Cortelyou, George B. (George Bruce), 1862-1940

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Moses E. Clapp

As the Senate committee was unable to see him, Theodore Roosevelt offers his testimony in writing. He denies knowledge of requests for campaign funds directed at the Standard Oil Company for his presidential campaign of 1904. These requests supposedly promised lenient treatment and favors in exchange for large contributions. Roosevelt offers documentary evidence that in 1904 he instructed any money received from Standard Oil to be returned. Furthermore, according to campaign records, no funds were ever received from Standard Oil.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-08-28

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George Y. Travis

Theodore Roosevelt encloses notes concerning Oscar S. Straus and his suspected arrangement of a trade agreement. Roosevelt explains that Straus exercised not the slightest influence on the agreement.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-04-03

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Walter F. Brown

Theodore Roosevelt explains, with support from enclosed correspondence with Senator Dixon, that it would do damage for Roosevelt to appear personally in what is “really a local and rather petty squabble.” Roosevelt suggests that Brown print the two letters from George B. Cortelyou or the present letter and enclosures from Dixon.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-04-04

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Everett P. Wheeler

Theodore Roosevelt appreciates Everett P. Wheeler’s letter and knows he will agree that Roosevelt’s only course of action is silence. As he told the Congressional Committee, Roosevelt would follow the same course of action (regarding the acquisition of the Tennessee Coal and Iron Company). When Roosevelt reviewed the matter with his cabinet, William H. Taft, then Secretary of War, empathically commended Roosevelt’s actions. While Roosevelt supposes Taft was unaware of Attonery General George W. Wickersham’s action, he believes the president is responsible for every important action of his subordinates.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-30

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to T. Augustine Dwyer

Theodore Roosevelt perceives a threat in T. Augustine Dwyer’s most recent communication. To defend himself, Roosevelt gives Dwyer permission to publish every letter he has ever received from Roosevelt. Roosevelt has heard that Dwyer has made statements to the effect that he received money from Roosevelt and William Loeb to travel to various countries as a missionary, which is not true. Neither Roosevelt nor Loeb ever gave money to Dwyer, though Roosevelt is aware that Dwyer was paid by the National Republican Campaign Committee for an article he wrote about Roosevelt’s administration that was widely circulated during the campaign. This payment was, however, comparable to other payments made to individuals who had written for, or worked on, the campaign.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-21

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George Rumsey Sheldon

President Roosevelt chastises George Rumsey Sheldon, treasurer of the Republican National Committee, for soliciting donations from John D. Archbold and Edward Henry Harriman. Although Roosevelt is not the Republican candidate, he is head of the current Republican administration, which is prosecuting Harriman and Archbold. He notes the impropriety of Archbold and Harriman contributing to a candidate who, if elected, would name the Attorney General responsible for the prosecution. He includes the text of letters he sent four years ago regarding similar contributions from the Standard Oil Company, which he made George B. Cortelyou return.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-21

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles G. Washburn

During the 1908 presidential election and after William H. Taft’s election, Theodore Roosevelt worked with Taft to prepare the Cabinet and other prominent positions for the new administration. Taft was consulted regarding appointments and he stated his intention to keep the majority of Roosevelt’s Cabinet. Roosevelt made no requests for appointments or for the retention of certain officials. After Taft became president, he apparently changed his mind and did not make many of the appointments. Taft never discussed this change with Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-01-08

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Eugene Hall

In response to a report by Senator James A. Hemenway, President Roosevelt defends the Secret Service’s work to Senator Hale of Maine, the acting chairman of the Committee on Appropriations in the U.S. Senate. Roosevelt refutes each claim made in the report and notes that the current limitations placed on the Secret Service is hindering justice. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from William Loeb to Johanna V. Buckley

William Loeb informs Johanna V. Buckley that the papers she send Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt were forwarded to Secretary of the Treasury George B. Cortelyou.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-11

Creator(s)

Loeb, William, 1866-1937

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Truman Handy Newberry

President Roosevelt instructs Secretary of the Navy Newberry to expend the $800,000 appropriated by Congress for the agreed-upon cause of aid for the victims of the 1908 earthquake in Messina, Italy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-18

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Civil Service Commission

In consideration of Grace Anita Walker Nettleton’s qualifications, family history, and current status as a single mother, President Roosevelt wants to waive the geographical requirements and give her the appointment that Secretary of the Treasury George B. Cortelyou had requested for her.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-09

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt has recently spoken with Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, following Lodge’s conversations with President-Elect Taft, and thanks Taft for the consideration he shows in appointing William Loeb to the collectorship of the port of New York. Lodge also informed Roosevelt of Taft’s thoughts regarding appointments in his cabinet, and Roosevelt advises Taft to inform several members of the current cabinet that they will not be reappointed. Roosevelt is sure, however, that Postmaster General George von Lengerke Meyer will serve Taft well in his planned position as Secretary of the Navy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-04

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Eugene Hale

President Roosevelt sends Senator Hale reports from the various governmental departments on the use of special attorneys, special agents, and investigators, as Hale requested. Roosevelt believes it is Congress’s right and duty to investigate these things, but also says that the system of using these special investigators is necessary to safeguard the popular interest. To prove his point, Roosevelt highlights several instances where these agents have been used, and says that even when adhering strictly to their duty, they can discover facts that expose other elements that deserve investigation. Roosevelt uses the recent case involving the sale of Oregon lands in which Senator Benjamin R. Tillman was involved as an example of this.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-05

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Samuel B. Donnelly

President Roosevelt sends Public Printer Donnelly a copy of a letter Secretary of the Treasury George B. Cortelyou received from the Board of Awards of Contracts along with a proposed schedule of miscellaneous supplies that the Board has prepared. The Executive Departments will arrange to purchase supplies in accordance with the directions from the Board, and Roosevelt directs Donnelly that supplies for the Government Printing Office should be purchased in the same manner.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-18

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to the Interstate Commerce Commission

President Roosevelt sends the Interstate Commerce Commission a copy of a letter Secretary of the Treasury George B. Cortelyou received from the Board of Awards of Contracts. A proposed schedule of miscellaneous supplies prepared by the Board was also included. The Executive Departments will arrange to purchase supplies in accordance with the directions from the Board, and Roosevelt directs the Interstate Commerce Commission that supplies for the Commission should be purchased in the same manner.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-18

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles D. Walcott

President Roosevelt informs Charles D. Walcott, secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, of a recent change made to the procedures for the purchasing of office supplies. The executive departments are adapting their procedures for purchasing office supplies to conform with the modified regulations, and Roosevelt directs the Smithsonian Institution to act likewise.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-18

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to the Commissioners of the District of Columbia

President Roosevelt forwards the Commissioners of the District of Columbia a copy of a letter explaining a change to the laws concerning the purchasing of office supplies and equipment. The various executive departments will be altering their purchasing orders, and Roosevelt directs the Commissioners of the District of Columbia to cooperate with the departments and make a similar change.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-18

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George Rumsey Sheldon

President Roosevelt sends George Rumsey Sheldon an alleged report of a speech that Sheldon made. No one has suggested that Roosevelt was indebted to any groups, or had taken on any obligations before he assumed office. Roosevelt is sure that this is a misreport of Sheldon’s words, which is why he wanted to call his attention to it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-05

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Statement drawn up in the presence of ex-Secretary Hitchcock and W. Scott Smith, formerly his secretary

A statement issued by President Roosevelt refutes a false article in The Sun which states that he overruled then-Secretary of the Interior Ethan Allen Hitchcock’s recommendations regarding pipeline permits for the Prairie Oil and Gas Company, to the benefit of the Standard Oil Company. Roosevelt asserts that this article is patently false, and that a so-called report detailing this incident is a falsehood. Rather, the permits were granted based on legislature, and Roosevelt believes that he has never ignored his Interior Secretaries’ recommendations.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-16

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Dudley Foulke

President Roosevelt explains to William Dudley Foulke that he does not think that it is worth responding to the three false editorials in the Indianapolis News. This paper, under editor Delavan Smith, is just as bad as the New York Sun and New York Evening Post. Roosevelt refutes these editorials, but does not think it is worth making public; if he were to deny all of the falsehoods and stories based on rumors that were printed about him, it would take him all day, every day.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919