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Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte forwards President Roosevelt a dispatch received from the Dominican Republic.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-18
Assistant Secretary of State Adee sends Benjamin F. Barnes a copy of a letter from Secretary of the Navy Charles J. Bonaparte for President Roosevelt to read. The letter includes a report from Edwards F. Leiper, who is the commander of a naval squadron at Santo Domingo.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-07-28
Acting Secretary of State Bacon issues a memorandum stating that he has mentioned an inconsistency in the wording regarding the purchasing of some bonds to Jacob H. Hollander and Federico Velásquez y Hernández. Hollander has assured Bacon that the passage is understood by purchasers to be slightly inaccurate, but that the terms of the treaty with Santo Domingo are satisfactory.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-19
President Roosevelt writes to Ambassador Reid about ongoing negotiations between France and Germany about Morocco. Beginning with background information about the situation, with Germany wishing to call a conference to reform the government of Morocco—in opposition to France—Roosevelt then includes the text of numerous letters and telegrams in English and French from various parties related to this issue. Roosevelt says he will send copies of this letter to Henry White and George von Lengerke Meyer, and will show it to Secretary of State Elihu Root, as well, but no one else, as it is to be strictly confidential. He closes with some personal remarks to Reid, responding to a previous letter from him, and thanking him for presenting Milla Shonts and her daughters. The envelope appended at the end suggests that this is the copy of the letter which was sent to Meyer.
Massachusetts Historical Society
1906-04-28
Theodore Roosevelt was pleased with Henry A. Wise Wood’s statements regarding Roosevelt’s truthfulness. To people who claim that Roosevelt would take the country into war he responds that during his presidency no shots were fired at a foreign foe and no Americans were killed by representatives of foreign governments. However, under President Woodrow Wilson’s tenure, he has begun small wars with Mexico, Haiti, and Santo Domingo.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-05-27
Two figures stand above the “senatorial pool” armed with fishing equipment. Theodore Roosevelt holds a large pole with a can labeled “bait amendments” by his side. Next to him, holding a pitchfork with a net strung in it, is the figure of Benjamin Tillman, a democratic senator from South Carolina. In the pool are a number of creatures, including a frog labeled “statehood bill,” a fish labeled “Santo Domingo,” a crocodile labeled “Philippine tariff bill,” and a large turtle with the head of a steam locomotive labeled “the railroad rate bill.” Roosevelt’s fishing pole has hooked under the lip of this turtle’s shell.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1906-02-25
Theodore Roosevelt discusses the United States’s involvement in the Spanish-American War and its ongoing commitment to the new republic of Cuba in his 1910 speech at the Nobel Peace Committee Dinner. Roosevelt also describes other incidents of U.S. intervention.
1910-05-05
Lieutenant Governor Guild of Massachusetts delivers a speech at an event commemorating President Ulysses S. Grant in Des Moines, Iowa. Guild reminds Iowans of their special connection to Grant, as Iowa regiments were key in his first great victory of the American Civil War, the Battle of Fort Donelson. Guild points out how Grant’s administration saw the beginnings of a lot of contemporary issues, like the fight between the gold and silver standard, the corruption of machine politics, and the ills of the spoils system. Guild does, however, defend Grant against his harshest critics, stating that Grant did punish many of the instigators of scandals like Credit Mobilier and the Whiskey ring, and that Grant’s idea to annex the Dominican Republic seems less extreme in light of recent South American upheavals.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-04-27
Stewart Douglas Robinson writes to President Roosevelt to ask for his comment on the action taken by the United States in regards to Santo Domingo. Robinson is arguing for this side in a debate later in the month and thought a word from his uncle would help his case.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-03-14
President Roosevelt thanks Joseph Bucklin Bishop for his letter about the immigration office. He does not wish to have to intervene in the Dominican Republic in any way. He has no desire to annex the island: “I have about the same desire to annex it as a gorged boa constrictor might have to swallow a porcupine wrong-end-to.”
1904-02-23
President Roosevelt thanks Maurice Francis Egan for sending him an article. Roosevelt comments on the character of Oregon Senator John M. Gearin and criticizes his involvement with “fractional politics” regarding the Santo Domingo treaty.
1906-03-05
President Roosevelt informs his sister that he has written to Stewart Douglas Robinson and sent him information on business in Santo Domingo. He writes that he wishes he could see her and tell her of his difficulties with the Senate.
1906-03-15
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 provides a letter of introduction for Harry Johnston, an English administrator with “long and varied experience” in several of England’s possessions in Africa. Roosevelt hopes that Fenton Reuben McCreery, the Minister to Santo Domingo, will let Johnston see and study whatever he wants.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-27
President Roosevelt encloses letters of introduction for Harry Johnston. While Roosevelt cannot write to Haitians and Santo Domingans, he can write to the American Ministers there; they may be able to assist Johnston.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-27
President Roosevelt shares editor of the Churchman Silas McBee’s interest in and puzzlement over the sermon of Bishop Charles Henry Brent of the Philippines, which he analytically criticizes.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-27
President Roosevelt will discuss the claim of the Samina Bay Company of Santo Domingo with Secretary of State Elihu Root.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-04-16
President Roosevelt enjoyed his visit with Viscount James Bryce and reminisces about when Bryce stayed at the White House several years prior. Roosevelt believes the question of disarmament is “full of difficulties” and wants to avoid raising “high anticipation as will ensure disappointment” with the upcoming National Arbitration and Peace Congress. He wasn’t impressed with Jamaica Governor James Alexander Swettenham’s message and compares his dealings with him to that of Henry Wolcott Bowen, former Ambassador of Venezuela. Roosevelt is pleased that the Santo Domingo treaty was ratified by Congress and is overall satisfied with the number of other legislative measures he managed to pass.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-28
President Roosevelt wishes to meet with Senator Spooner and discuss matters concerning Cuba, Panama, and Santo Domingo.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-08
President Roosevelt informs Henry W. Taft that Acting Secretary of State Robert Bacon believes James Speyer has been treated well and that Bacon backs Jacob H. Hollander. He sent Taft and Tweed’s letters to Bacon for comment. Roosevelt is reluctant to influence negotiations of Santo Domingo with the bankers.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-07