Your TR Source
A collection of reprinted stories and editorials about Theodore Roosevelt’s successes during his presidency and political career, specifically diplomatic achievements. One editorial calls for Roosevelt’s nomination in the 1916 presidential election.
1916
In a letter to Sydney Brooks, President Roosevelt touts his record as president, highlighting achievements in the realms of foreign and domestic policy. Roosevelt lists the voyage of the Great White Fleet, the start of the Panama Canal, and the Treaty of Portsmouth in the diplomatic arena while noting the settlement of the anthracite coal strike and his conservation measures in domestic matters.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal
1908-12-28
President Roosevelt rails against the United States Senate generally and six senators individually in a letter to Joseph Bucklin Bishop. Roosevelt expresses his frustration with the Senate for failing to ratify a treaty with the Dominican Republic. Roosevelt aims his wrath equally at three Democratic and three Republican senators for desiring to play a part in foreign affairs and then neglecting to shoulder their responsibilities.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal
1905-03-23
This edition of “News and Notes,” seven pages in length, is divided into six sections. “TR Quasquicentennial Year Ends” covers events marking the 125th anniversary of Theodore Roosevelt’s birth at venues in Indianapolis, Indiana, Oyster Bay and Buffalo, New York, Harvard University, and the National Archives in Washington, D.C. It notes that the final event of the celebration year was appropriately held at the Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace in New York City, and it highlights some of the lectures and interviews given by John A. Gable, Executive Director of the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA), during 1983. An illustration of both sides of the TRA medallion and a photograph from the 125 Anniversary Dinner in New York City supplement the section.
The “Annual Meeting of the TRA Board of Trustees” examines the financial health of the TRA and notes that there needs to be an increase of revenue for the Association. It also covers changes to the By-Laws of the TRA regarding membership categories and terms for members of the Board of Trustees. It closes by noting the governance of the TRA and listing its officers and members of the Executive Committee.
“Filming ‘The Indomitable Teddy Roosevelt'” discusses the production of this documentary film and highlights the narration provided by actor George C. Scott and the music of John Philip Sousa. It notes its fluid mixing of reenactments and archival film footage. A photograph of the Roosevelt family as portrayed by actors and descendants and one of Gable in a cameo role accompany the section.
In “TR and the Wall Street Journal,” Gable attacks an article written by Art Pine of the Journal about the history of debt collection from foreign nations because of its sometimes “misleading” and “false” statements about Roosevelt. Gable enlists the work of historians Barbara Tuchman and Frederick W. Marks to refute some of Pine’s reporting.
Cartoon shows President Roosevelt sitting in front of the U.S. Capitol reciting his June 13, 1902 message to Congress. On the left is a Cuban cannon firing a shot through a rolled sheet of paper, “Cuban reciprocity proposition except light colored sugar” as the head of the American Crystal Sugar Company, H. T. Oxnard, labeled “Beet sugar,” flees. On the right is a San Domingo cannon firing a shot through a rolled sheet of paper, “Dominican reciprocity offer, % reduction no exceptions” as a man “Sugar Trust” sends a telegram that fires the Cuban cannon.
This memorandum presents a brief history of the various plans surrounding the matter of the debt settlement of the Dominican Republic. An initial plan was prepared by William J. Salomon & Co., with Speyer & Co. being “cognizant of and participants in the proposed ‘plan’.” This plan was ultimately withdrawn, and a more favorable plan was proposed by Kuhn, Loeb & Co., which was accepted. Following this, Speyer & Co. independently approached the government of the Dominican Republic with a proposal, which was rejected.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-14
President Roosevelt feels he and Secretary of State Hay should focus on the arbitration treaties and the San Domingan protocol rather than the Newfoundland treaty. Roosevelt received a membership invitation to the Academy of Arts and Letters. Uncertain if he should accept, he shares his thoughts on the ridiculous nature of such “foolish” academies.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-28
President Roosevelt plants a tree with several fruits on it: “Guam,” “Hawaii,” “Santo Domingo,” “Porto Rico,” “Panama,” and the “Philippines.” The ghost of George Washington appears out of the “White House.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-02
Uncle Sam wears an “international police” uniform and runs toward several revolutionists fighting one another in the “Republic of Santo Domingo.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-01-08
Uncle Sam holds a baton in his right hand and “Panama” in his left as he walks down “International Boulevard.” The “Colombia” shack has no disturbances, but there is a lot going on in the “Republic of Santo Domingo” shack with words like “secession,” “rebellion,” and “down with the government.” Caption: Policeman Sam—”I’ve have to ‘pull’ that shack yet.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-01-03
President Roosevelt carrying a big stick stands beside a man labeled “Senate” casting a vote into the “Dominican Ballot.” To their left stands a woman blindfolded, holding scales in her right hand and an enormous sword “justice” in her left.
The Dominican Republic was a longtime irritant in hemispheric and world politics and commerce, as successive corrupt governments defaulted on international loans and payments, leading to numerous threats from European powers to forcibly collect reparations. President Roosevelt’s desire for regional harmony and justice, coupled with his opposition to European military activity in the Caribbean, directly led to his promulgation of the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine.
President Roosevelt and South Carolina Senator Benjamin R. Tillman go fishing in a “senatorial pool.” At the bottom of the pool is “the railroad rate bill” turtle, a “Philippine tariff bill” alligator, a “statehood bill” frog, and a “Santo Domingo” fish. On the ledge are two crayfish by a “bait amendments” can.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-01-25
President Roosevelt leaves the White House with a gun and a “Senatorial game bag.” He encounters a number of animal traps: “railway rate trap,” “Panama trap,” “federal ins. trap,” “Santo Domingo trap,” “Venezuela trap,” “German tariff trap,” “state interference trap,” and “campaign expenses trap.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-01-03
President Roosevelt wears several weapons and walks toward a number of wild animals. He leaves behind the “big stick” and several scrolls: “protocol,” “Santo Domingo treaty,” “report beef trust,” “Panama,” and “Venezu[ela] dispute.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-04-02
President Roosevelt stands on a “U.S.” battleship and points a “Monroe Doctrine” gun at “Europe,” who reaches for a man sitting on the “Republic of Santo Domingo.” Caption: “This in reality entails no new obligations upon us, for the Monroe Doctrine means precisely such a guarantee on our part.”—President Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-03-18
A “U.S. Senate” hand holds back President Roosevelt, who reaches for a man on “Santo Domingo.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-02-13
Naval officer William Henry Hudson Southerland relays to Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte the text of a message from Dominican president Horacio Vásquez. On behalf of the Dominican people, Vásquez thanks Southerland for his “successful efforts in behalf of peace” and accepts the offer to put the Scorpion at his disposal. Southerland tells Bonaparte that the situation is “satisfactory.” The Scorpion has arrived with peace commissioners, who capitulated today.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-01-16
President Roosevelt says that Secretary of War William H. Taft will take action on the cablegram from Thomas Cleland Dawson regarding the collector for the Dominican Republic. Either Adee or Taft will announce the collector as having been appointed by Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-04-02
Assistant Secretary of State Adee forwards a cablegram from Charles D. Sigsbee which was received this morning. Adee presumes that the naval vessels in Dominican waters are “competent and instructed to act in case revolutionists interfere with the execution of the terms of the Gray-Carlisle Award.” He asks William Loeb if President Roosevelt has directed any answer to a communication from Thomas Cleland Dawson.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-03-26
In a statement protesting President Roosevelt’s message to the senate and the protocol between the United States and Santo Domingo (now the Dominican Republic) signed on February 7, 1905, the history and application of the Monroe Doctrine is examined in detail, and arguments are made against Roosevelt’s protocol based on that understanding.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-02-17