Your TR Source
Newspaper article discussing three Philippine issues; Admiral Dewey’s testimony before Congress and Senator Carmack, Major Gardner admitting that he cannot supply evidence to support the charges in his report, and an amnesty for political offenders and prisoners.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-06-30
President Roosevelt tells Sir George Otto Trevelyan of his happiness regarding the recent 1904 presidential election, and remarks that he is glad people decided to support the positive message of the Republican Party, rather than the negativity of the Democratic Party. The president attributes his victory to the clear-cut message in his speeches and addresses as well as those canvassing for him. Roosevelt discusses the differences between the American president and other political leaders and believes the American president is more like the British prime minister than the French president. he additionally reflects on his intention not to run for a third term. Even without the convention of only two terms, the president believes it would be better for Secretary of War William H. Taft or Elihu Root to succeed him; they are similar in policy, but would have fresh thoughts and ways. Roosevelt concludes by discussing his recent reading. He praises a section from one of Abraham Lincoln’s speeches after his reelection and equates certain American political leaders to characters in Charles Dickens’s works.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-24
President Roosevelt responds to Representative Williams’s claim that he does not understand the South. Although Roosevelt is “greatly puzzled” by some difficulties he has encountered in the South, he has tried to treat the Southern States fairly. Roosevelt believes there are no issues with what he has done in the South but how he has been misrepresented in the South. The president is fine if people disagree with his policies, but he does not like when the facts are misrepresented. He mentions statements made by Alabama Senator John Tyler Morgan and Williams himself that were incorrect. Roosevelt does not appreciate the application of base motives to the president of the United States, and believes if the people of the South have been misled, it is because Southern leaders have misled them. Roosevelt also does not appreciate white men in the South trying to get their vote to count more than those in the North, and believes African American men should be judged by the same tests as “ignorant, vicious and shiftless whites.” Roosevelt closes by saying that what the South “really needs” is for her leaders to tell the truth.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-05
President Roosevelt complains to Lyman Abbott about a number of matters that are being affected by partisanship. In particular, he is upset about partisan opposition to two of his nominations: Franklin K. Lane to the Interstate Commerce Commission and Joseph Bucklin Bishop as Secretary of the Isthmian Canal Commission. He is also frustrated that Democratic Senators are blocking the ratification of the Santo Domingo treaty “on mere partisan grounds,” and would normally favor the treaty if he were not a Republican president.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-12-14
In response to a “extraordinary statement” in William Randolph Hearst’s paper, President Roosevelt tells Joseph Bucklin Bishop that although he is fond of his uncle Robert Barnwell Roosevelt, they rarely agree on politics. Roosevelt did not make a statement that he did not intend to accept the nomination for a third term as president without thinking it over, and he stands by his decision even though it is causing him trouble in the Senate. Roosevelt complains about the inability of the Senate to ratify his San Domingan treaty. Efforts from both Democratic Senators and Republicans Eugene Hale and John C. Spooner derailed the treaty.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-03-23
President Roosevelt fundamentally agrees with Henry S. Pritchett and James Ford Rhodes about the Southern question. Although Roosevelt believes it is unwise and impractical to repeal the Fifteenth Amendment now, he does agree it should not have been passed in the first place. The president can also agree with Pritchett and Rhodes that Congress should not press for active enforcement of the Fifteenth Amendment; however, it cannot go too far with Mississippi Senator John Sharp Williams having more power than Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon. Roosevelt believes Southern states cannot enforce the laws themselves because they are trying to readopt slavery through peonage. Additionally, Southerners demand the exclusion of African Americans from offices, although Southerners have approved of Roosevelt’s choices for offices in the South on the whole even though the president has appointed some African Americans. Roosevelt insists he has tried Pritchett’s course of action, but it has not worked because the South has not met him even halfway. The president believes cooperation depends on Southerners, and the difficulty will vanish when they “quit lying.” Finally, Roosevelt says he has not observed outside criticism of the South and asks Pritchett how Congress needs to respond since it has not controlled the South. Roosevelt concludes by asking for one specific thing he is doing wrong, as he wants to learn.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-14
President Roosevelt is disappointed by Luke Lea’s letter sent to him by Silas McBee. While the president is pleased about what Lea says regarding Roosevelt’s attitude concerning “social equality,” the president has concerns about several other portions in Lea’s letter. Roosevelt disagrees with almost everything Lea says about politics in Tennessee. First, the president has tried to appoint good leaders, even if they have not been Republicans, something Lea thinks Roosevelt is not doing. Second, Lea believes men should be allowed to hold office no matter what their color, another policy Roosevelt has already been pursuing. Finally, Roosevelt says the campaign buttons in question had the opposite effect Lea mentioned. The president tells Abbott he can show Lea Roosevelt’s letter if he wishes.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-15
After inviting Finley Peter Dunne and Margaret Ives Dunne to the White House, President Roosevelt spends the rest of his letter discussing Finley Peter Dunne’s recent article entitled the “Anglo-Saxon Triumph.” Roosevelt takes umbrage with Dunne’s belief that individuals should look down on particular Americans due to their ancestry and specifically references those of Irish and German ancestry. In a postscript, Roosevelt states the current temptation is toward Anglophobia, not Anglomania, and the easiest thing for a politician to do is find fault with England. The president prides himself in getting a greater portion of Irish and Catholic Americans to vote for him than any previous Republican candidate without any significant attack on England.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-23
President Roosevelt substantially agrees with Judge Allison’s views but cannot stop discussions Allison dislikes in Congress. Roosevelt believes Mississippi Governor James Kimble Vardaman, Mississippi Senator John Sharp Williams, Tennessee Senator Edward Ward Carmack, and newspapers are stirring up a dangerous sentiment in the North, which are due to their utterances, not Roosevelt’s policy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-17
Ambassador to Japan Wright informs President Roosevelt about his visit with Emperor Meiji. Wright reports that he followed Roosevelt’s suggestions when presenting his letter of credence, that the emperor asked about Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt’s health, and that the emperor counts an autographed photo Roosevelt gave him as one of his prized possessions. Wright believes Japan will act in good faith regarding the “open door” policy in Manchuria, but it is taking time because the Japanese military governors in the territory do not want to be replaced by civil administrators and the Russians are moving slowly in removing their troops from the region. Wright says that Japan was strained by the war, and wants to maintain goodwill with the world powers, especially the United States. Wright also wishes power to Roosevelt as he busts trusts at home, noting that American citizens are increasingly tired of political machines in both parties.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-07
John Bell Brownlow explains to President Roosevelt how he came to be the representative of the Post Office Department on the U.S. Government Board of Management of several expositions. After serving well, Brownlow suddenly learned that then-Postmaster General Henry C. Payne was displeased with his work due to false statements against him. Brownlow was subsequently investigated on his own request to prove the falseness of the statements against him, but while the investigations seem to have vindicated him he has been negatively impacted by being excluded from the Portland board. He asks Roosevelt to consider the matter and review the inspections, which show that his record is clean.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-10-28
President Roosevelt rails against the United States Senate generally and six senators individually in a letter to Joseph Bucklin Bishop. Roosevelt expresses his frustration with the Senate for failing to ratify a treaty with the Dominican Republic. Roosevelt aims his wrath equally at three Democratic and three Republican senators for desiring to play a part in foreign affairs and then neglecting to shoulder their responsibilities.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal
1905-03-23
Senator Edward Ward Carmack expresses his disappointment at the reelection of President Roosevelt, and gives several reasons for why he believes Roosevelt and the Republicans won.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-07
W. K. Currie invites Vice President Roosevelt to speak at a “Politico-Chautauqua” to be held in Mount Ayr, Iowa, in October.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-09-02