Executive orders

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George B. Cortelyou

President Roosevelt explains to Secretary of the Treasury Cortelyou that although he fully supports the recruitment of good men to the service, he can not allow for the rules and regulations to be sidestepped. Men in the classified service are not permitted to enter and exit their roles to involve themselves in politics, as Grover Cleveland did, and therefore Roosevelt’s order on the classified places will have to be carried out.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-10

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to the Civil Service Commission

President Roosevelt informs the members of the Civil Service Commission that he agrees with their proposal to create a procedure for documenting the reasons for civil service appointments made by executive order, and directs the commissioners to “point out to me the omission” if he does not provide them with a reason for such exceptions. Regarding the list of past exceptions the commission sent him, the exceptions where explanations are given seem justified, but for those entries that are missing that information he states that “tho I am certain that at the time I deemed them satisfactory I can not now prove them.” 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-03

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Memorandum from Theodore Roosevelt to Ethan Allen Hitchcock

President Roosevelt issues a directive to Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock stating that in order to prevent fraud that is now occurring with the acquisition of public lands in the United States, an authorized officer of the government will need to examine any issuance of final certificate, patent or evidence of title with the exception of the examples outlined in the memorandum. Hitchcock will be responsible for issuing these instructions to carry out the order.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-25

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Lodge informs President Roosevelt of a request from the Post Office Department to reinstate Rachel F. Sullivan of Hyde Park, Massachusetts, to the classified service. Lodge had her resign some time ago due to evidence that she might be taking money, but within a few weeks, the post office discovered that it was another employee. Lodge is asking for Roosevelt’s assistance because she can only be restored via executive order.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-14

Creator(s)

Lodge, Henry Cabot, 1850-1924

Letter from Joseph Bucklin Bishop to Theodore Roosevelt

Joseph Bucklin Bishop informs President Roosevelt of a situation in the Panama Canal Zone beyond the scope of canal construction. Bishop describes how the executive order signed on November 17 virtually abolished the office of Governor and conferred power on the General Counsel, creating a bad situation in which General Counsel Richard Reid Rogers took advantage of his new power. When Secretary of War Taft visited in March, he issued a new executive order to address this situation, conferring the majority of government power on the chairman of the Isthmian Canal Commission and acted on by the governor of the Panama Canal Zone, Joseph C.S. Blackburn. Bishop states that Blackburn is doing excellent work and is well-respected, unlike Rogers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-06

Creator(s)

Bishop, Joseph Bucklin, 1847-1928

Letter from William Allen White to Theodore Roosevelt

William Allen White has heard that Representative Victor Murdock’s bill regarding mail rates will fail, and would like President Roosevelt to assist Murdock if he can, as the postal service is in great need of reform. White would visit Roosevelt himself, but his wife Sallie Moss Lindsay White is ill.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-16

Creator(s)

White, William Allen, 1868-1944

Memorandum from Charles J. Bonaparte to Theodore Roosevelt

Attorney General Bonaparte relays to President Roosevelt the language of the immigration law enabling the President to prevent the Japanese government from issuing passports for immigrants to the continental United States who first travel through other countries or United States territories and the draft executive order. Bonaparte suggests changes to the order to make it conform with the immigration law.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-14

Creator(s)

Bonaparte, Charles J. (Charles Joseph), 1851-1921

Excerpt from New York Times on President Roosevelt’s inauguration

On the occasion of his inauguration, the New York Times re-examines President Roosevelt’s record of the past three years, and asks, can the nation expect an even bolder Roosevelt in the years to come? Roosevelt’s policies and actions of the past three years are subjected to a critical analysis.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-04

Creator(s)

Unknown

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George Edward Kessler

President Roosevelt appoints landscape architect George Edward Kessler to the Council of the Fine Arts. He encloses a copy of the executive order that established the council.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-13

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to the Civil Service Commission

Had he not resigned, Daniel F. Dolan would have received the punishment of sixty days suspension rather than dismissal. As such, President Roosevelt will sign the executive order submitted to him by the Civil Service Commission which indicates such punishment.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-23

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George B. Cortelyou

President Roosevelt directs Secretary of the Treasury Cortelyou to promote Spanish-American War veteran Hermann W. Kuchmeister according to the accompanying executive order, if it has not already been done.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-22

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George B. Cortelyou

President Roosevelt sends Secretary of the Treasury Cortelyou a copy of an executive order he has signed to carry out a resolution of Congress titled, “To provide for the remission of a portion of the Chinese Indemnity.” Roosevelt directs Cortelyou to bring the order to the notice of officers concerned.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-28

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to United States Civil Service Commission

President Roosevelt tells the United States Civil Service Commission that it does not seem right to remove Philip W. Reinhard from his position, even though it is in violation of the civil service rules, as he has already served in the position for nine years and has a positive statement by Secretary of the Treasury George B. Cortelyou. Roosevelt asks whether he needs to make an executive order, or if the commission can act on its own account.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-29

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Kermit Roosevelt

President Roosevelt reports to Kermit Roosevelt that his week has been busy yet uneventful, but he wishes he had more time to exercise. He almost feels ashamed for leaving detailed work to the department heads, but it is the only way he has time to “develop the really big policies.” It was a beautiful, “real spring” day.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-05-04

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Rudolph Garfield

President Roosevelt notifies Secretary of the Interior Garfield that his executive order on public lands is cancelled because the United States Congress did not appropriate enough funds to carry out the order. The Commissioner of the General Land Office will attempt to act using the appropriated funds.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-12

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Elihu Root

President Roosevelt implores Secretary of State Root to contact Secretary of the Navy Victor Howard Metcalf about the actions of the school authorities in San Francisco enforcing segregation of students of Asian ethnicity, specifically Japanese children. Roosevelt asks Root to prepare directives for immigration agents and custom authorities in order to deter further mistreatment towards Japanese immigrants.  

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-27

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Victor Howard Metcalf

President Roosevelt asks Secretary of Commerce and Labor Metcalf to investigate whether Emma Tabberrah is able to perform the duties of lighthouse keeper that her deceased husband William H. Tabberrah used to hold. If she is able, Roosevelt requests that the position be given to her.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-10

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt informs Secretary of War Taft that by executive order, he is placing the supervision and direction of the Isthmian Canal Commission, including jurisdiction and function of the commission, under Taft’s direction.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-18

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry W. Taft

Theodore Roosevelt explains to Henry W. Taft that it is possible William McKinley and Grover Cleveland did not know about the orders but that it was very improbable as the orders were essentially the same under Roosevelt as the others. Roosevelt also explains that had the orders not been made there would have been a extravagant pension law.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-08

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Telegram from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles Hial Darling

President Roosevelt instructs the Acting Secretary of the Navy to publicize the order relating to the medical corps of the navy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-08-23

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919