Your TR Source
President Roosevelt agrees with Arthur von Briesen that they should feel congratulated “for having such a paper assail us.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-04-28
President Roosevelt takes exception to Clarence H. Esty’s criticism of his administration and policies. Roosevelt states that thus far no one has pointed out to him a single policy or action that should not have been done. The issues stem not from his administration, but the problems the administration is attempting to eliminate.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-15
President Roosevelt thanks George Haven Putnam for the book on Alexander Hamilton by Frederick Scott Oliver, and says that he greatly enjoyed reading it. Roosevelt largely agrees with the book, but feels that, although he is no fan of Thomas Jefferson, the book did not do him justice.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-09
After talking with George Horace Lorimer, President Roosevelt went back and read The Plum Tree through all the way, after previously having read only half of it. The ending of the book reconciles Roosevelt to many of the problems he had with it throughout, but he still holds many issues with the book which he lays out for Lorimer. The author, David Graham Phillips, falls into the trap of overstating the sort of corruption that is present in politics, and while Roosevelt freely admits that corruption is present–which, he points out, he is working against–there are also many good people working in politics as well. In a postscript of several days later, Roosevelt comments on several of Phillips’s articles on the Senate, in which he acts similarly by taking “certain facts that are true in themselves, and […] ignoring utterly a very much large mass of facts that are just as true and just as important.” Roosevelt criticizes Phillips for working with William Randolph Hearst to achieve notoriety.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-05-12
President Roosevelt had recently finished Owen Wister’s book Lady Baltimore, and sends Wister his thoughts and criticisms of the work. While he enjoyed the story, Roosevelt believes the book is unfairly critical of northerners and uncritical of southerners. Similarly, Roosevelt points out that while the book lauds the past at the expense of the present, there are many examples of violence, brutality, greed, and other vices in the past. Roosevelt also remarks on the status of African-Americans, and while he agrees with Wister in certain regards, believes the work has gone too far in the racist stereotypes. He hopes that Wister will be able to visit him soon. In a postscript, Roosevelt mentions a number of other books he has read or is reading that similarly make readers “feel that there is no use of trying to reform anything because everything is so rotten that the whole social structure should either be let alone or destroyed.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-27
William Loeb tells Edith Lamb that while First Lady Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt appreciates the compliment Lamb paid her through her suggestion, she cannot give her opinion “regarding the merits of any literary or musical composition brought to her notice” because of the volume of such requests.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-30
President Roosevelt was pleased to see the way in which Frank Lowden made the nomination of Charles Samuel Deneen unanimous and pledged his active support. Roosevelt received criticism for nominating Thomas Nevin Jamieson, and he feels that the heartiness with which Jamieson and William Lorimer support Deneen justifies his decision.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-06-04
C. Hart Merriam has reviewed Theodore Roosevelt’s chapter on concealing and revealing coloration. His criticisms include a belligerent tone to the article, Roosevelt’s annihilation of Abbott Handerson Thayer, and a disbelief in natural selection.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1913-05-05
Gifford Pinchot just found Frank Harper’s letter with the enclosed letter from David Keppel. Pinchot has three things to say. 1. Mr. Gill’s statistics cover all denominations. 2. Keppel is setting his recollections and impressions against actual figures. 3. The book could tell Keppel what “real pay” means.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1913-09-15
John H. Byers sends Theodore Roosevelt part of his composition and hopes he will pass honest judgement.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-11-12
John G. Geiwitz has received Theodore Roosevelt’s previous reply. In accordance with Roosevelt’s suggestion, he has sent his article to the managing editor of The Outlook. Geiwitz clarifies he did not expect Roosevelt to market the article himself and only wished for critical feedback on his article.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-18
Hugh T. Halbert resonated with Theodore Roosevelt’s comments on the article titled ” The Stain on our Flag,” and wishes to publish Roosevelt’s words with his permission. Halbert also says that Gifford Pinchot and many other progressives showed up to the meeting at the St. Paul Hotel.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-05
J. Edwin Hatch asks Theodore Roosevelt to read and criticize his article about public panics.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-07-19
Reverend Gleason would like Theodore Roosevelt’s opinion on Edward Everett Hale’s “The Man Without A Country.” In particular, Gleason would like Roosevelt to examine whether or not the story is historical.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-07-14
John W. Foster responds to a letter from Theodore Roosevelt concerning improper behavior. Foster asserts he did not improperly use James Hay’s statement and Hay did not have any contemptuous feelings towards Foster. Hay further asserts Roosevelt’s claims are groundless as Hay employed Foster as his legal and confidential adviser.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-06-10
During a gathering at the Fifth Regiment Armory honoring James Gibbons, Marshall F. Ziegler says an unnamed gentleman who sat in between President William H. Taft and Edward Douglas spoke negatively about the contents of his speech, astounding Ziegler.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-06-10
Lawrence Irwell writes to Frank Harper to provide a copy of his criticisms of Irvine Fisher’s “Report on National Vitality.” Irwell states that while he believes Fisher is a capable mathematician, he does not believe Fisher has conclusively proven to possess the necessary knowledge to create a report on national vitality.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-06-12
George G. Hill explains to Roscoe C. E. Brown that President William H. Taft was embarrassed by a recent article from the Associated Press concerning his meeting with Theodore Roosevelt in Baltimore. The article alleged the meeting between Roosevelt and Taft was political in nature while Hill asserts it was not premeditated and not of a political nature.
John W. Foster responds to Theodore Roosevelt’s recent letter criticizing Foster’s speech on international relations. Foster supplies citations for statements that Roosevelt alleges are baseless, including discussions of the Alaskan boundary dispute, the Olney-Pauncefote commission, and Roosevelt’s conduct in the case of international treaties during his presidency. Foster closes the letter by remarking that, had Roosevelt “not made a public assault on the noblest act of [his] successor’s administration, I would not have reviewed [his] record.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-05-29
Andrew Carnegie criticizes an editorial written by Theodore Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-05-21