Your TR Source
Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary encloses the draft of a speech that Roosevelt intends to deliver at Madison Square Garden. He also encloses correspondence showing that Secretary of the Navy George von Lengerke Meyer may have a conflict of interest in the wool industry.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-10-26
Theodore Roosevelt requests Judge Lindsey’s help compiling evidence against the sections of the press controlled by special interests.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-05-19
President Roosevelt believes that Representative Marshall is in error regarding Marshal Shea’s conduct, which has nothing to do with the civil service law. According to information received by Roosevelt, Shea has acted similarly to other office holders in North Dakota told not to interfere in the Senate contest. Roosevelt requests any evidence of improper conduct.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-17
President Roosevelt tells Secretary of War Taft that he believes that Colonel T. W. Symons’s conduct is not sufficient to convince Roosevelt to appoint him head of the Engineer Corps. While Roosevelt disapproved of Symons’s buying a piece of property in Coos Bay while he was a government engineer in that district, that alone would not disqualify him. It has now come to light, however, that while he was a government engineer in a district including Seattle, he accepted employment as a consulting engineer or a company wishing to build a canal competing with the one the government was building at the same time. These together show a lack of propriety on Symons’s part, and Roosevelt is not willing to make him head of the Corps. Roosevelt asks Taft to investigate whether Colonel James M. Marshall has ever acted in a similar way.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-09
President Roosevelt was glad to hear from Governor Buchtel of Colorado about United States Attorney Thomas J. Ward. He says that there has been some doubt about him because of his connections with big corporations that the government may eventually have to act against. Roosevelt has forwarded Buchtel’s letter to Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-02-06
President Roosevelt has heard from Senator Robert M. La Follette that the bill Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock is currently considering will do “great injustice” to a number of Native Americans, and asks Hitchcock to report whether this is a large enough issue to warrant vetoing the bill. Roosevelt has also heard that an assistant of Tams Bixby, of the Dawes Commission, took a leave of absence to brief a law office, and says that if this is accurate “not only should the assistant be proceeded against, but it seems to me that Bixby should be required to show cause why action should not be taken against him.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-20
President Roosevelt asks Republican National Committee Chairman Cortelyou for advice regarding keeping Minister David E. Thompson in Brazil once the United States legation in Brazil becomes an embassy. Roosevelt believes this is better than sending Thompson to Mexico because he understands Thompson has interests in the mines in Mexico.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-31
President Roosevelt forwards Senator Proctor a copy of correspondence between Secretary of the Treasury Leslie M. Shaw and Olin Merrill demonstrating that Shaw was acting in good faith. Roosevelt has no problem with Shaw’s action or the correspondence being published.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-05-02
President Roosevelt has referred Senator Heyburn’s letter to Secretary of the Interior Ethan Allen Hitchcock. He clarifies that no forest reserves will be made without consultation with Heyburn, but preliminary withdrawals of land can happen because it would be impossible to make advance notifications without risking improper advantages.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-03-02
President Roosevelt is pleased to have the support of a “strong independent Republican workingmen’s club.” However, since Morris N. Webb’s position is in the classified service, Roosevelt feels that Morris should not be the leader of the club.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-02-27
President Roosevelt agrees that Lunsford L. Lewis should not serve as a delegate due to his position as district attorney. Roosevelt invites Lewis to visit him in Washington, D.C.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-01-21
President Roosevelt will look into the circular matter. He does not feel that all office holders should be prevented from attending the convention but would like to see as few as possible. Roosevelt does not want office holders to neglect their duties and create a scandal.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-01-21
President Roosevelt questions Oswald Garrison Villard’s statements that General Leonard Wood should have done more to prevent his relatives from engaging in business in Cuba while he was head of the government. Roosevelt believes that instructing officials to favor all other businesses exhausted Wood’s power.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-01-07
President Roosevelt suggests that someone replace or join George B. Curtiss in the State Senator Green investigation because Curtiss and Green are close friends. Roosevelt has received several poor opinions of the Washington District Attorney’s Office and complaints of Taggart’s incompetence.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-10-24
General Bingham, endorsed by Senator Penrose, claims that there is no incompatibility for members of the Common Council of Philadelphia also serving as Deputy Collectors of Internal Revenue. President Roosevelt believes it to be “undesirable” for federal officers to serve on the Common Council but will allow the current members to serve out their terms.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-07-01
President Roosevelt is concerned about Internal Revenue Collector William McCoach who also serves on the Philadelphia Council. Roosevelt urges Secretary of the Treasury Shaw to investigate and to encourage McCoach either to not seek re-election to the council or to resign his position as Collector.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-01-12
President Roosevelt advises Dudley Stuart Dean that he will not give a recommendation letter to an associate, even a fellow Rough Rider, if they are seeking a government contract.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-06-28
President Roosevelt regrets that he cannot serve as honorary president of the Olympic Games in Chicago, Illinois. It would give the appearance of inappropriate governmental ties to the games. Roosevelt will help in any other way he is “properly” able.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-12-07
Gifford Pinchot writes to Theodore Roosevelt about the passage of the Walsh Bill. Max W. Ball and his colleagues are opposed to the Bill because it does not give large enough units to private corporations for development. When opponents to the Walsh Bill mention Standard Oil, “they want to be in on the grabbing themselves,” says Pinchot.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1918-01-25
Gifford Pinchot encloses a statement for use in the libel suit. He denies having any connections with the Pocahontas Coal Company.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-12-26