Catholic Church

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Bellamy Storer

Secretary of State John Hay is indignant that Bellamy Storer wrote to Senator Marcus Alonzo Hanna, regarding what Storer perceives as an injustice in Carlton Bailey Hurst’s dismissal. Storer’s letter amounts to an attack on the Roosevelt administration, as well as the Secretary of State and President under which Storer serves. Hurst’s removal was justified, but even if it was not, Storer should not have written to Hanna. President Roosevelt also reminds Storer that while serving as an American ambassador he should not discuss or interfere with the affairs of the Catholic Church.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-12-30

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt informs Governor Taft that he will speak with Cardinal Gibbons regarding the influence of the friars on the Filipino movement for a church independent of the Catholic Church. Roosevelt requests Taft’s opinon on the effect of Apolinario Mabini’s return.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-12-26

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James D. Fox

President Roosevelt writes to James D. Fox to discuss the opposition from Filipino Catholics against the Spanish friars in the Philippines. Roosevelt believes the United States should purchase the friars’ lands.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-07-18

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt writes to Governor General of the Philippines Taft to discuss the agitation among American Catholics regarding the friars in the Philippines. Opposition to Archbishop John Ireland and the schools have complicated the political situation and could be damaging during the congressional elections. Roosevelt hopes that Luke E. Wright can succeed Taft as Governor.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-07-29

Letter from Frank Harper to Arthur Dehon Hill

Frank Harper acknowledges receipt of Arthur Dehon Hill’s letter as Theodore Roosevelt is on a campaign trip. Harper is favorable to Hill’s idea of bringing in a prominent Catholic speaker from outside the state. He suggests contacting Controller Prendergast or Mr. Cochran.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-10-08

Letter from Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt to Victor Kubinyi

Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary thanks Reverend Kubinyi for his telegram of good wishes to Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-09-09

Letter from Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt to George W. Perkins

Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary encloses a letter from Charles J. McDonald suggesting the founding of a Progressive newspaper in Worcester, Massachusetts. McDonald is willing to invest in the paper and hopes to lessen the tension between Roosevelt and American Catholics over the Vatican incident.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-08-24

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Cecil Andrew Lyon

Theodore Roosevelt discusses a letter from Captain H. A. Hanigan, in which Hanigan describes the “Vatican Incident” as an insult to Catholics. Roosevelt encloses for Colonel Lyon the statement he made in The Outlook but does not want it given to Hanigan, as he refuses to appeal to any religious bigotry, whether Protestant or Catholic. Roosevelt asserts that he acted just as any good American citizen would have in that situation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-08-15

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to M. Abbott Charles

Theodore Roosevelt thanks M. Abbott Charles for the kind and interesting letter. Although he did not write the article in The Outlook, he agrees with it. While Spalding and Kane cannot be made cardinals, the writer likely meant that men of their “stamp” should be ordained. Roosevelt sincerely wishes the Catholic Church well. He has only been able to work with a few Protestant clergymen. The clergymen he admires, both Catholic and Protestant, have a combination of serene, lofty spirituality, broadminded charity, and a sincere desire to do good. Archbishop O’Connell is opposite this, and Roosevelt’s non-Catholic friends use him to illustrate the folly of his attitude toward the Catholic church. Despite differences in theology, individuals of different religions can work together for the country’s good. Roosevelt invites Charles to lunch with the editors of The Outlook. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-20

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Francis Bureno

Theodore Roosevelt responds to a telegram from Reverend Francis Bureno which read, “Vehimently protest against interview between you and Guisephe Garibaldi during which it was insinuated Italian Catholic clergy was not sanest and most intelligent part of the church. Have telegraphed also to Garibaldi and Italo American press denouncing such misrepresentation.” Roosevelt has no idea to what Bureno refers and has spoken to General Garibaldi recently, with no such insinuations made. He declares, “Any such assertion would be on its face so absurd that I am wholly at a loss to understand how you can believe it, or why you did not endeavor to find out whether the interview was or was not true before sending me the telegram you did.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-07-18

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Homer Folks

President Roosevelt writes to Homer Folks on behalf of the daughter of Frank Travers. Roosevelt is recommending Travers’s daughter for work through Father York. Roosevelt’s letter also serves to introduce York to Folks.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-24

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Roscoe Thayer

Theodore Roosevelt tells William Roscoe Thayer that he looks forward to receiving the book. Roosevelt discusses ultramontane attacks on schools and fundamental liberties, the American Protective Association (A.P.A.), cowardly newspapers, and his position on the tariff.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-01-31

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Thomas E. Watson

Theodore Roosevelt invites Thomas E. Watson to Oyster Bay, New York, to discuss their shared Georgian ancestry and view some heirlooms Roosevelt has collected. Roosevelt defends the “countless good Americans who are Catholic” and supports the legality and legitimacy of marriages between people of different religious creeds. He denounces any “general assault on Catholics.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-03-16

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Thomas E. Watson

Theodore Roosevelt is disappointed that Thomas E. Watson has such “violent feeling” towards Catholics, which he does not believe is compatible with the “real and full belief in our American institutions.” He would consider himself an unworthy citizen if he failed to treat each citizen with “absolute disregard of his creed.” Roosevelt defends religious freedom and will “fight the battle of decency” without regard for a person’s religion or opposition to him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-01-19

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to J. J. Curran

Theodore Roosevelt was pleased by Father Curran’s letter and greatly appreciates his friendship. If he had been president, Roosevelt would have sent Father Vattmann to investigate the Mexico situation and acted upon his report. He was interested to hear from Archbishop Blenk that the general opinion was changing in support of his actions during the “Vatican incident.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-01-04

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Francis Noll

Theodore Roosevelt writes to Father Noll regarding American newspapers publishing slanderous stories about the Catholic Church. Roosevelt mentions that he has also been the victim of such journalism and calls them “reckless and untruthful attacks.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-12-12

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John M. Grainey

President Roosevelt appreciates the clippings sent by John M. Grainey, and especially appreciates the highlighted paragraph. He believes that this is an appeal on behalf of William Jennings Bryan to “the worst spirit of religious liberty,” by attacking William H. Taft because of the way he worships. Taft is a Unitarian, and Roosevelt notes that John Quincy Adams was also a Unitarian. Roosevelt also believes that Taft acted correctly in the Philippines regarding the distribution of the property of the Catholic Church.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-19

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt approves of Secretary of War Taft’s recommendation for the purchase of property in Cuba from the Roman Catholic Church at the price of $360,900.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-18

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles E. Magoon

President Roosevelt sends Governor Magoon the text of a letter from Cardinal James Gibbons outlining the Catholic Church’s plan to sell property to the provisional government. He asks Magoon to prepare a report on the matter. Roosevelt also thanks Magoon for the cigars and preserves.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-05-06

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John M. Farley

President Roosevelt extends his congratulations and good wishes to Archbishop of New York Farley for the celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of his diocese.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-24