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Catholics--Politics and government

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“Complete Religious Liberty”

“Complete Religious Liberty”

In a letter written to James C. Martin shortly after the 1908 election, President Theodore Roosevelt condemns any religious test for the office of President of the United States. Roosevelt says that those who question William Howard Taft’s fitness for office because of his Unitarian faith or his family’s supposed ties to Roman Catholicism commit “an outrage.” Roosevelt says that Taft’s faith is of no concern to anyone but himself, and Roosevelt notes that he has Protestants, Catholics, and Jews serving in his cabinet, and that they serve in those roles without consideration of their religious faith. An illustration of Roosevelt supplements the text.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1908-11-06

Letter from Theodore W. Mellis to Theodore Roosevelt

Letter from Theodore W. Mellis to Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore W. Mellis tried to arrange a meeting with Theodore Roosevelt, but now unfortunately has to travel out of town and fears he will not be able to see him in person. Mellis introduces himself as the founder of the Young Men’s Hebrew Association and the Young Hebrew Educational and Social Society. He regrets the fact that the “Catholic elements” have been running San Francisco for the last several years, and hopes to be able to overcome this. Mellis hopes to be able to arrange a meeting with Roosevelt before he leaves to tell him of his plans.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-25

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Alford Warriner Cooley

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Alford Warriner Cooley

Theodore Roosevelt was relieved to receive Alford Warriner Cooley’s letter since he was upset to hear of Cooley’s relapse. He is interested in Cooley’s report of New Mexico and comments on the recent elections in New York, Massachusetts, and several other states. Roosevelt is staying neutral in presidential nominations and asserts he does not want the nomination. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-14

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Ignatius F. Horstmann

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Ignatius F. Horstmann

President Roosevelt assures Bishop Horstmann that Governor General of the Philippines James Francis Smith spoke well of David P. Barrows. If Barrows is appointed to the Philippines Commission, Roosevelt intends to appoint a Catholic as superintendent, as well as put another Catholic on the Commission. Roosevelt will speak with Secretary of War William H. Taft before he makes a decision.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-12-10

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Gibbons

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Gibbons

President Roosevelt assures Cardinal Gibbons that Governor General of the Philippines James Francis Smith has said Superintendent of Education David P. Barrows has never shown any bias against Catholics in his position. However, if Barrows is appointed to the Philippines Commission, Roosevelt intends to appoint a Catholic as superintendent, as well as put another Catholic on the Commission. He will speak with Secretary of War William H. Taft about the matter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-12-10

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Ernest Harvier

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Ernest Harvier

President Roosevelt thanks Ernest Harvier for the editorial. Roosevelt explains, for Harvier’s information, what the situation was involving Maria Longworth Storer and Archbishops John M. Farley and John Ireland, saying that she began to interfere in the politics of the Catholic Church to such a degree that it appeared that Roosevelt was sanctioning the interference. The final dismissal of her husband, Bellamy Storer, from the ambassadorial service came, however, because they were not answering Roosevelt’s letters.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04-18

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Gibbons

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Gibbons

In response to Cardinal Gibbons’s recent letter, President Roosevelt takes issue with the enclosed article from Archbishop J. J. Harty. Harty argues that the American government in the Philippines has been harassing and discriminating against Catholics. Roosevelt points out that several men in leadership positions in the Philippines are devout Catholics.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-02-15

Letter from J. Aldrich Libbey to Theodore Roosevelt

Letter from J. Aldrich Libbey to Theodore Roosevelt

J. Aldrich Libbey asks Theodore Roosevelt to ignore the argument that Roosevelt should not accept the presidential nomination since it would be his third term, as Roosevelt did not campaign for that office and only took over after William McKinley was assassinated. Libbey believes Roosevelt is the only Republican who can defeat the Democrats, and he needs to accept the nomination, as this is a turning point in world history and a Republican needs to be at the helm.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-01-01

Letter from Milton B. Goodkind to Theodore Roosevelt

Letter from Milton B. Goodkind to Theodore Roosevelt

Milton B. Goodkind informs Theodore Roosevelt that the reason Roosevelt won the 1904 election and not Judge Alton B. Parker was not because of campaign contributions, but because of the Catholic vote. Goodkind says that there were letters from Charles F. Murphy to Catholic priests and personal meetings that influenced the Catholic vote. Goodkind believes that Murphy and other republicans are unduly influencing elections.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-01-01

Letter from Ernest Harvier to Theodore Roosevelt

Letter from Ernest Harvier to Theodore Roosevelt

Ernest Harvier raises his objections to Theodore Roosevelt on the candidacy of an unnamed Comptroller, strictly from a political point of view, as otherwise the Comptroller’s attitude is sound. Harvier continues stating that it is improbable for a Catholic to be elected on a Democratic ticket, but not on a Republican ticket as long as he does not ignite a controversy among his own co-religionists.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-22

Letter from Eugene A. Philbin to Theodore Roosevelt

Letter from Eugene A. Philbin to Theodore Roosevelt

Eugene A. Philbin showed Archbishop John M. Farley Roosevelt’s letter to Bellamy Storer dated December 11, 1905. Farley was pleased with the respect shown to the Catholic Church. Monsignor John Edwards, already an admirer of Roosevelt, was also pleased with the letter. Neither man holds ill will against Archbishop John Ireland. Philbin believes that church and state must be kept apart. Any reciprocal relationship between the two would be “intolerable.” Philbin is glad that Storer brought this problem to light and created a new standard for public life. Storer had used President Roosevelt’s name and his own diplomatic position in trying to get Ireland named a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church, which led to Storer’s dismissal.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04-08

Letter from Eugene A. Philbin to Theodore Roosevelt

Letter from Eugene A. Philbin to Theodore Roosevelt

Eugene A. Philbin writes to President Roosevelt hoping to correct his belief that Father John J. Wynne wished to create a poor impression regarding the government’s attitude towards the Philippines. Philbin reminds Roosevelt of the contributions that Wynne has made in helping navigate the position of the Catholic Church in the Philippines. Instead, Philbin believes that Roosevelt has lost the favor of some Catholics because Roosevelt’s opinion regarding the Catholic church has come up too frequently during the campaign, which in turn has led to backlash against him from various sources.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-12