Executive-legislative relations

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Joseph Gurney Cannon

President Roosevelt asks Speaker of the House Cannon about a section of the sundry civil bill that removes a longevity arrangement for employees on the Isthmus of Panama. Roosevelt acknowledges that employees who expect to see promotions and wage increases might not need the security of the arrangement, but wishes to keep the measure in place for those not expecting advancement. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-25

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Thomas J. Dolan

President Roosevelt promises to contact Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon about an issue but suggests Thomas J. Dolan try to convince some congressmen to take up the matter as well, since Congress does not always do what Roosevelt wants. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-24

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Theodore Roosevelt

President Roosevelt tells his son, Theodore Roosevelt, about Ethel Roosevelt’s dance last Friday. Roosevelt is currently struggling to manage the conflict between California and Japan, and is not entirely optimistic that he will succeed. One California senator, Frank P. Flint, has been very helpful. The other, Senator George C. Perkins, is a “feebly malicious angleworm.” Roosevelt sends Ted a copy of his upcoming speech on Abraham Lincoln.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-06

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Edgar Borah

President Roosevelt has forwarded Senator Borah’s letter to Secretary of War Luke E. Wright. However, Roosevelt reminds Borah that his previous messages about the “Brownsville matter” have always advocated for giving the president the power to reenlist these soldiers. Roosevelt encloses a copy of his most recent letter to Senator Nelson W. Aldrich.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-03

Telegram from Theodore Roosevelt to James Norris Gillett

President Roosevelt saw Senator Frank P. Flint, who has been very helpful, after receiving Governor Gillett’s message. On Flint’s advice, Roosevelt sent a telegram to Speaker Philip A. Stanton of the California State Assembly that Stanton may publish. Roosevelt asks Gillett to see Stanton. He approves of Gillet’s course of action, and will happily offer additional assistance if Gillett thinks he could be useful. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-06

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Emlen Roosevelt

President Roosevelt thanks his cousin, William Emlen Roosevelt, for the invitation, but cannot accept until his travel plans are more certain. He enjoyed hearing about William’s son, John Kean Roosevelt, and about the “agony” that his communication with Congress causes lawmakers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-31

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Theodore Roosevelt

President Roosevelt informs his son Ted that he believes he has triumphed over this year’s antagonistic Congress. Roosevelt feels that compromising with Congress to prevent a “complete break” is a president’s duty, but his final year in office has required a different strategy. He is pleased that his fights with Congress have allowed him to remain “full President right up to the end” and facilitate Secretary of State Robert Bacon’s appointment.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-31

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Alford Warriner Cooley

President Roosevelt is pleased with Alford Warriner Cooley’s health improvements. Roosevelt will have Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte send in Cooley’s name soon. Roosevelt wishes Cooley could have been there for the “fight over the Secret Service,” and notes that he will not be there when Cooley assumes his duties. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-26

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt writes to President-elect William H. Taft about his desire to begin classifying fourth-class postmasters. Roosevelt has already taken steps to remove them from politics by ordering that their tenure will be permanent unless there is a valid reason for their removal. He expects that Congress and other politicians will be angry and oppose this action, and so he would like to do it in December so that he, and not Taft, will bear the brunt of their anger.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-16

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James A. Tawney

President Roosevelt submits a self-explanatory report to Representative Tawney and urges that the substance of the Commission’s suggestions be carried out.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-14

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Anderson

President Roosevelt tells William H. Anderson that he does not intend to take part in the contest for Speaker of the House, and he does not believe that president-elect William H. Taft will either. He suggests that Anderson get in touch with Senator Philander C. Knox.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-14

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George C. Perkins

President Roosevelt tells Senator Perkins that, as Congress intended that a body of clerks should not be classified, they should not contradict this. In the case of the new census employees, for example, the employees will only be classified if Congress does not provide to the contrary.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-12-24

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Richard Goodman

President Roosevelt thanks Richard Goodman for sending the editorial, and asks if he could tell the editor thank you. Roosevelt knows his message to Congress was a long one, but it was his last and a number of things had to be said.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-12-26

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Sparks

President Roosevelt received the letter from Governor Sparks of Nevada which makes it clear Sparks did not convene the legislature, as he believed troops were necessary for dealing with an ongoing labor conflict in Goldfield but did not think the legislature would request them from the federal government. The use of the troops under these circumstances would be against the Constitution, and the state does not appear to have made an effort to solve the issue. Roosevelt will remove the troops from Goldfield immediately unless Sparks convenes the legislature within five days of receipt of the telegram.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-12-28

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Joseph H. Kibbey

President Roosevelt informs Governor Kibbey that William Spencer Sturges was not present at the last Republican National Committee meeting. Instead, he sent a proxy to Senator Charles Dick, who, along with Senator Joseph Benson Foraker, continues to attack the administration. Roosevelt wants Sturges to explain his position before accepting his recommendations. He asks what Kibbey thinks of William F. Nichols, Secretary of Arizona Territory.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-12-22

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Sparks

President Roosevelt has received no response to his earlier telegram to Governor John Sparks regarding the troops in Goldfield, Nevada, and has heard from the Representatives from Nevada that Sparks will not take the steps to formally call for troops or form a state military force. He writes that federal aid and the government of the United States should not be used by the states in place of their own duties, and will be ordering the troops back to their former stations.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-12-20

Telegram from Theodore Roosevelt to John Sparks

President Roosevelt informs Governor Sparks of Nevada that he dispatched the troops to Nevada based on the telegram from Sparks, as well as information from Nevada Senators George Stuart Nixon and Francis G. Newlands, and Representative George Arthur Bartlett. There has now been no insurrection. He writes that the troops were sent to what was described as an emergency situation, but he will now be removing them unless there is further proof to justify their involvement, as they are not a substitute for state police function.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-12-17

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt is delighted with the army’s preparations under Secretary of War Taft. He thanks Taft for sending Judge Advocate General George B. Davis’s opinion on the right to intervene in Cuba. However, if intervention is necessary, he would “not dream of asking the permission of Congress.” He regards the treaty as the law and he “shall execute it.” Roosevelt requests Taft give speeches in Colorado and Idaho.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-17

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Gustav A. Schneebeli

While he dislikes “to seem churlish,” President Roosevelt cannot write individual letters for Congressmen and hopes Representative Schneebeli understands. He feels his “definite” letter to Representative James E. Watson covered the case.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-11

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Ernest Hamlin Abbott

President Roosevelt informs Ernest Hamlin Abbott that he has no power in the described premises and can only suggest an application for an injunction. He feels the President should have absolute yet delegated power to handle the affairs and local government of the District of Columbia. As President, Roosevelt can only make recommendations to Congress.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-10