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Theodore Roosevelt praises and thanks Ambassador Herrick for his efforts on behalf of the United States in international relations. Roosevelt wishes that Herrick were in charge of foreign affairs in Washington, D.C., because “the conduct of foreign affairs has been pitiful.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1914-12-12
Theodore Roosevelt provides a letter of introduction for Charles Cary to Ambassador Herrick. Roosevelt states that Cary is a good man who is in Paris, France, to be useful during this time of crisis.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1914-11-14
President Roosevelt accepts Baron Hengelmüller von Hengervár’s invitation to visit Vienna and Budapest, and hopes he and his wife, Baroness Marie Hengelmüller von Hengervár will be there to greet them. Currently he expects their arrival to be during the last week of April of 1910.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-03-01
President Roosevelt disagrees with several statements Secretary of State John Hay wrote. While Hay was one of the most “delightful characters” Roosevelt had ever met, he found Hay lacking leadership qualities as a Secretary of State. Roosevelt provides Senator Lodge with his view of the Alaska Boundary dispute in 1903. He includes copies of the letters Roosevelt wrote to Judge Oliver Wendell Holmes and Henry White to show to British Secretary of State for the Colonies James Chamberlain and Prime Minister James Arthur Balfour. Roosevelt explains why certain appointments were made following the death of President William McKinley and details for why Hay was not consulted on matters concerning the Russo-Japanese War and the acquisition of Panama.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-28
President Roosevelt thanks Ambassador Hill for writing to him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-27
President Roosevelt informs President-Elect Taft that he has written to Senators Shelby M. Cullom and George C. Perkins as Taft requested, and will recommend that the Embassy be created. Roosevelt asks if he should additionally issue a message as soon as First Assistant Secretary of State Robert Bacon becomes Secretary of State. Roosevelt will shortly appoint the six engineers who are to accompany Taft on his journey to inspect the Panama Canal.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-26
President Roosevelt tells Ferdinand V. Blair that he cannot advise him about a career in the diplomatic service, as he would not personally care for such a position, and he does not know enough about Blair to be able to pass judgement for him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-12
President Roosevelt approves of “needed reforms,” but their implementation can occasionally bring about minor irritations. For instance, he is now unable to appoint William Bayard Hale to the position where he feels that Hale could do the most good. Roosevelt muses that it may be possible to use Hale as a special agent for Haiti, but it is not likely. The trouble is not that the government does not know what to do for Haiti, but that many people refuse to accept that it is necessary for the United States to “exercise some kind of supervision over the island.” He cites several other instances in which the United States intervened in countries in the Caribbean or Central America, “in each case for the immeasurable betterment of the people.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-03
President Roosevelt informs Governor Comer that although he wants more men from Alabama in the service, Mr. Craig is too old to appoint to the consular service. He asks Comer to send the names of one or two younger men who could take the exam.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-09
President Roosevelt has received praise for Minister to Denmark Maurice Francis Egan, along with John Wallace Riddle and David Jayne Hill, from Nicholas Butler Murray. Roosevelt is confused by the rates of depression and tendency toward socialism in Denmark, a country of farmers. Mississippi is the most agricultural state in the United States, and Roosevelt concludes that although there are many great Mississippians, a mixture of farmers and townsfolk is the best population to have.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-05
President Roosevelt is interested in what Maurice Francis Egan, minister to Denmark, says about the socialists and British diplomat Rennell Rodd. He has requested the British Embassy notify him when Rodd arrives so they can dine at the White House.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-07
Before meeting next Sunday, President Roosevelt asks James Bronson Reynolds to present his regards to Mundji Bey, the Turkish Charge d’Affaires. He feels “the keenest interest in and sympathy with the movement so full of hope for genuine progress which is now taking place in the Turkish Empire.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-04
President Roosevelt requests that Ambassador Reid explain to Robert Offley Ashburton Crewe-Milnes that his African trip is a scientific expedition to collect specimens for the National Museum, not “a game butchering trip.” However, if given the opportunity, Roosevelt may collect some trophies. The invitation from the chancellor of Oxford, George Nathaniel Curzon, to present the Romanes lecture gives Roosevelt a genuine reason to visit England on his return from Africa. He details his travel itinerary, plans for appropriate formal attire, and people to call upon. Roosevelt is interested in what the Japanese minister for foreign affairs Jutarō Komura says and includes his letter to Japanese ambassador Kogoro Takahira and the reply. Reid’s full statement on the incidents of the Olympics pleases Roosevelt, who believes intense international matches inevitably result in misunderstandings.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-20
President Roosevelt acknowledges the kind message from Governor-General of Australia William Humble Ward as received through the British Charge d’Affaires. He expresses America’s appreciation to Ward and the Australian people for hosting the Atlantic Fleet on “its voyage of peace.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-20
President Roosevelt asks Charles Hitchcock Sherrill to bring the Sultan of Zanzibar to Washington, if he happens to be in the United States when Sherrill is. Roosevelt emphasizes, however, that Sherrill should not encourage the Sultan to come, as there are no provisions or funds for the government to entertain such “foreign potentates.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-24
President Roosevelt encloses Senator Samuel Douglas McEnery’s letter about Alcée Fortier and a memorandum from John Avery McIlhenny regarding the places to which Fortier could be appointed. Roosevelt tells Assistant Secretary of State Bacon that French Ambassador J. J. Jusserand would be pleased if Fortier could be given something.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-05-13
President Roosevelt asks Assistant Secretary of State Robert Bacon to look into a matter regarding a man who he believes is fit for consular service. He also requests a list of appointments from the southern United States under the new regulations.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-27
President Roosevelt returns the memorandum about Consul-General Frank Dyer Chester and inquires why he has not been removed from his post.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-22
President Roosevelt tells newly-appointed Ambassador to Germany David Jayne Hill he believes his position in Berlin will be better because of the “unpleasant incident,” where German Emperor William II spoke openly of his dislike for Hill. Roosevelt commends Hill for keeping silent on the topic and instructs him to never comment on it in public.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-20
President Roosevelt laments that his implementation of civil service reform principles means that he cannot grant Ernest McGaffey’s request. He encloses a copy of the regulations, which state that entry into the service must start at the lower grades. Should McGaffey want such a position, he will need no recommendation from Roosevelt, provided the Senators from his state agree to confirm him. However, Roosevelt does note that most lower level positions are in hot and unhealthy regions.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-08