Employee selection

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 Charles D. Walcott

President Roosevelt sends Charles D. Walcott an enclosed letter from Frank M. Chapman. Roosevelt thinks it may be good if he is able to get a taxidermist who has been to Africa before, and wonders if it would be possible to get the man whom Chapman mentions. It would be nice to get a taxidermist who knows something about medicine as well, but Roosevelt is not sure of the chance of that.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-07

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Anna Roosevelt Cowles

President Roosevelt asks his sister, Anna Roosevelt Cowles, to inform Justine Bayard Ward that he never said he approved of Cabot Ward for a position on the Philippine Commission, and he did not ask William H. Taft to appoint him. Cabot Ward does not have the experience to warrant putting him on the commission, and seats on the commission are not positions for which someone can apply. At present there are not many opportunities for a position in South America, but Roosevelt thinks that is something for which Ward could apply. Roosevelt mentions that the biography of him by Francis E. Leupp seems to him the best of its kind.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-09

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Robert B. Roosevelt

President Roosevelt tells his cousin, Robert B. Roosevelt, that regarding the positions he asked about, the government usually only appoints government officials with a knowledge of the situation in Panama. He doubts they would appoint a non-governmental employee, but asks what qualifications Mr. Tainter has.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-25

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles J. Bonaparte

President Roosevelt responds to a letter from Attorney General Bonaparte, and comments on the actions of Senator Jonathan Bourne in trying to involve Roosevelt in a matter involving Standard Oil. Roosevelt plans to explain to Bourne and John D. Archbold that it does them no good to speak with him, and they need to communicate with Bonaparte and Frank B. Kellogg. Roosevelt suggests having Alford Warriner Cooley stop by Idaho on his way from Alaska and take care of some business involving United States Attorney Lycurgus H. Lingenfelter. In his postscript, Roosevelt says that he is glad that Bonaparte wrote to Meyer about Mr. Levely, as he had not heard anything about the matter. Roosevelt is glad that Bonaparte thought of John Carter Rose as a person to potentially be appointed, as Roosevelt thinks it is a very good suggestion.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-26

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George Horace Lorimer

President Roosevelt comments on an article that George Horace Lorimer recently published in The Saturday Evening Post, which commented on America’s Envoys Extraordinary. Roosevelt thinks that the article had some good points, but wishes that the article did not also misrepresent several other facts. He acknowledges that there have been some people in the past who have not been fit for their positions, but maintains that ambassadors and envoys currently appointed are by and large good men who are qualified for their positions.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-26

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt tells Secretary of War Taft that, while he is sure that Frank H. Hitchcock would do a satisfactory job of running Taft’s campaign, the best person would be Frank B. Kellogg. Roosevelt thinks that if Kellogg is asked, there is a chance he would accept, but advises Taft to speak with Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte first to see what the provisions would be for finding a substitute in the current case Kellogg is involved in.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-29

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Ellen Grant Sartoris

President Roosevelt was pleased to be able to appoint Ellen Grant Sartoris’s son, Algernon Edward Sartoris.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William D. Bynum

President Roosevelt informs William D. Bynum that he believes Attorney General Bonaparte did not intend to fill the vacancy Bynum asked about, but that he forwarded Bynum’s letter in case there are any opportunities.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-02

Telegram from Elihu Root to William H. Taft

Secretary of State Root is troubled by a comment that Secretary of War Taft made about friendship and past service having weight in the selection of a Chairman. Root tells Taft that such considerations should not come into play, and that he should select the most efficient and effective people in carrying out the presidential campaign. Root thinks that Taft should not make a selection for several weeks, as it can be useful to pay people compliments by getting their opinions, and Taft should consider all the options that are available to him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-20

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles J. Bonaparte

President Roosevelt agrees with Attorney General Bonaparte, and says that they should appoint Milton Dwight Purdy at once. Roosevelt does not want to be dictated to by Senator Knute Nelson as to who he is able to appoint. He is unsure about the wisdom of putting another Tennessee Democrat in the administration when there are already several people from the area in the administration. Roosevelt asks Bonaparte’s opinions about several people.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-23

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George B. Cortelyou

President Roosevelt asks Secretary of the Treasury Cortelyou if he could make Cecilia P. Dulin, who taught several of Roosevelt’s sons, a temporary employee for the summer.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Cecil Andrew Lyon

President Roosevelt informs Cecil Andrew Lyon that Edward Guy Le Stourgeon has applied for the position of Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue. This position is currently held by Moses C. Harris, who led a bolt against Lyon. Roosevelt endorses Le Stourgeon as a Rough Rider, and says he would be pleased if Lyon endorsed Le Stourgeon to the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, John G. Capers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-13

Telegram from Theodore Roosevelt to John Campbell Greenway

President Roosevelt has received John Campbell Greenway’s letter. He is very sorry, but he has already offered the appointment.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-04

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Fred G. Plummer

President Roosevelt appoints Fred G. Plummer as the representative of the Forest Service on the United States Geographic Board.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-04

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Samuel Johnson Pugh

President Roosevelt thanks Samuel Johnson Pugh for his letter. He wishes that it were possible for him to appoint as many “good men” as he wants, but there are not enough places.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-04

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Robert Lee Howze

President Roosevelt is pleased at the good news and will notify the War Department that he expects to appoint Colonel Howze in February.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-07

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edmond Favor Noel

In response to Governor Noel’s letter, President Roosevelt writes that he would be inclined to appoint Lowry, as requested. However, Senator Samuel Douglas McEnery is a friend of Roosevelt’s and has done good work in the Senate, and thus Roosevelt feels that he should appoint the man he recommended.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-08

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Samuel H. Piles

President Roosevelt believes that the three commissioners should be the best men that can be gotten from anywhere in the country. He asks if Senator Piles has any particular man in mind, and instructs him to speak with Secretary of State Elihu Root, who is in charge of the matter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-05-25

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Albert G. Winterhalter

President Roosevelt informs Commander Winterhalter that he has been designated a representative of the Navy Department on the United States Geographic Board.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-05-30