Civil service

Letter from John J. Shea to Theodore Roosevelt

Knowing Theodore Roosevelt’s interest in helping veterans, John J. Shea tells Roosevelt about the case of William Higgins who is about to be removed from office. Higgins served in the Civil War and provides good service in his current office, but has run afoul of “some bickerings and trouble.” Shea asks Roosevelt to “say a word with the ‘Powers that Be’ in behalf of a valiant old soldier,” so that Higgins might be allowed to serve out his term.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-11

Letter from William Emlen Roosevelt to Theodore Roosevelt

William Emlen Roosevelt forwards President Roosevelt a letter of recommendation from James J. Mills for Willard D. Palmer. Emlen says that Mills “has some kind of persistent idea that you eventually make the appointment,” and could not refuse to send the letter. He looks forward to visiting Washington, D.C., soon.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-02

Letter from Eugene Hale to Charles J. Bonaparte

Senator Hale, Acting Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, sends Attorney General Bonaparte a request for a report detailing all persons employed by the Department of Justice who work in connection with the enforcement of laws or the investigation of crimes.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-18

Letter from Charles H. Mohr to Theodore Roosevelt

Abbot Charles H. Mohr of St. Leo Abbey asks President Roosevelt to make the 4th Class Postmasters of Florida part of the civil service. Mohr also sends Roosevelt a photograph of himself, as well as a medal of St. Benedict which he hopes that Roosevelt will wear on his African safari.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-10

Letter from William Emlen Roosevelt to Theodore Roosevelt

William Emlen Roosevelt is not surprised by what President Roosevelt said in his letter about appointing Hamilton Fish’s successor as Assistant Treasurer of the United States. Emlen encloses a slip from a news bureau that was handed to him by Mr. Porter. He does not think the current campaign is pleasant, as people are more interested in mudslinging than paying attention to the issues. Finally, Emlen tells his cousin about the good time he had at the “Silver Wedding” and updates him on various family travels.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-07

Letter from Albert L. Key to Theodore Roosevelt

Albert L. Key argues that President Roosevelt has been more successful in placing younger officers in higher positions in the Army than he believes, and thinks that he could have the same success in the Navy. Key argues that many of the problems in the Navy right now, both practically and administratively, could be solved by placing younger and more efficient officers in higher-graded positions and promoting based on merit, rather than age. Key also briefly comments on the controversy concerning the placement of armor belts on battleships, disagreeing with Admiral Robley D. Evans’s position that it would be a mistake to raise the armor belts of ships.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-14

Letter from Richard Henry Dana to Elliot H. Goodwin

Richard Henry Dana tells Elliott H. Goodwin that he thinks they should find out what William Dudley Foulke thinks about Goodwin’s idea to investigate presidential appointments. If Foulke is willing to conduct the investigation, they might be able to bring elements of the situation to light, and advance the cause of civil service reform.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-20

Letter from Timothy L. Woodruff to William Loeb

Timothy L. Woodruff tells William Loeb that Harry A. Hanbury is telling people his Civil Service position will be reinstated. Woodruff asks Loeb for an authoritative denial and also reports on the proceedings of the Kings Country Republican meeting on Tuesday night and talks about Herbert Parsons.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-01-17

Letter from John Charles Black and John Avery McIlhenny to Theodore Roosevelt

After a letter was sent out to government employees identified as also being members of the finance committee informing them that such conflict of interest was against government regulations, several of the recipients responded denying any affiliation with the finance committee.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-08

Letter from Pearl Wight to Theodore Roosevelt

Pearl Wight tells President Roosevelt that his Nashville speech, in combination with other recent speeches, gives a clear outline of Roosevelt’s policies and should help the public understand he is not responsible for the current financial situation. Wight has met with Secretary of the Treasury George B. Cortelyou about taking up the leadership of the Internal Revenue Service, but feels he is unable during this time of economic crisis due to his many business interests. Nevertheless, Wight wants to be updated on the situation as it unfolds and is looking forward to seeing Roosevelt in December.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10-23

Letter from William R. Willcox to Alford Warriner Cooley

New York City Postmaster Willcox sends Civil Service Commissioner Cooley an official circular regarding the regulation of political activity among those in the federal service, and wonders if he has been interpreting the regulations correctly. Willcox has been focused on carrying out “the spirit as well as the letter of the Civil Service regulations” and believes that political activity by federal employees in primary contests is as strictly prohibited as political activity before the general elections. Willcox asks Cooley if he is being too strict in his interpretation, specifically asking about the case of Deputy Surveyor Collin H. Woodward, who was cleared after Cooley found the charges against him in regard to political activity to be unfounded.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-31

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Henry Cabot Lodge is sorry that President Roosevelt does not agree with him about immigration but believes Roosevelt is likely right on the matter. Lodge has read Roosevelt’s letter to Nelson Appleton Miles and shares his views on the matter. Lodge has looked over the papers of the “Agricultural Implement people” and comments on lumber, cattle, manufacturing, and tariffs in the industry. Lodge has enclosed a letter regarding a civil service matter that he thinks should be looked into. Lodge praises Robert Bacon.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-18

Letter from John Grimes Walker to William Loeb

John Grimes Walker, Chairman of the Isthmian Canal Commission confirms receipt of William Loeb’s letter regarding scheduling a meeting with Civil Service Commission President John Charles Black or U.S. Civil Service Commissioner Alford Warriner Cooley to implement Civil Service Commission rules to the Isthmian Canal Commission. Walker has already been in contact with Black, but was told to postpone the meeting for some time because Black was going to be out of town. He will try to raise the matter again in a week.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-21

Letter from Carl Schurz to Elliot H. Goodwin

Carl Schurz has a note from Alton B. Parker that says Parker will discuss the civil service question in his letter of acceptance. Schurz reports that McAneny is recovering rapidly.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-08-05

Letter from Asociacion de Empleados Civiles de Filipinas to Luke E. Wright

Correspondence between Governor-General Wright, the Asociacion de Empleados Civiles de Filipinas, and members of the Philippines Civil Service board address the concerns of the Philippine Civil Service Association about whether Filipinos have a fair chance at getting positions in the Filipino government.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-13

Chronology January 1892 to December 1898

Chronology of the daily life of Theodore Roosevelt from January 1892 to December 1898. Notable events include the death of Elliott Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt is appointed New York City Police Commissioner, his tenure as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, the Spanish-American War, and Roosevelt’s gubernatorial campaign.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association

Creation Date

1985

Chronology January 1884 to December 1891

Chronology of the daily life of Theodore Roosevelt from January 1884 to December 1891. Notable events include the deaths of Alice Lee Roosevelt and Martha Bulloch Roosevelt, Roosevelt’s time on his ranch, the completion of Sagamore Hill, Roosevelt’s engagement and marriage to Edith Kermit Carow, Theodore “Ted” Roosevelt’s birth, the “Great-Dieup” of cattle in North Dakota, and the founding of the Boone and Crockett Club.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association

Creation Date

1985

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Matthew Stanley Quay

Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt explains to Senator Quay that he would help Dunham if he could. However, almost all positions are under the civil service rules and Dunham will have to register at the navy yard and wait his turn.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1897-10-15

Business card of John L. Beatty

Business card for John L. Beatty, government inspector, member of the Isthmian Canal Commission, and chief inspector of rolling mill output.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-04

TR on the Police Commissionership

In a conversation with Joseph Bucklin Bishop shortly before leaving the Police Commissionership of New York City, Theodore Roosevelt expressed a belief that it would be the last political office he would hold because he had offended so many powerful people and interests.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1988