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President Roosevelt sends Surgeon-General Wyman a copy of a letter he has sent to Doctor Henry Pickering Walcott, outlining the administration’s plans. Until the plans have been acted upon, Roosevelt does not feel he can make the bills related to the Public Health and Marine Service Department into law.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-28
President Roosevelt informs Frank H. Platt that according to Cuban Occupation Governor Charles E. Magoon, there is likely not much they can currently do about the telephone issue. The election of the Cuban Congress should sort it out.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-10
President Roosevelt speeds ahead on a car labeled, “Roosevelt policy.”
C. R. Macauley (later spelled MacAuley) was a political cartoonist for the New York World at this time, and the clipping in the White House scrapbook evidently misattributed the drawing to the Herald (another Democratic paper).
Uncle Sam pushes President Theodore Roosevelt, on a sled labeled “The ‘Teddy’ Flyer,” down a snow covered hill labeled “1905 to 1909.” In the background is a wrecked sled labeled “McKinley’s Policy.”
This issue of Puck was dated just days before Theodore Roosevelt’s inauguration to his second presidential term. That Puck, generally a Democratic journal, frequently had been partial to Roosevelt and his policies is seen by the favorable aura in the cover cartoon.
Father Knickerbocker, a symbolic figure for New York City, holds a large stick labeled “Municipal Ownership” at his side and confronts three animated figures labeled “Electric Light Monopoly, Telephone Trust, [and] Gas Trust.” Caption: Father Knickerbocker — I hate to use this, but-
“Politics makes strange bedfellows,” and so do economics and social pressures. In the new century, American cities expanded, especially with poor immigrants; and technological innovations brought electricity, power, telephones, telegraphs, and modes of transportation to the masses.
President Roosevelt sits at a desk pondering the Philippine and Central American issues. Papers on his desk read, “Philippine Policy,” “Panama Canal Treaty,” and “Mastery of the Hemisphere.” He imagines a statue of Abraham Lincoln, around which are vignettes showing Roosevelt denying the “Philippine Petition for Freedom,” using force against Colombia at the Panama Canal, menacing South America and Central America with a big club, and standing with arms folded across his chest, wearing imperial robes and a crown.
Abraham Lincoln was Theodore Roosevelt’s hero, a model in temperament, decisions, and wisdom. Roosevelt’s father was “the best man I ever knew” (the opening lines of his Autobiography) and Roosevelt wrote biographies of men he admired — Oliver Cromwell, Thomas Hart Benton and others in book chapters and magazine articles. But Lincoln was his political and moral hero; and of course Roosevelt was not alone with these sentiments.
Benjamin B. Odell has two heads as he acts in the capacity of “Governor” of New York and as “Chairman Rep. State Com.” The governor side wields a quill pen labeled “Veto Power” over papers labeled “Legislative favors,” and the chairman side holds out a tin cup labeled “Campaign Contributions.” Caption: The latest thing in political monstrosities.
At the time of this cartoon there were a disproportionate number of New York Republicans who had gained national prominence and harbored legitimate presidential ambitions. As the nation can have only one president at a time, Theodore Roosevelt fairly blotted out the political sun as a New York resident serving as governor and president.
President Roosevelt is shown playing a ring toss game. The ring he is holding is labeled “Presidential Power,” and one of the canes he is trying to toss it on is labeled “Cuban Reciprocity.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-07-08
A full account of Theodore Roosevelt’s actions towards Colombia and the creation of the Panama Canal will appear in two weeks in Metropolitan Magazine. He does not understand Hannis Taylor’s attempts at misrepresenting his actions; he was transparent in the process. As president at the time, Roosevelt takes responsibility for gaining control of the canal zone and beginning construction of the Panama Canal. His actions were in accord with the nation’s treaty obligations, followed American policy precedents towards the region, were ratified by Congress, and were “indispensable to the honor and the interest of the United States.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-01-07
In preparation for leaving office, President Roosevelt seeks further information regarding a man named Smith recently convicted by Judge Morris of Minnesota. Roosevelt has received letters about the case from Marshal William H. Grimshaw and William Walter Heffelfinger, which cast doubt upon the allegations by a man named Hammond that Smith tampered with a witness. Roosevelt asks Morris to respond quickly by telegram with his opinion on the matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-24
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-03
President Roosevelt thanks French Ambassador Jusserand for the books he sent. Roosevelt tells Jusserand he is glad to have the distraction of his upcoming African Safari. Roosevelt shares his thoughts about leaving office, and the duty of a president to make the office as strong as possible, while at the same time not grasping for permanent power. Roosevelt discusses the problems with Turkey and Venezuela, adding that he wishes France could solve everything.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-03
President Roosevelt tells his sister, Corinne Roosevelt Robinson, that their letters must have crossed in the mail. Roosevelt remarks on his view that the Presidency should be a powerful position, but one that is subject to review by the population. Roosevelt does not believe that one person should be in the Presidency for more than eight years at a time. William Allen White has written him an amusing letter enclosing an editorial, which he sends to show to Robinson.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-26
President Roosevelt thanks John Carter Rose for the letter, and thinks that they share the same theory of governmental power. Roosevelt believes that the United States needs a strong executive, but only for a limited term.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-20
President Roosevelt encloses a copy of his letter to Senator Isidor Rayner, as Senator Taliaferro is mentioned in it. Roosevelt asserts his authority to deny Colonel William F. Stewart a court of inquiry regarding his being sent to Fort Grant.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-05-12
President Roosevelt sends Lyman Abbott letters he wrote to various Senators about the Brownsville incident and a matter concerning Colonel William F. Stewart. Roosevelt asserts his executive authority as President to make determinations about the dismissal and stationing of soldiers, citing past precedents. He also provides his rationale for dismissing the Brownsville soldiers and for refusing to grant Stewart a court of inquiry.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-05-10
President Roosevelt tells Seth Low that he wishes to strengthen the power of the executive branch to handle business matters like those that Low refers to, as he does not wish to allow the “chaos and inefficiency” of using the courts to administer such a law.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-28
President Roosevelt tells Richard Henry Dana that, regarding the census bureau, he intends to use his veto powers or perform some other political maneuver. He also mentions conferring with William Dudley Foulke.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-12
In a statement on the creation or expansion of multiple forest reserves, President Roosevelt states that he felt inclined to act because Congress does not yet have the ability to act. Roosevelt feels that the preservation of the forests is important to prevent them from being sold to the “lumber syndicates.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-02
President Roosevelt tells Secretary of War Taft that discharge is not to be suspended unless new facts warrant him to do so. Roosevelt does not care what the politicians and sentimentalists think and demands that his wishes be met unless facts show they should be changed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-21