Your TR Source
President Roosevelt reports to Kermit Roosevelt that his week has been busy yet uneventful, but he wishes he had more time to exercise. He almost feels ashamed for leaving detailed work to the department heads, but it is the only way he has time to “develop the really big policies.” It was a beautiful, “real spring” day.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-05-04
President Roosevelt notes that he has sent Dr. Fisher his public letter on the Committee of One Hundred regarding public health. He advises that the public letter not be used if the committee decides to publicly argue for the creation of a new Cabinet officer at the head of a Department of Health. He expresses his strong disapproval of a Cabinet officer leading a new Department of Health. He explains that he approves of creating a Bureau of Health under an existing federal department but does not approve of creating a new Cabinet officer nor an independent bureau not under a Cabinet officer. He acknowledges that a rearrangement of the existing bureaus and divisions of the Cabinet are needed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-05-08
President Roosevelt apologizes to President Jones of Wilberforce University that it is not in his power to do as Jones desires. Roosevelt tells Jones that he has “had to make a rule” of not sending members of his Cabinet to such occasions, although they are very interesting.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-19
President Roosevelt thanks John St. Loe Strachey for remembering the upcoming wedding of his daughter Alice to Congressman Nicholas Longworth. Roosevelt is pleased with Longworth and hopes that he will have a successful career in politics. He reflects at length about politics in both Great Britain and the United States. In particular, Roosevelt discusses the function and manner of the United States Senate, and envies that a labor man is in Great Britain’s Cabinet.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-02-12
President Roosevelt will not answer Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte until he sees him, but reminds him that he always intended to make him Attorney General and is expecting to appoint him in July of this year.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-01-15
President Roosevelt was pleased to see that Viscount Bryce is in the Cabinet.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-12-12
President Roosevelt is pleased that John Morely is taking a role in “directing the affairs of the British Empire.” He asks Morely to send his regards to John Burns.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-12-12
A recent court ruling in the case against the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Company proves that Attorney General Moody and President Roosevelt were correct not to proceed with charges against individual officers of the company. Although former Secretary of the Navy Paul Morton was vice president of the company, Roosevelt clarifies that this would not shield him from prosecution if his actions had been improper.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-12-15
President Roosevelt was so interested in Ambassador Reid’s recent letter to his wife Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt that he feels compelled to write Reid himself. He responds to a number of stories Reid told in his letter, and reflects at length upon the duties and responsibilities of rich officials verses poorer ones. Roosevelt believes that each man should live and entertain and conduct himself in “such a position as he has been accustomed to live.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-13
President Roosevelt praises Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte’s recent speech, and says he believes that his current work in Maryland is very good.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-09-08
President Roosevelt thinks Hamlin Garland is performing a valuable service by agitating for a national park in Western Colorado, and will back it however he can. He is sorry if Paul Morton’s former place in his cabinet hurts his administration, but not because of anything Morton did–rather because of how people can be foolish and misled. Morton was one of Roosevelt’s best cabinet officers as Secretary of the Navy. Roosevelt also responds to criticism of Secretary of State Elihu Root’s career as a corporation lawyer, saying that that is the biggest business for lawyers, and that what matters is that they act properly and honorably as such. Former Attorney General and current Senator Philander C. Knox was also a corporation lawyer.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-08-09
President Roosevelt was very interested in Senator Lodge’s talk with Belgian King Léopold II. Roosevelt also liked Lodge’s thoughts of John Hay, although he feels that they should not be melancholy, as Hay had had a long, successful life. He reflects on his choice of Elihu Root as the new Secretary of State. There is no new information regarding the Russian and Japanese peace negotiations. Roosevelt is enjoying his time at Oyster Bay with his family.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-07-18
President Roosevelt thanks Reverend Abbott for his note. He is “delighted” that Elihu Root will be Secretary of State, and is surprised that Root also seems delighted. He wonders if he, Abbott, and Root could have lunch together in the coming summer.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-07-10
President Roosevelt tells Senator Lodge of his sorrow at the death of John Hay, who, while not flawless as Secretary of State, he greatly respected. He believes Elihu Root will be a good Secretary of State. Roosevelt updates Lodge on the progress of arranging peace talks between the Japanese and Russians, as well as his part serving as an intermediary between France and Germany. Newspapers are speculating that Root agreed to join the cabinet as a step towards the presidency, but Roosevelt feels that Secretary of War William H. Taft may make a better candidate.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-07-11
President Roosevelt thanks Maryland District Attorney Rose for his letter. Roosevelt knew Rose would like Charles J. Bonaparte’s selection, and he took “particular pleasure in making the appointment.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-02
In accepting the resignation of Secretary of the Navy Paul Morton, President Roosevelt expresses his gratitude for the good work Morton has done, and for agreeing to remain in the role for longer than Morton had originally anticipated.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-01
President Roosevelt informs Anson Phelps Stokes the cabinet members cannot take part in a course of lectures for any one university, as they would receive a multitude of requests to do so at other universities as well.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-07
President Roosevelt explains to Senator Hale the editor in question had an “entirely proper request” to make of Secretary of the Navy Paul Morton and Attorney General William H. Moody. Roosevelt knows that Hale knew nothing of the request.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-28
President Roosevelt explains to Thomas H. Hubbard he tried to get Attorney General William H. Moody to speak, but Moody is unable to do so and maintain his work as attorney general.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-16
President Roosevelt informs Ambassador McCormick he was pleased to tell Iowa Senator William B. Allison he intended to reappoint McCormick to St. Petersburg, Russia.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-12