Catholic Church

Charles R. Dewing writes the United States Civil Service Commission regarding an investigation into the dismissal of Dewing due to religious discrimination. Dewing states Mr. Stockman, a Jesuit, targeted Dewing because he was part of the Central Union Church and participated in activities. Dewing also states Mr. Stockman pressured him to send letters, work long hours, and never take time off. Dewing requests the Commission continue to investigate.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-15

Creator(s)

Dewing, Charles R. (Charles Royal), 1878-

President Roosevelt summarizes two letters he has received from Oscar K. Davis for Elihu Root. The letters, from Times reporter William Bayard Hale, describe an interview Hale had with German Emperor William II. In the first letter, Hale describes the two-hour interview itself, in which William makes several incendiary statements regarding England, Russia, China, Japan, the United States, and the Catholic Church. In the second letter, Hale reports that after showing the interview to the German Foreign Office and American Ambassador David Jayne Hill, both decided it would be unwise and improper to quote the emperor. Roosevelt told Davis that he strongly discouraged making the interview public. In domestic news, Roosevelt is making a “quiet canvass” of feeling regarding the re-nomination of Charles Evans Hughes for governor of New York.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-08

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt sympathizes with the Catholic War Veterans’ Benevolent and Memorial Legion, of which John D. McHenry is president. Roosevelt believes that every “good citizen” must sympathize with its goals of honoring those who have died with a proper memorial service.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-11

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt sends Attorney General Bonaparte a clipping that references the “virility” of the Catholic Church. Roosevelt thinks the author meant “virulence.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-22

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt tells William Dudley Foulke that when Maria Longworth Storer wrote to him saying that Francis Augustus MacNutt must be received at the White House in order to be reinstated in the Papal Service, Roosevelt “strongly objected to being used in such a manner,” and refused to do so. He does not see why this conversation should require him to investigate MacNutt’s removal, which happened more than twelve years ago. Besides which, he now distrusts any information that came from Mrs. Storer. Roosevelt has also been reading Life of Morton, and is impressed. He compares the work of various authors of history.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-04

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt explains to William Dudley Foulke that he cannot “be drawn into any discussion” into the situation of Francis Augustus MacNutt. He did not give Ambassador B. Storer or Maria Longworth Storer any information “which was not generally known.” He encloses Mrs. Storer’s letter, which asks for information that would exclude MacNutt from Papal service.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-26

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt thanks Archbishop Ireland for the kind message he conveyed from Cardinal Rampolla. He extends his thanks and regard through Rampolla to Pope Leo XIII.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-10-15

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt would like Cardinal Gibbons to recommend a priest to be appointed as an army chaplain.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-10-05

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt sends thanks to Cardinal Patrick F. Moran. Roosevelt expresses his regard for Cardinal Gibbons and his appreciation for the Cardinal’s attitude.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-09-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

General William R. Hamby regrets that Theodore Roosevelt cannot attend the Texas-Columbus Day celebration in Austin and asks him to reconsider. He describes the festival, which will feature a Catholic morning session and a patriotic-themed afternoon and evening. He offers to wire Roosevelt expenses.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-15

Attorney General Bonaparte updates President Roosevelt on various matters before the Department of Justice, specifically pertaining to the cases of William Edgar Borah and N. M. Ruick. Bonaparte also goes into great detail about the case of the People of Puerto Rico vs. the Roman Catholic Apostolic Church in Puerto Rico. He encourages Roosevelt not to get involved but instead to let the courts work it out. In a postscript, Bonaparte discusses the political considerations of federal appointees who run for elective office.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-15

Creator(s)

Bonaparte, Charles J. (Charles Joseph), 1851-1921

Governor of Cuba Magoon informs President Roosevelt that Giuseppa Aversa, Archbishop of Sardes, Apostolic Delegate for Cuba and Puerto Rico, will not return to Cuba. Magoon believes it would be beneficial if an American Prelate were appointed as Aversa’s successor.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-30

Creator(s)

Magoon, Charles E. (Charles Edward), 1861-1920

John St. Loe Strachey relays to President Roosevelt an account of his trip to France and Germany. He and his wife visited Ambassador Charlemagne Tower and his wife in Berlin as well as Ambassador Robert Sanderson McCormick and his wife in Paris. Strachey believes that Chancellor Bernard Fürst von Bülow will be defeated in his reelection bid and that the Emperor was also held in disfavor by the German people. Strachey is concerned about the warlike nature of the Germans. He relays his thoughts on some of the French politicians and theologians whom he met; he found the French people and politicians generally to be pacifistic.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-11

Creator(s)

Strachey, John St. Loe, 1860-1927

James Jeffrey Roche shares his views on a range of topics with President Roosevelt, including Roosevelt’s handling of Bellamy Storer’s “indiscretion” in Rome, the public’s response to the Brownsville case, and Roche’s support for Roosevelt’s simplified spelling idea.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-28

Creator(s)

Roche, James Jeffrey, 1847-1908

Secretary of War Taft sends President Roosevelt documentation from General George W. Davis in Panama showing all efforts have been made to “avoid trouble with the Church.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-07

Creator(s)

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

Cardinal Gibbons provided President Roosevelt with two names—Mr. McIntyre and Mr. MacDonald—as potential candidates for the position of Postmaster of Baltimore.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-14

Creator(s)

Gibbons, James, 1834-1921

This calling card is for Francesco Marchetti Selvaggiani, sent by Vatican City to Washington, D.C., to serve as auditor of the Apostolic Delegation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-12

Creator(s)

Unknown

This note indicates that Ambrose Agius, Apostolic Delegate of the Philippines, is to see Secretary of War William H. Taft when he arrives and has asked when would work for him to see President Roosevelt before his departure.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-12

Creator(s)

Presidential Office Staff

Cardinal Gibbons thanks President Roosevelt for approving the recommendation of Father George Waring for the position of army chaplain. Gibbons says he will provide the name of another candidate from the East very soon.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-10

Creator(s)

Gibbons, James, 1834-1921

Nicholas Murray Butler writes that the New York City newspapers have published favorable reviews of President Roosevelt’s message. Railroad executives are reacting to statements of pending regulations. It is expected that Roosevelt will discuss the tariff at a later date since he did not include the topic in his speech. Butler includes a lengthy excerpt of a letter from John S. Kennedy. Kennedy writes that Roosevelt backers are being pressured to support F. Marion Crawford for a diplomatic position in Turkey. Kennedy does not think a Catholic appointee would protect the American Protestant missionaries in Turkey. Butler surmises the pressure is being brought to bear by Mrs. Hobson. Butler concludes by reminding Roosevelt he promised to schedule a meal to celebrate the election with old friends, like Joseph Bucklin Bishop and Butler, in New York City.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-07

Creator(s)

Butler, Nicholas Murray, 1862-1947