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

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Dudley Foulke

President Roosevelt responds to William Dudley Foulke’s request to call the Indianapolis News to account for the falsehoods they are spreading. Roosevelt explains that he does not believe it will do any good, because the paper is simply on par with other papers like the New York World, New York Sun, and New York Evening Post. Such papers will simply repeat their falsehoods and spread new ones if they are corrected. Roosevelt believes that it is useless to deny false stories in the news because papers do not attempt to prove their assertions. In particular, Roosevelt mentions false stories about his raising campaign funds and the purchase of the Panama Canal.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-24

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles J. Bonaparte

President Roosevelt agrees with the course that Attorney General Bonaparte is taking. Roosevelt asserts he was explicit in stating that he wanted the investigation to be about District Attorney John Wesley Dunkle’s conduct. He contends it would be “preposterous” to investigate Comptroller William Barret Ridgely, as he is out of office. Further, he has asked if there are cases against the bank examiners Charles Starek and John B. Cunningham. He was told that there were none against Starek, and that it was suspected that Cunningham was drunk, but Dunkle was the main offender.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-23

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edwin Emerson

President Roosevelt has asked George B. Cortelyou about a donation to his 1904 presidential campaign from the President of Guatemala, who said he had never heard of such a contribution but would ask Cornelius Newton Bliss about it. Roosevelt seems to remember a man named Hunter in the diplomatic service in Central America who resigned or was removed from office, but does not have any more details about him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-06

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Francis E. Leupp

President Roosevelt forwards to Commissioner of Indian Affairs Leupp a letter that William H. Taft received from Egbert J. DeBell. DeBell seems to be trying to blackmail Taft, perhaps seeking to have his license as an Indian Trader reinstated. Roosevelt believes that what DeBell has claimed is a total fabrication, and that if he is found on any reservation, he should be forced out.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt understands the troubles that William H. Taft faces in selecting people to help run his campaign, and comments that it is very rare to find people who are both disinterested in advancing themselves and interested in providing efficient service. Roosevelt reflects on many of the people and appointments that he has had to deal with through his political career.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-07

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George P. Messervy

President Roosevelt has received George P. Messervy’s letter regarding William P. Colgate, but as president he cannot act. He advises Messervy to take this letter to Secretary of the Treasury George B. Cortelyou. Roosevelt acknowledges the difficulty that can arise between subordinates and their chiefs.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-04

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Robert P. Porter

After thinking the matter over, President Roosevelt has spoken with Jacob H. Schiff, with Secretary of the Treasury George B. Cortelyou present. Although Roosevelt does not think anything came of the talk, he will tell Robert P. Porter the details when he next sees him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-04

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Robert P. Porter

President Roosevelt is not sure what he can do about the Westinghouse matter that Robert P. Porter wrote him about. He will speak with Secretary of State Elihu Root and Treasury Secretary George B. Cortelyou, but he is hesitant to make a business suggestion to a New York financier. As he does not do special favors for people, he does not want to ask one of anyone.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-05-29

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Lawrence F. Flick

President Roosevelt is pleased to accept the presidency of the International Congress on Tuberculosis, and will deputize Treasury Secretary George B. Cortelyou to preside over events he cannot attend. He assures Lawrence F. Flick of his dedication to curing tuberculosis and his belief in the importance of Flick’s work.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-05-12

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Mr. Hepburn

President Roosevelt tells Representative William Peters Hepburn that the enclosed letter from Secretary of the Treasury George B. Cortelyou explains itself, and asks if they can secure action. He regrets Hepburn’s illness.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-20

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to R. Goodwyn Rhett

President Roosevelt admits that he does not know much about the currency, but promises to read through R. Goodwyn Rhett’s bill and discuss it with Secretary of the Treasury George B. Cortelyou.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-11

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to United States Civil Service Commission

President Roosevelt tells the United States Civil Service Commission that it does not seem right to remove Philip W. Reinhard from his position, even though it is in violation of the civil service rules, as he has already served in the position for nine years and has a positive statement by Secretary of the Treasury George B. Cortelyou. Roosevelt asks whether he needs to make an executive order, or if the commission can act on its own account.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-29

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frank H. Hitchcock

President Roosevelt has received Frank H. Hitchcock’s letter of resignation and thanks him for his service as assistant postmaster general. Roosevelt praises Hitchcock for his accomplishments while part of the postal service.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-15

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Homer Davenport

President Roosevelt thanks Homer Davenport for the letter, and promises to try to get Davenport’s cartoons where they will count. He will take up the matter with Secretary of the Treasury George B. Cortelyou.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-05

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Dudley Foulke

President Roosevelt thanks William Dudley Foulke for the letter, but apologizes for feeling some amusement over the absurdity of the issues that Foulke told him about, namely a supposed effort by Secretary of the Treasury George B. Cortelyou to rehabilitate the Knickerbocker Trust Company, and of Roosevelt trying to use public office holders to nominate Secretary of War William H. Taft for president. Roosevelt dismisses both of these allegations, and says that Foulke should challenge the paper that printed them to produce proof.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-01-19

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edward King

President Roosevelt will contact Secretary of the Treasury George B. Cortelyou immediately on behalf of Edward King, Union Trust Company president. King is no doubt aware of the complaints of banks out west that the government deposits favored New York banks. Roosevelt asks if an emergency currency bill will help the situation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-12-14

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Emlen Roosevelt

Alice Roosevelt Longworth is doing well. President Roosevelt sends his sympathies to William Emlen Roosevelt’s wife, Christine Griffin Kean Roosevelt. Roosevelt agrees with his cousin Emlen regarding speaking out about his decision to not run for a third term. He heard from Edward King, and has asked Secretary of the Treasury George B. Cortelyou about his proposal. The Western banks are complaining that the government gave too much money to the New York banks.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-12-15

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Emlen Roosevelt

President Roosevelt acknowledges that decontextualized parts of his message regarding the financial crisis may have been circulating on Wall Street, but he stands by what he has said and believes his policies should be permanent. Roosevelt also tells William Emlen Roosevelt that J. P. Morgan and George F. Baker were in favor of his financial measures.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-23

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John C. Shaffer

President Roosevelt is glad to do what John C. Shaffer asks but is unsure what to say and does not want to cause harm. He will continue to think and go over it with Secretary of the Treasury George B. Cortelyou.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Dudley Foulke

President Roosevelt always expects representatives of bank interests to try to discredit him, especially in times of economic depression. He denies Benjamin B. Johnson’s suggestion that Roosevelt secretly supports New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes’s presidential campaign over Secretary of War William H. Taft’s.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-16