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Frederick R. Coudert asks Theodore Roosevelt if he has seen Monroe Smith’s article, “Shall we make our Constitution flexible.” He comments that many are thinking of the judiciary and the Constitution and shares his thoughts.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-30
Henry N. tum Suden writes to Theodore Roosevelt that Hiram Johnson, governor of California, is stumping for the Initiative Referendum and Recall Amendment. Judson King, field lecturer of the National Referendum League, is speaking with the press. Tum Suden is confident that the lobby will be successful in California, and he hopes they can eventually bring the amendment to the National Constitution.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-23
Judge Emory Speer of Georgia seems to be of the opinion that President Roosevelt “did not proceed without authority and certainly not without precedent” when he discharged without honor the African American troops involved in the “shooting up” of Brownsville, Texas, comparing the situation to an incident involving George Washington and the “Connecticut Light Horse” militia. Speer notes that the language of Article 5 of the Federal Constitution suggests that a “different method of punishment” can be inflicted by the President when crimes are committed by members of land and naval forces.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-09
Attorney General Moody has decided to make no public comment on the Constitution’s applicability in Alaska until the case has been decided in the Supreme Court. Moody also suggests that President Roosevelt remove the topic from his upcoming speech.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-21
President Roosevelt posts his message on a wall underneath “Article II, Sec. III,” which says, “He shall, from time to time, give to the congress information of the state of the UNION.”
C. R. Macauley’s cartoon in the New York World is a remarkable testament of the politics of the day: the closing days of Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency, the accelerated radicalism of his critiques of American society and its ethical moorings, especially among the monied classes, and, in a larger sense, the treatment of Roosevelt’s policies, and the growing corps of Republican insurgents and progressives as addressed by the nation’s major Democratic newspaper.
President Roosevelt sits on a throne with a large crown and his big stick as a scepter. Beneath his feet is a rug, “U.S. Constitution.”
The short-lived cartooning career of Alonzo W. Scarborough in the recently (1904) established New York newspaper, the Evening Globe, produced some memorable campaigns. The paper merged with the Commercial Advertiser (whose origins are traced to the first American newspaper, founded by Noah Webster) and was eventually bought by newspaper mogul Frank Andrew Munsey, a consistent supporter of Theodore Roosevelt, and merged with many other titles into the Herald-Tribune in the 1920s.
Uncle Sam wears a coat labeled “The Constitution” and looks at Secretary of State Elihu Root. On the ground are books labeled “Jefferson Doctrine” and “The Federalist by A. Hamilton” as well as a club labeled “Big Stick” lying on top of the Declaration of Independence.
This cartoon by Jack H. Smith, today a justly neglected cartoonist, displays an awkward caricature of Secretary of State Elihu Root, and a rather obscure point. Evidently the cartoon charges Root with trampling on the Constitution and founding documents, yet if any charges were to be leveled at the Administration — and such charges were not uncommon — President Roosevelt would have been the more logical recipient. In fact the Administration — in this year, 1906, of reforms and calls for even more radical reforms — floated ideas of an income tax and forms of municipal ownership, that some observers regarded as proto-Socialistic.
Whether Root deserved such solo criticism, or to what extent the cartoon alleges his responsibility for Roosevelt’s Big Stick covering the Declaration of Independence, it is odd to see this cartoon in the Washington Herald. The paper was founded that year as a morning counterpart of The Times in the District, published by Frank Munsey — always a strong supporter of Theodore Roosevelt, particularly in 1912, when he was a major financial and editorial backer of the Progressive Party. This cartoon, however, appears mildly critical of Elihu Root.
President Roosevelt wears clothing with a number of states on it as well as “Alaska” and the “Philippines.” He holds “the big stick” and stands on a “Constitution of United States” door mat with a tag that reads, “my private door mat. T. R.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-02-19
In this article excerpt, Thomas Nelson Page discusses the role Thomas Jefferson played in establishing the University of Virginia. Jefferson’s quest to discover more knowledge compelled him to purchase the Louisiana Territory as well as build a university.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905
Attorney General Moody discusses new state constitutions passed in some southern states designed to keep African Americans from having the right to vote. Moody declares that under the Fifteenth Amendment these new laws are unconstitutional. He calls for change so that African Americans are treated equally under the law.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-07-05
Theodore Roosevelt thanks Judge Amidon for his comments about Alexander McKenzie and the Constitution. Roosevelt states that he will probably use Amidon’s letter as the basis of a speech
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-05-13
Theodore Roosevelt writes to the Board of Directors of the New York County Lawyers’ Association regarding a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which would provide that no court or judge shall hereafter declare any legislative enactment unconstitutional. Roosevelt discusses the history of this power, and finds the proposed amendment to have troubling implications, but argues for a possible solution to its problems. Roosevelt quotes from Professor Thayer’s book Life of Marshall to support his arguments. Roosevelt’s main argument is that the limitations on the legislative branch of government must be more precisely defined, and some body of government must be able to give the legislature authority to act above its limitations in case of emergency, but that the courts may not be the best body for this, since this draws them necessarily into political partisanship. Roosevelt proposes instead a Constitutional Council composed of ex-judges.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-05-09
Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary thanks Frank W. Robertson for letting Roosevelt see a letter from William Barnes. The secretary finds it amusing that Barnes presents himself as saving the United States Constitution.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-05-08
Theodore Roosevelt thanks H. B. Munro, Harvard government professor, and will send his letter to Archibald “Archie” Roosevelt. Focusing on the Constitution is best, but items on the examination confused Roosevelt and Archie. He admits they did not review state matters, such as forming state constitutions.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-11-14
Theodore Roosevelt clarifies his thoughts about New York judges and discusses his beliefs on the matter with Charles McCarthy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-27
Theodore Roosevelt strongly tells John O. Jackson that the author of the newspaper article he sent is deliberately lying and misconstruing Roosevelt’s speech. Roosevelt clarifies his statements about the Constitution and his response to anarchists.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-06-19
Theodore Roosevelt declines to contribute to the symposium and corrects the published text of a speech he delivered to the Knights of Columbus in New York. The published text left out a paragraph about the separation of church and state. Roosevelt requests that D. P. Toomey publish a correction.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-11-08
Theodore Roosevelt did not receive William Roome’s letter in time to answer him about the Constitution, but is glad he did not have to guide him. Roosevelt tells Roome he is more apt to accept guidance from him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-11-03
Theodore Roosevelt responds to the content of a pamphlet sent with a letter from North Carolina Chief Justice Walter Clark. Roosevelt believes that the gentleman writing the pamphlet assumes incorrectly “that the people are made for the constitution and not the constitution for the people.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-08-04
Theodore Roosevelt looks forward to seeing Paul Underwood Kellogg and asks that he read an article by the Englishman Jacks in the Yale Review, which comments on an article Roosevelt had sent Kellogg. Roosevelt finds Jacks’ article immoral and refers to Kellogg’s mention of the U.S. Constitution binding the states in unity. Roosevelt chastises Kellogg for not recognizing that “two million men” fought for that unity during the Civil War and that the U.S. is committed to going to war to protect that unity.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-05-06