Your TR Source
President Roosevelt thanks John W. Watson for the interesting article, but notes that it would be impossible to convince diplomat Herbert Wolcott Bowen to agree to Watson’s point of view.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-20
Assistant Secretary of State Loomis believes that is it important to go over the evidence in the Bowen case and compare it carefully with the copy. Loomis would like to go over the final proof with someone who is handling the case and believes that nothing would be lost by holding it for a few weeks until he returns. Loomis asks William Loeb to speak to President Roosevelt about the matter if Loeb agrees.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-23
Elihu Root writes to President Roosevelt from the train to Philadelphia where he is going to consult with Mayor John Weaver. Root thinks Roosevelt’s letter to Secretary of the Navy Paul Morton is “bully” and only has one or two verbal suggestions to offer. Clarence Winthrop Bowen came to visit Root and ask for “merciful treatment” for his brother, Herbert Wolcott Bowen, who is embroiled in a libel case with Assistant Secretary of State Francis B. Loomis.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-16
Judge Holt provides a letter of support to President Roosevelt for his brother-in-law, Ambassador Herbert Wolcott Bowen who has been recalled from Venezuela. Holt explains that Bowen is so contemptuous of corruption that it led him to commit an “indiscretion.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-15
Caspar Whitney states Herbert Wolcott Bowen denied starting a newspaper campaign against Assistant Secretary of State Loomis.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-14
Secretary of War Taft and Herbert Wolcott Bowen question Harry Unwin on his work as an auditor for the asphalt trust. Taft and Bowen focus on a bank draft for $5,000 or $10,000 which Unwin was instructed to send to Henry W. Bean in Venezuela.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-10
Secretary of War Taft and Assistant Secretary of State Loomis and Herbert Wolcott Bowen question William Worthington Russell about papers left by Loomis in Caracas, Venezuela. Russell states that the papers were left in the safe but Bowen contends that he found some of them on Russell’s desk. Russell denies opening any of the papers.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-10
Senator Lodge tells President Roosevelt about the establishment of a big German coaling station in St. Thomas, which indicates that German Emperor William II is “still hankering after those islands.” Lodge recommends quickly buying Greenland. In addition, Lodge recommends replacing Secretary of the Treasury Leslie M. Shaw, and disagrees with Shaw’s plan for issuing bonds. Lodge comments on various prominent events happening in the United States and the world and explains he is enjoying his time in “this old Italian town,” but is beginning to long for home. He wants to be near Roosevelt and not have to watch from a distance.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-10
Secretary of War Taft discusses the U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela Bowen’s claims against Assistant Secretary of State Loomis. Bowen wants to prove that Loomis took bribery money. Taft offers to carry out an investigation with witnesses to clear up any misunderstandings.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-10
Caspar Whitney thanks President Roosevelt for the information on the conflict between Herbert Wolcott Bowen and Assistant Secretary of State Loomis. Whitney discusses the details of the accusations against and investigation of Loomis and the impact it will have on relations with Venezuela.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-09
This transcript presents a governmental interview of William Worthington Russell regarding the Mercado affair, wherein government officials were accused of profiting off of economic transactions and the sale of Venezuelan salt bonds. Russell is interviewed by Secretary of War William H. Taft, Assistant Secretary of State Francis B. Loomis, and Herbert Wolcott Bowen regarding his position as Secretary of Legation in Venezuela, and regarding Loomis’s conduct when he was the Minister to Venezuela. Russell testifies that in the Mercado claim he acted in a friendly, unofficial capacity, and did not personally profit off of anything.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-09
Caspar Whitney responds to a letter President Roosevelt previously sent him concerning the libel case between Assistant Secretary of State Loomis and Herbert Wolcott Bowen. Whitney admits that he knows little about the case, but that he believes Bowen to be a good public servant.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-09
Ambassador Herbert Wolcott Bowen is working with Hermann Speck von Sternburg to limit Germany’s monetary demands against Venezuela. Ambassador Bowen, who is ill with influenza, has requested a meeting with Secretary of State Hay.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-02-28
President Roosevelt provides Secretary of State Hay with a list of appointments in the diplomatic and consular service after March 4, 1905. Roosevelt includes a handwritten note, “All this is tentative.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-17
President Roosevelt enjoyed his visit with Viscount James Bryce and reminisces about when Bryce stayed at the White House several years prior. Roosevelt believes the question of disarmament is “full of difficulties” and wants to avoid raising “high anticipation as will ensure disappointment” with the upcoming National Arbitration and Peace Congress. He wasn’t impressed with Jamaica Governor James Alexander Swettenham’s message and compares his dealings with him to that of Henry Wolcott Bowen, former Ambassador of Venezuela. Roosevelt is pleased that the Santo Domingo treaty was ratified by Congress and is overall satisfied with the number of other legislative measures he managed to pass.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-28
President Roosevelt hopes that Arthur Hamilton Lee is not worrying about the incident between Governor of Jamaica James Alexander Swettenham and Rear Admiral C. H. Davis in the aftermath of the Kingston Earthquake. Roosevelt assures Lee that he has dealt with worse characters than Swettenham, including several former American diplomats.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-12
President Roosevelt confides to Sir George Otto Trevelyan the contents of several letters and reports regarding the diplomatic aftermath of the earthquake in Kingston, Jamaica. Trouble has arisen after Governor of Jamaica James Alexander Swettenham asked Rear-Admiral C. H. Davis to remove the marines he had ordered to assist with the relief effort. Roosevelt compares Swettenham to American diplomates Herbert Wolcott Bowen, B. Storer, and Maria Longworth Storer who had caused him trouble in the past.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-04
In response to press reports regarding Herbert Wolcott Bowen’s false statements about the relationship between Assistant Secretary of State Loomis and the late Secretary of State John Hay, President Roosevelt assures Loomis that Hay spoke highly of him and strongly condemned Bowen.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-09-27
President Roosevelt asks Caspar Whitney for more information about Herbert Wolcott Bowen’s claims, including if Bowen expressed them in a letter. Roosevelt tells Whitney Bowen wrote him a letter saying he did make the statements about Assistant Secretary of State Francis B. Loomis and showed papers to representatives of the Herald. Roosevelt is disgusted by Bowen quibbling about the word “charges,” as it was obvious Bowen was making charges even though he did not use the word.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-12
President Roosevelt tells Caspar Whitney that thus far the facts against Assistant Secretary of State Francis B. Loomis have not convicted him of the charges made by Herbert Wolcott Bowen. However, “positive testimony” has convicted Bowen of gossip against a superior officer, which he furnished to newspapers. Roosevelt believes this is a very grave offense and that there is “no room for a difference of opinion about his conduct.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-08