Bishop, Farnham, 1886-1930

Isthmian Canal Commission Secretary Bishop updates President Roosevelt on his family. Chairman and Chief Engineer of the Isthmian Canal Commission Colonel George W. Goethals requested Bishop’s presence on the Isthmus to have a channel of communication to Roosevelt, and Roosevelt’s recent letter pleased him. Bishop says the only major issue is the arrogant behavior of Jackson Smith, the Head of the Department of Labor, Quarters, and Subsistence on the Panama Canal Commission. Additionally, the engineer Joseph Ripley created incorrect blueprints and has been proven to be no expert on locks, but Major William L. Sibert is excellent. Bishop thinks the Republican Club of New York’s motives for disparaging Roosevelt’s canal policy are political. In response to Roosevelt’s suggestion to include local events in the new paper, Bishop explains that it may be hard to keep current, but he will try his best.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-03

Creator(s)

Bishop, Joseph Bucklin, 1847-1928

Joseph Bucklin Bishop, secretary of the Isthmian Canal Commission, reports to President Roosevelt that matters on the Isthmus are in good condition thanks to Chief Engineer and Commission Chairman George W. Goethals’s systematic military organization. Goethals is an effective leader and greatly appreciates Bishop’s help, especially in handling complaints. Bishop compliments Roosevelt’s Provincetown speech and gives an update on his family.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-29

Creator(s)

Bishop, Joseph Bucklin, 1847-1928

Theodore Roosevelt introduces William F. Clarke, editor of St. Nicholas magazine, to Farnham Bishop. He believes Bishop has a “first-class story” for the magazine.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-18

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt introduces H. M. Leipziger to Farnham Bishop, son of Secretary of the Panama Canal Joseph Bucklin Bishop. Roosevelt attests to Bishop’s qualifications as a lecturer on the canal.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-18

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt is sorry not to have seen Joseph Bucklin Bishop’s son, Farnham, at the inaugural parade. Unfortunately, Roosevelt will not be able to meet Bishop in New York.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-08

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Joseph Bucklin Bishop explains why he did not make more of an effort to correct statements in Hayden Talbot’s article about the Panama Canal. Bishop was instructed to ensure that Talbot did not put words in George W. Goethals’s mouth, and did not feel that he could censor Talbot by going further. Bishop will not be able to see Theodore Roosevelt before he sails for Panama, but mentions that his son Farnham is moving to New York to start a literary career and asks if Roosevelt can help him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-07-23

Creator(s)

Bishop, Joseph Bucklin, 1847-1928

Joseph Bucklin Bishop asks Theodore Roosevelt his opinion on Charles Dewey Hilles’s statement. He heard from an official’s wife that Helen Herron Taft hosts gambling bridge parties at the White House, which he finds hard to believe. Bishop congratulates Roosevelt on becoming a grandparent and thanks him for being “the best friend” their son, Farnham Bishop, “ever had.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-28

Creator(s)

Bishop, Joseph Bucklin, 1847-1928

Joseph Bucklin Bishop thanks Theodore Roosevelt for the “grateful and sustaining words” given at Harvard. Colonel George W. Goethals is also pleased with Roosevelt’s tribute to Bishop and wishes he could appoint him as his executive officer. However, President William H. Taft thought it unwise but assured Bishop of a worthy position once he ensured the bill abolishing the Isthmian Canal Commission passed. Yet, like with most of his promises, Taft changed his mind, and the bill will not be passed. Bishop discusses the disturbing reports of political scheming regarding appointing a new commissioner and governor of the Canal Zone. Goethals declared such things would not happen if Roosevelt were president.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-01-02

Creator(s)

Bishop, Joseph Bucklin, 1847-1928

Thomas R. Goethals describes the appointment of his grandfather, George W. Goethals, as chairman and chief engineer of the Panama Canal Commission in 1907. He recounts President Theodore Roosevelt’s repeated reorganization of the commission and his desire to place the project under the authority of the Corps of Engineers of the United States Army. Goethals notes the rapport quickly established between Roosevelt and Goethals, and he details Goethals’s concern over having to replace the very popular John F. Stevens as chief engineer of the project. Goethals notes that his grandfather was most worried about managing the people who would actually build the canal, and he highlights Goethals first speech in Panama in which he tried to reassure them that he would not militarize the project. Goethals also stresses the important role played by Secretary of War William Howard Taft in staffing and overseeing the construction of the canal.

The article includes nine photographs, including five of George W. Goethals, four illustrations, and one map of the canal zone. An advertisement for the Chocolate Lady candy store of Oyster Bay, New York, appears at the conclusion of the article.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

2010