Catholic Church

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Eugene A. Philbin

President Roosevelt tells Eugene A. Philbin that, on the report of Captain Frank McIntyre, there is no foundation for the complaints of Bishop Thomas Augustine Hendrick. Additionally, Hendrick’s secretary, Father Bernard S. Rawlinson, visited Secretary of War William H. Taft and said that he did not think that Hendrick’s complaints were justified. Roosevelt asks Philbin to treat the letter as confidential, and asks if he would come to Washington, D.C., so that Roosevelt and Taft could speak with him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George Haven Putnam

President Roosevelt congratulates George Haven Putnam on the outcome, and is disappointed that Thomas F. McAvoy is connected to the Catholic Protectory. Roosevelt thinks the result of a suit will be of far-reaching importance.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-04

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Elihu Root

In a letter to Elihu Root (and possibly intended for a wider audience), President Roosevelt gives his perspective of his conflict with the recently-recalled Austrian Ambassador Bellamy Storer. Embedded within the letter are reproductions of private letters between President Roosevelt, members of his administration, and Storer. The letters detail the saga of the Storers’s push for Archbishop Ireland to become Cardinal and the fracturing of their friendship with the Roosevelts.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-02

Letter from President Roosevelt to Charles Evans Hughes

President Roosevelt writes to candidate for governor of New York Charles Evans Hughes about getting “prominent Catholics” on his campaign committee and gives a list of men who he believes should be considered. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-04

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Gibbons

President Roosevelt informs Cardinal Gibbons that the only thing that can be done at present about the Apostolic Delegates’s letter is to try to get Congress to appropriate the amount that was rewarded, and to include language that will not stop the United States from requesting further appropriations later.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-03-03

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Maria Longworth Storer

President Roosevelt rebukes Maria Longworth Storer for her repeated attempts at “ecclesiastical intrigue” while trying to get Archbishop John Ireland made Cardinal. Roosevelt has repeatedly told Storer and her husband, Ambassador Bellamy Storer, that both they and he cannot officially get involved in matters regarding the Catholic Church. However, the Storers seem to have ignored these directives and continued to improperly write letters on Ireland’s behalf and to improperly quote portions of Roosevelt’s letters about the matter. If such actions do not stop, Roosevelt will have to remove Bellamy from his position as Ambassador. He asks Maria to return his letters on the subject.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-12-11

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Gibbons

President Roosevelt informs Cardinal Gibbons that Archbishops John Ireland and John J. Keane have recommended Father George J. Waring for one of the two military chaplain vacancies in the Army. Roosevelt plans to give the other vacancy to someone from the East, and asks for Gibbons’s recommendation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-09

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Robert Shaw Oliver

President Roosevelt explains to Acting Secretary of War Oliver that because the two chaplain vacancies in the Army were filled by Catholic chaplains, their replacements should be similarly Catholic, not members of the Dutch Reformed Church. Roosevelt has asked Cardinal James Gibbons for recommendations.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-30

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Yates Satterlee

President Roosevelt recommends that the Right Reverend Yates not attend a particular service during the political campaign. Recently, Roosevelt’s minister preached a sermon on peace, and Democratic newspapers misconstrued the sermon as an attack on the President. Roosevelt believes that they would be likely to use the same tactic again. Roosevelt will confine himself to his own ordinary church services until after the election when “our opponents return to the ordinary customs of morality and decency.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-16

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William P. Reilly

President Roosevelt is pleased that William P. Reilly supports him, and he sends Reilly two letters that he believes confirms what Reilly has written about him. One letter was written by Roosevelt as Police Commissioner in response to a complaint about his treatment of Catholic church leaders.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-03

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to J. J. Harty

President Roosevelt updates Archbishop Harty on the latest information concerning the court martial charges against Chaplain MacGrail for immoral conduct. Harty had previously requested that Roosevelt intervene and allow MacGrail’s resignation to be accepted before court martial proceedings began. Roosevelt insists there is nothing he can do in this matter and the court martial will proceed.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-14

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Francis Smith

President Roosevelt will not accept the resignation of James Francis Smith as Secretary of Public Instruction for the Philippine Commission. Roosevelt believes Smith is contributing the greatest possible service in the Philippines. Smith’s attitudes toward Protestants and Catholics makes Roosevelt feel proud of him as an American, as Smith is treating everyone equally without regard to religion.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-11

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Zadok Rooker

President Roosevelt was not surprised by Bishop Rooker’s letter since he had already heard of the conflict between Rooker and the Filipinos, as well as the American government officials. Many people have contradicted what Rooker said and Roosevelt hopes that the Catholic prelates in the Philippines can convince the Filipinos that they are their friends and not their enemies like the friars who preceded them. Roosevelt has taken steps to create a special tribunal regarding the Aglipayan quarrel, disregards Rooker’s “groundless” claims against Commissioner Smith and is committed to increasing Filipino independence.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-22

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Ireland

President Roosevelt informs Archbishop John Ireland that Secretary of War Taft is arranging a special court for the church property cases in the Philippines. Roosevelt expresses his appreciation for the “great service to the country” that Ireland has given.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-03

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Thomas Augustine Hendrick

President Roosevelt is frustrated that Bishop Hendrick has not brought his concerns before Governor General of the Philippines Luke E. Wright or Commissioner James Francis Smith. He is confused about Hendrick’s actual complaint, as he seems to be contradicting himself regarding the Aglipayan movement for an independent church.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-05-02

Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Taft responds to Bishop Thomas Augustine Hendrick’s letter on the situation in the Philippines. He agrees that Hendricks is out of line in his accusations. Taft denies that the government is purposefully appointing followers of Gregorio Aglipay y Labayan. He suggests that Hendricks and other prelates should go through the courts if their wish is to obtain property for the Catholic Church. There is great confidence in Philippine courts but no Catholic prelate has submitted a case.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-05-04

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Joseph Benson Foraker

President Roosevelt wanted to appoint a Catholic to the judgeship in Puerto Rico and offered the position to Charles F. McKenna.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-04-26

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt sends Secretary of War Taft a copy of Bishop Thomas Augustine Hendrick’s letter. He asks Taft to write a reply so that they may both respond to what Roosevelt found to be a disrespectful tone concerning independence in the Philippines.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-04-29

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Nicholas Murray Butler

President Roosevelt would like to discuss Nicholas Murray Butler’s suggestions. Roosevelt is not familiar with the case but is surprised at the Catholic opposition towards Mr. Draper (probably Eben Sumner Draper, who ran for Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts and was elected that year).

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-02-25

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. Draft with handwritten edits.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-12-30