Canals, Interoceanic

Memorandum regarding William Nelson Cromwell

A letter from Henry S. Brown to William Loeb was forwarded to the Acting Secretary of War with instructions to further send it to Secretary of War William H. Taft. The letter discussed lawyer and lobbyist William Nelson Cromwell, and included an endorsement of President Roosevelt instructing Taft to minimize Cromwell’s connections with Panama. Cromwell’s lobbying efforts were instrumental to getting the Panama Canal constructed.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-01

Isn’t the load getting pretty heavy?

President Roosevelt tries to push Secretary of War William H. Taft onto an already overloaded Republican elephant, which carries a lot of baggage: “Philippine scandal,” “Panama Canal supplies,” “tariff reduction,” “Loomis Rex. Whitewash,” “Morton Railroad Rebate scandal,” “Anti-trust fiasco,” and “wood Manila.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09

The man who can make the dirt fly

President Roosevelt uses an “administration scoop” to dig the “Panama Canal.” He digs up a number of men, including a “grafter,” “revolutionist,” and “favored contractors.” There are more men still in the canal.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-04-01

Mr. Hearst’s contest

The writer of an editorial expresses support for a speech in which Isthmian Canal Commission Chairman Theodore P. Shonts suggested naming the completed interoceanic canal in Panama the Roosevelt Canal. President Roosevelt has been a champion of the canal as vital to the carrying out of the Monroe Doctrine since he was governor of New York, and as President he is its most powerful supporter. Other editorials on the page discuss the political situation in Chicago and William Randolph Hearst’s attempts to settle the disputed New York City mayoral election.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Roscoe Thayer

Theodore Roosevelt provides several corrections to William Roscoe Thayer’s article, “John Hay and the Panama Republic.” Roosevelt denies conspiring with Philippe Bunau-Varilla and defends his actions as Colombia could not be treated as a “responsible power.” Had there not been a revolt, Roosevelt was prepared to seize the isthmus by force. However, he took advantage of the situation and stopped the “bandits” from holding up a great project.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-07-02

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to E. D. Rummel

A full account of Theodore Roosevelt’s actions towards Colombia and the creation of the Panama Canal will appear in two weeks in Metropolitan Magazine. He does not understand Hannis Taylor’s attempts at misrepresenting his actions; he was transparent in the process. As president at the time, Roosevelt takes responsibility for gaining control of the canal zone and beginning construction of the Panama Canal. His actions were in accord with the nation’s treaty obligations, followed American policy precedents towards the region, were ratified by Congress, and were “indispensable to the honor and the interest of the United States.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-01-07

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Joseph Bucklin Bishop

President Roosevelt praises Joseph Bucklin Bishop’s wife, Harriet Hartwell Bishop, calling her “a trump if ever there was one.” Roosevelt is glad that president-elect William H. Taft is going to examine the Panama Canal with several engineers, as he feels like the best way to address concerns about it is through “prompt, aggressive action.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-04

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John F. Stevens

President Roosevelt thanks John F. Stevens, former chief engineer of the Panama Canal project, for the letter, and says that he will forward it to President-Elect William H. Taft. Roosevelt asks what newspaper suggested stopping the work on the whole canal, and guesses that it was the New York World.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-29

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Cassius E. Gillette

President Roosevelt tells Cassius E. Gillette that it was best to accept Alfred Noble’s suggestions about the six names. Roosevelt believes that Charles Whiting Baker is “a perfect Trump,” and says that if he wants to go down to Panama, Roosevelt will aid him in every way he can. Roosevelt suggests that Gillette write to President-Elect William H. Taft enclosing this letter, and that Taft would happily include Baker if there is still room.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-30

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Philippe Bunau-Varilla

President Roosevelt appreciates the interest that Philippe Bunau-Varilla has taken in the Panama Canal, and assures him that he will make sure the French people get full credit for their work in beginning the canal.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-22

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William G. Besler

President Roosevelt informs William G. Besler he has heard well of Merrill, but cannot consider personal friendship in appointing commissioners to the Isthmian Canal Commission. However, Roosevelt promises to discuss Merrill’s qualifications with Secretary of War William H. Taft.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-29

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Cecil Spring Rice

President Roosevelt was sad to hear that Cecil Spring Rice will not receive a position in Washington, D. C. Roosevelt and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt have enjoyed the books sent by Spring Rice. Roosevelt reflects on the differences of Persian culture. He believes the Panama treaty will pass and the canal will begin construction. Roosevelt is confident the Panama Canal will be a benefit to mankind.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-01-18

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Otto Gresham

President Roosevelt found Otto Gresham’s letter interesting. Railroad interests are attempting to stop the Panama Canal but Roosevelt is confident they will fail.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-01-18

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edward L. Burlingame

President Roosevelt enjoyed James Jeffrey Roche’s poem on Panama and asks Edward L. Burlingame to look into the poem’s publication. Roosevelt is confident the canal treaty will pass.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-01-07

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles Fletcher Lummis

President Roosevelt had a low opinion of Colombia and considered their government to be “cruel despotism.” He was happy to assist Colombia. The tyranny over Panama would end and the canal would not be blocked.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-01-04

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Samuel W. Small

President Roosevelt was surprised at the opposition to the Panama Canal from the South and Pacific slope. He believes the canal will be a great accomplishment. Roosevelt believes Senators Cockrell and McCreary will support the treaty.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-12-29

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Margaret Stuyvesant Rutherford White

President Roosevelt is determined to approach the task of the presidency “with all the strength he has” and to run a transparent administration. Presently, he is most concerned with the Isthmian Canal Treaty.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-11-03

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Philip Battell Stewart

Vice President Roosevelt wants to meet the “Spokane brother-in-law” when he arrives. Roosevelt supports the Isthmian Canal and has done so publicly. He had a good time in Vermont with Stewart’s father even though their time was cut short by the attempted assassination of President McKinley. Roosevelt is confident McKinley will recover.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-09-07

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to A. T. Mahan

Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt agrees with Captain Mahan about both Hawaii and foreign policy generally. Roosevelt worries about Japan, and feels that the United States should increase its military presence in the Pacific Ocean. Senator Henry Cabot Lodge has spoken with President William McKinley on this topic and “pressed his views upon him with all his strength.” Roosevelt additionally mentions his worries about the international situation in the West Indies. He believes the United States should increase its presence and make sure that no strong European power is allowed to gain a foothold there. The institutional resistance to the build-up of the Navy annoys Roosevelt. He comments to Mahan, however, that Secretary of the Navy John Davis Long agrees with the two of them about Hawaii, and that he hopes for positive action on that front.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1897-05-03

Letter from Joseph Bucklin Bishop to Theodore Roosevelt

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