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President Roosevelt did not know that the clause Father Henry B. Tierney wrote about existed. He does not wish to be quoted denying a statement that no one has ever said he made. He would oppose any clause such as the one Tierney mentioned and believes that both Catholics and Protestants should be admitted to the YMCA.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-01-13
President Roosevelt congratulates Archbishop Ireland on the laying of the corner stone for the new cathedral in St. Paul, Minnesota. He notes that “[i]n this country of our liberty and religion are natural allies and go forward hand in hand.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-06-01
President Roosevelt thanks Bishop Spalding for his letter and comments on how much it meant. He is glad that someone sent Spalding the books. He has been concerned with Spalding’s illness.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-05-08
President Roosevelt explains that while he is careful to give recognition to Catholics, he tries to appoint men without regard to their religious creed. He names several examples of Catholics he has appointed to offices.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-28
President Roosevelt was astonished at seeing Bishop Gabriels’ interview in which he claimed to be quoting from his private conversation with Roosevelt. President Roosevelt chides Gabriels for doing this without first consulting with Roosevelt, and would not have held a private conversation with him if he knew it would be used like this. Furthermore, Gabriels misquoted Roosevelt, making it seem like Roosevelt wanted recognition for appointing Catholics, where what Roosevelt said was that he had treated Protestants and Catholics on equal footing.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-01
President Roosevelt is sure that Ambassador White acted correctly regarding Archbishop John M. Farley visiting him, and is pleased that White showed Archbishop John Ireland the courtesy he did. He agrees with White regarding Secretary of State Elihu Root’s trip to South America, and praises the work that Assistant Secretary of State Robert Bacon has done as Acting Secretary. Roosevelt further agrees that White’s brother-in-law would be a good candidate for a position and has forwarded a letter to Bacon saying as much, although he is not sure if there is any likelihood of a vacancy in the service soon.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-21
President Roosevelt sends Alexander Patrick Doyle the text of a telegram from Governor-General Henry C. Ide related to Archbishop J. J. Harty which addresses a situation that Governor-General James Francis Smith was unable to answer relating to statements made by H. Lawrence Noble.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-16
President Roosevelt tells Secretary of War Taft his thoughts regarding the denominations of military chaplains. Roosevelt believes that the number of Methodist chaplains in the army should not be reduced, while the number of Episcopalians is excessive. He feels that it would eventually be good to get a couple more Catholic chaplains.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-05-28
President Roosevelt sends Representative Foster a copy of a report showing that Catholics now have their proper percentage of chaplains in the military and comments about the proportions of other Christian denominations. He believes that the Bishop should make arrangements for an outside Catholic chaplain and comments that it is possible that more Catholic chaplains could be added later.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-05-28
President Roosevelt tells Judge William H. Pope about a vacancy he would like to fill in the federal bench in Puerto Rico, and asks for his opinion of Bernard Shandon Rodey. Rodey served as a delegate to Congress from the New Mexico territory, but got on the wrong side of the political machine there. Roosevelt nevertheless believes him to be an upright man and is considering appointing him on a probationary basis, but would like to hear Pope’s opinion first.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-26
President Roosevelt is as sorry as Bishop O’Gorman is about what has been published about the removal of Bellamy Storer and Maria Longworth Storer. The only announcement from the State Department was that Bellamy Storer “had been discontented at not receiving a promotion and that he had declined to answer certain letters,” and Roosevelt did not authorize any comments on the situation beyond the fact that Storer had been recalled. Roosevelt places the responsibility for more information leaking out squarely on the shoulders of Maria Longworth Storer and Bellamy Storer, as he had personally worked to keep the details out of the news.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-03-27
President Roosevelt informs Bishop McCabe that he intends to appoint James Francis Smith Governor General of the Philippines in spite of the religious objects of McCabe and others. Smith, who is Catholic, has received opposition from both Catholics and Protestants, but Roosevelt assures McCabe that Smith treats all Americans alike, regardless of their religion.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-01-29
President Roosevelt encloses a letter from Eugene A. Philbin on behalf of Cabot Ward. He instructs Governor of Puerto Rico Winthrop that if Thomas W. Hynes leaves his position, Ward should replace him before any man within the service is promoted. He believes it would be helpful to have a Catholic there.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-12-07
President Roosevelt agrees with Finley Peter Dunne about protesting against the “Anglo-Saxon alliance” theory because he believes Americans are “a new race, composed of many Old-World stocks.” While the president is not against friendliness to the English government, he is not going to ignore other European governments. Roosevelt declares himself a “strong home-ruler” and gives examples of a number of individuals who have hated their country of origin, noting it is impossible for him to champion every hatred. The president expresses his gratitude for the support he has received from young men, “Catholic by faith and of Irish descent,” and discusses a number of Irish and Catholic individuals he has put in government positions.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-03
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 encloses a letter from the Acting Secretary of the Treasury Horace Adolphus Taylor which shows that Robert B. Armstrong was right about a decision having precedent. Roosevelt has written the Treasury Department asking them to reverse their action. Roosevelt regrets William H. Moody was not appointed Senator after John L. Bates left his seat, although Winthrop Murray Crane is also a good choice. Moody updated Roosevelt on his stump work, where Indiana feels confident and New York has seen an upturn. He describes the Democratic campaign as “pure slander.” Roosevelt hopes Lodge will be nice to Father John C. York, an Oyster Bay area Catholic priest, next time he comes to New York, as York thinks Lodge is anti-Catholic.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-10-15
Theodore Roosevelt suggests that two or three “good Catholic citizens” be located near each college and serve as a committee to make sure the intentions of the War Department are carried out in regards to the Filipino students.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-10-11
Theodore Roosevelt is concerned about an apparent misunderstanding regarding the education of Filipino students at Catholic colleges. Filipino students interested in studying certain subjects which are not offered at Catholic colleges will be directed to the institutions that best fit their needs. Otherwise, Catholic Filipinos should be given the chance to go to Catholic colleges, and they should be boarded with Catholic families that are willing to receive them.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-10-11
Theodore Roosevelt clarifies his treatment of the Catholics and the integration of Filipino pupils into Catholic colleges.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-10-11
Theodore Roosevelt would like Eugene Philbin to include in the editorial to the Evening Post that Roosevelt received the Archbishop of Canterbury, a group of Methodist ministers from Wales, a group of Congregational ministers from England, a group of Presbyterian ministers from Scotland, and Lutheran ministers from England before he received Cardinal Satolli. Roosevelt wants to prove that he is not guilty of prejudice.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-10-04