Your TR Source
President Roosevelt sends Elihu Root a memorandum regarding how to obtain information on the coasts of countries around the Caribbean Sea. General Leonard Wood believes that the best way to obtain this information is to send several officers in civilian dress on board a private yacht.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-03-15
Theodore Roosevelt shares the sentiments of the executive committee of the American Defense Society regarding Attorney General Gregory. Roosevelt believes that the situation is becoming “intolerable” and President Wilson’s administration is punishing “men who serve America by fearlessly telling the truth.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1918-03-12
Theodore Roosevelt writes to A. Barton Hepburn regarding the death of R. J. Cuninghame who may have been shot as a spy. He asks to be kept aware of any further news on the matter from Newland, Tarlton & Company. In addition, he mentions getting together soon to discuss East Africa.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1914-11-16
President Roosevelt discusses his thoughts regarding tensions with Japan with German Ambassador Sternburg, and supposes that racial differences between Europeans and Japanese makes understanding between the two races difficult. In response to a report from Sternburg that Japanese immigrants in Mexico could attack the United States from there should conflict arise, Roosevelt says this action would do nothing but anger the United States. Roosevelt does not understand why Japanese immigrants want to come to America and become naturalized citizens, yet retain their Japanese identity. Roosevelt pledges to treat the immigrants with justice and to protect them if need be, while at the same time keeping the American fleet ready to sail at a moment’s notice. He does not believe there will be war, but will try to “prevent it from being disastrous” if it does. Roosevelt worries because the Japanese have formidable military power, and Americans suffer from a luxurious, modern life that makes them frivolous. Roosevelt is troubled by men who talk about peace but are really cowards. Roosevelt says his foreign policy is simple: to show other nations justice, courtesy, and considerations, and to receive the same in return.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-16
Ambassador Meyer has discovered that the Russian government gained possession of the United States’ cable code approximately six to eight months ago when the embassy was “run in a most slipshod manner.” Meyer has since improved security measures. The death of John Hay is a loss not just for the United States but for the whole world.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-07-05
Rear Admiral Coghlan reports to Secretary of the Navy Moody that agent number two confirms Moody’s telegram: there is no prospect of an expedition from his direction.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-03-13
Translated report of Agents one and two in Cartegena, Colombia, sent by Rear Admiral Coghlan to Secretary of the Navy Moody. They recount movement and numbers of troops between Cartegena and Barranquilla, Colombia. There is no talk of an expedition to Panama.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-03-02
Copy of Rear Admiral Coghlan’s weekly report to Secretary of the Navy Moody. Coghlan states there is nothing new to report, and then details the movements of ships under his command, and the general excellent health of the sailors and marines under his command. Coghlan also summarizes conflicting information about Colombian troop strength in Titumati.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-02-16
Vignettes show a “nervous congressman” suspecting everyone he meets to be a spy investigating him. Everyone he sees (a female companion, a “waiter,” “his constituents,” a “friend,” and a woman pushing an infant in a stroller) is carrying handguns and handcuffs, and he refuses the return of a loan for fear that it is “marked money.” A picture of Marcus Alonzo Hanna hangs on the wall of his congressional office. At night a demon that looks like Theodore Roosevelt torments his sleep.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1909-02-10
Translation of a report to Rear Admiral Coghlan by Agent number one, and then sent to Secretary of the Navy Moody. The report recounts troop movements from Bogota, Colombia, to Cartagena, ostensibly to another area. Agent number one thinks that the troops will stay in Cartagena because of internal politics in Colombia. Agent number one details which ships are controlled by which general and which political figures are backing each other.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-01-30
Rear Admiral Glass informs Secretary of the Navy Moody that all is quiet, and a spy has reported that Colombian General Daniel Ortiz is awaiting orders from Bogota and expects an increase to 10,000 men before advancing.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-01-19
Translated report from Rear Admiral Coghlan to Secretary of the Navy Moody concerning the establishment of good relations with various Native peoples around Mosquito Point and Mandingo Bay, Panama. Also noted in the report are deteriorating situations, political instability, and food scarcity at St. Andrew Island.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-01-17
Lieutenant Commander Gleaves reports to Rear Admiral Coghlan the results of his attempts to gather intelligence from the Native peoples around Caledonia harbor. They left four scouting parties at Nellie to map the terrain, and mapped coastal areas. Gleaves reports extensively on the terrain, the lack of roads and trails, and the rivers with regard to their use for military purposes. The San Blas Indians were unfriendly, as they were strangers. Gleaves was able to meet with the “Big Chief” at Carti, Guayaquilile. The chief wanted them to leave the area and its rivers immediately, and told them that the Chief of Sasardi was the Chief of all the Indians, and the Chief of Bogota was the Chief of all. Gleaves was able to gather intelligence from other Native peoples, as they supported Panama.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-01-11
Acting Secretary of State Loomis notifies William Loeb that James W. S. Langerman, the man who delivered the letter from the Sultan of Morocco, is viewed under suspicion by the State Department.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-07-03
Berry Benson claims to have discovered a method of deciphering the secret military ciphers of Germany and of France. He would like to share his ideas concerning acquiring information from “the enemy.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-03-19
Maria Longworth Storer advocates and is seeking support for the elevation of Archbishop John Ireland (1st and 3rd archbishop of St. Paul, MN) to the College of Cardinals and vigorously opposes the elevation of Archbishop Michael Corrigan (3rd archbishop of New York, 1885-1902) to the same position. Storer even claims that Corrigan gave private information to Spain during the Spanish-American War.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1899-08-04