and General James Franklin Bell are expected to arrive.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-08