Employees--Dismissal of

Benjamin F. Wright argues against California Governor Hiram Johnson serving as a running mate to Theodore Roosevelt for the Republican presidential nomination. Wright claims that Johnson removed Alden Anderson from his position as Superintendent of Banks because Anderson campaigned to be the Republican nominee for governor of California in 1910. Anderson’s removal has alienated bank and business interests. Wright believes that with Johnson as a running mate, Roosevelt cannot secure the California delegation to the Republican National Convention.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-02-27

William H. Edwards responds to Theodore Roosevelt’s letter concerning Pasquale Maola’s dismissal from the Department of Street Cleaning. Edwards gives the reasons why Maola cannot be reinstated and says how disappointed he is that Maola was part of the recent trouble at the department. Edwards is worried about the welfare of Maola’s family, a wife and 10 children, but Maola rejected Edwards’ attempts to help him find a new job.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-16

Philip Monson discusses how a former employee, Charles F. Meyer, brought a suit against his company using the lawyers of the Legal Aid Society. Meyer has sufficient financial means to employ his own lawyers, and Monson believes he filed charges because he did not have to pay. Monson does not think this is a fair use of the Society’s resources. This is not the first questionable experience Monson has had with the Society. Monson brings this to Theodore Rosoevelt’s attention as he is the organization’s honorary vice president.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-09

Thomas B. Smith confirms receipt of Theodore Roosevelt’s letter regarding Hugh F. McFadden’s dismissal from the post office. Smith continues by explaining the situation, including McFadden’s intoxication and disregard of protocol. Smith says he has received multiple letters from Senators and Congressman (due to the plea for help from McFadden’s young daughter), but under these circumstances he feels justified in dismissing McFadden.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-01

Robert W. Irwin asks Theodore Roosevelt, former Civil Service Commissioner, what system of removal of civil servants is better.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-23

William B. Ladue from the office of the Chief of Engineers of the U.S. Army explains to Frank Harper that Elisha B. Summers was dismissed from his position in New Orleans because the quality of his work was unsatisfactory. There was no position in the engineer department that suited his abilities and no further action can be taken.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-07-13

William B. Ladue explains to Maggie M. Summers that her husband Elisha B. Summers was justifiably removed from his position and that he is on a list of former employees who can be rehired with the Army Corps of Engineers if a suitable position arises.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-07-13

John Lake was recently dismissed from the New York City Police Department for what he explains was a misunderstanding and a punishment “to[o] severe for the offense.” Lake requests that Theodore Roosevelt, who recommended him for a promotion years prior, write a letter to help restore his position as Lieutenant or give him to opportunity to retire with a pension. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-17

Elizabeth E. O’Brien asks Theodore Roosevelt whether he could help her brother-in-law Charles E. Feeks secure a job. Feeks was employed at the New York Customs House for twenty-eight years but was dismissed on his sixty-eight birthday.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-05

Creator(s)

O’Brien, Elizabeth E. (Elizabeth Ellen), 1860-1933

Mary Elizabeth Lease was a former member of the Kansas State Board of Charities and Corrections but was removed from her position by Governor Lorenzo Dow Lewelling. Lease sued over her removal and the Kansas Supreme Court ruled in her favor. However, Lease’s expenses were never paid by the state and she requests that Governor Stubbs forward the expense list to the proper state committee for payment.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-01-25

Robert S. Cooper reminds Theodore Roosevelt of his intervention in 1906 to restore his name to the Weather Bureau’s roll following a controversy with Chief Willis L. Moore. Recently, some of the Bureau’s forces have been transferred or dismissed. However, the only ones dismissed were Cooper and the two men who served as witnesses in his 1906 trial, William B. Green and G. E. Von Ostermann. He asks Roosevelt for advice on correcting this “gross injustice.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-12-24

Rear Admiral Vogelgesang, who has recently been removed from his post on the presidential yacht Mayflower by the Board of Investigation, updates President Roosevelt on his current posting and expresses his gratitude for the opportunity to serve as part of Roosevelt’s household. He asks Roosevelt to thank Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt for the flowers she sent his wife during their time of uncertainty.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-05

Anthony Matré tells Reverend Diomede Falconio that he has received a telegram from Catholics in Shanghai, China, through Reverend Martin Kennelly, and has given it to the Associated Press. Shanghai Catholics deny the charge of President Roosevelt and Secretary of State Elihu Root that they are vicious people, and have renewed their petitions for the removal of Lebbus R. Wilfley as judge of United States Court for China.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-11

Secretary of the Treasury Cortelyou has received William Loeb’s letter regarding whether Cortelyou would consider being the delegate from the First Congressional District to the Republican National Convention. Cortelyou would prefer not to be considered for this position, and thinks that someone who will represent the constituents of the first district should be chosen. The treasury department has had to dismiss T. Aubrey Byrne, about whom District Attorney William J. Youngs spoke to Loeb.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-24

Secretary of War William H. Taft encloses a letter from Charles P. Taft on the Internal Revenue issue, and suggests Internal Revenue Service Commissioner John G. Capers be removed. Taft does not need the support of the Ohio Internal Revenue office, but they should not be used as a tool of the enemy. He hopes William Loeb will pass the message on to President Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-12-27

Governor of Puerto Rico Post sends President Roosevelt details regarding the performance of Francisco de Paula Acuña Paniagua in his role as Director of the Department of Health, Charities, and Correction of Puerto Rico. Post lists the reasons he wishes Acuña to be removed, and proposes a method to effect the change via telegram rather than wait weeks for the mails. Post also believes Herminio Díaz Navarro, a member of the Executive Council, should be removed due to his continued work as a lawyer in private practice.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-30

Secretary of War Taft asks President Roosevelt to hold off on confirming the removal of A. M. Hughes as postmaster in Tennessee, as his removal may have been for political reasons.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-26

President Roosevelt provides Secretary of State Root information regarding a pamphlet that Bellamy Storer sent to the members of the cabinet. Storer did not give a full account of the events that led up to his dismissal from his ambassadorial post. Roosevelt seeks to address this by including the text of letters between himself and the Storers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-02

Secretary of State Root advises President Roosevelt that he should not respond to former Ambassador Bellamy Storer’s attacks in the press.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-09

Bellamy Storer writes to President Roosevelt asking him to consider the facts, which Storer has enclosed as a statement of points, regarding his dismissal from diplomatic service. The dismissal was based on the grounds that both Storer’s conduct, in his capacity as an American ambassador, and his wife Maria Longworth Storer’s conduct in Rome, blurred the lines of public office and personal opinion regarding the promotion of Archbishop John Ireland to Cardinal. Storer defends his actions, including full and partial correspondence between those chiefly involved, to prove that he was acting in his public capacity at the request of President Roosevelt, which Roosevelt now denies. Storer is aggrieved that he was dismissed before his letter of resignation could have reached Washington since he was on leave in Egypt at the time he received Roosevelt’s request for his resignation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-11-18