Your TR Source
J. R. Clair laments to Ralph H. Cameron about his loss of fortunes due to the financial panic brought on by President Roosevelt’s policies. He is not interested in Grand Canyon copper.
1907-11-04
Chronology of the daily life of Theodore Roosevelt from January 1892 to December 1898. Notable events include the death of Elliott Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt is appointed New York City Police Commissioner, his tenure as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, the Spanish-American War, and Roosevelt’s gubernatorial campaign.
Theodore Roosevelt Association
1985
Chronology of the daily life of Theodore Roosevelt from January 1871 to December 1878. Notable events include the Roosevelt family’s trip to Europe and Egypt, Roosevelt’s entrance to Harvard, the death of Theodore “Thee” Roosevelt, Roosevelt’s trip to Maine, and Roosevelt meeting Alice Hathaway Lee.
Theodore Roosevelt Association
1985
A Wall Street banker summarizes the Panic of 1907. They describe the weak banking laws which created the precarious conditions on Wall Street, and how J.P. Morgan & Co. took advantage of these conditions to achieve the “greatest financial confiscation the world has ever known.”
This was enclosed in a letter dated 27 September, 1911, but that letter states it was written during 1907.
Theodore Roosevelt recently testified to the congressional commission that he acted on his own initiative in allowing the steel trust to absorb the Tennessee Coal and Iron Company. However, as editor C. F. Phillips reports, a statement by Roosevelt to Charles Hunter would suggest otherwise. If authentic, the statement raises questions about Roosevelt’s public silence on the corrupt practices and “rascality of these men” of high finance.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-08-08
President Roosevelt and Secretary of the Treasury George B. Cortelyou hold a “U.S. Treasury” pipe that is sending bonds and notes swirling around to large crowds of people.
William K. Starrett’s cartoon properly depicts the role of Treasury Secretary George B. Cortelyou in creatively addressing the crisis precipitated by the Panic of 1907 then sweeping Wall Street (and, in fact, money markets across the world). He and President Roosevelt approved the deposit of 25-million dollars into various banks; and that act is pictured by Starrett.
President Roosevelt holds a rifle on his right shoulder and a bag labeled “off to Louisiana” and walks away from four bears hiding behind a “Wall Street” sign.
A fascinating, and historically valuable, aspect of political cartoons, beyond their insights into contemporaneous events they address, is how the better cartoonists could be prescient — presenting and forecasting important trends, movements, and forces.
Armed with a big stick, President Roosevelt plays poker with “Bear” and “Bull” on a table labeled “Wall Street,” saying “It’s a square deal, boys!”
Maurice Ketten, who had a long and modest but distinguished career as a cartoonist of social subjects, life’s dilemmas, and daily panel serials of suburban and domestic situations, did not draw political cartoons for long, and this attempt might explain the course set for him by his editors at the New York Evening World.
Newspapers in New York are publishing information about President Roosevelt that was not fit to print, which irks the writer of this article because the people of the West love Roosevelt. Although Roosevelt did the best he could to deal with the financial crisis, the writer does acknowledge that it has negatively impacted New York City in ways that the people of Kansas City could not fathom.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-06
The article in the Times notes that although President Roosevelt is not running for office again, he has succeeded in getting the American people to support his ideals and platform so thoroughly that party lines have been “obliterated.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-30
The article in the Times notes that although President Roosevelt is not running for office again, he has succeeded in getting the American people to support his ideals and platform so thoroughly that party lines have been “obliterated.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-30
A market letter sent to investors by well-known investment firm Dick Bros. & Co. The letter is highly critical of President Roosevelt and his actions surrounding the financial panic, calling him a “Mad Messiah” and describing Roosevelt’s recent hunting trip “with swashbucklers and clowns” as “pursuing bobcats and slaying semi-domestic fat bears” at a time when Wall Street is in crisis.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-12-13
An article by Thomas E. Watson rails against the efforts of national bankers to replace the the Department of the Treasury issued notes which had historically been used to combat inflation with their own bank notes. Such a practice would give private banks full control over the financial state of the country and would only increase bankers’ wealth at the expense of the economy. Should President Roosevelt allow this to happen, he would prove himself a hypocrite and incapable of living up to his promises to fight the “malefactors of wealth” in the United States.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-10
William Emlen Roosevelt tells the President Roosevelt of a recent conversation with Gherardi Davis. Davis inquired if Roosevelt desired to run again as the answer would inform his political actions. He t assures his cousin that he did not speak officially on his behalf and instead instructed Davis to ask the president. While hopeful of improvement, Emlen reports continued financial strain and foresees additional troubles. He reminds the president of his views against currency reform, believing such intervention will cause further issues, and, instead, advises legal resolution.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-08
Timothy L. Woodruff and Patrick Henry McCarren, leaders of the Republican and Democratic parties of Brooklyn respectively, will debate the question “Resolved, That Theodore Roosevelt and his administration are responsible for the present disturbance in the financial world” at a date to be determined. Both men challenged each other at seemingly the same time. Woodruff left it to McCarren to set the date of the debate, and suggested Prospect Hall in Brooklyn, as the venue. Woodruff is known as a strong debater, in particular for his controversial debate with then-district attorney John Proctor Clarke in 1899.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-10-24
President Roosevelt goes over the events in the controversy at the Government Printing Office. He is pleased that the situation with Wall Street has improved. Roosevelt is annoyed over the public outcry that emerged when no special commendation was offered to General Nelson Appleton Miles upon his retirement. Such a commendation would have been unprecedented and Roosevelt continues to have a very low opinion of Miles.
Massachusetts Historical Society
1903-09-03
A woman labeled “Democratic Party” peers through an opening labeled “Jeffersonian Principles” in an underground shelter, while a tornado rages overhead with dark clouds labeled “Indignation, Dissatisfaction, Defeat, [and] Hard Times.”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1894-05-02
A wolf wearing a red cape labeled “Hard Times 1893” stands on a rock outside a gate labeled “U.S.” with Uncle Sam standing inside the gate and pointing a rifle labeled “Business Revival” at the wolf. Hanging on the wall of a building in the background are hides labeled “Hard Times 1819, Hard Times 1837, Hard Times 1857, [and] Hard Times 1873.” Columbia, carrying a rifle labeled “Prosperity,” is rushing to aid Uncle Sam. Caption: Uncle Sam (to the Wolf at the Door)–One of you pesky critters comes around here about every twenty years; but this is the gun that gits you!
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1894-04-11
The bow of a ship approaches a waterspout labeled “80ct $” and “$2,000,000 a Month,” and a shark labeled “Panic.” Along the side of the ship are President Cleveland as captain, and several men, all unidentified, but may include George F. Edmunds, William M. Evarts, William F. Vilas, Edward L. Hedden, John Sherman, and Augustus Garland, among others. They are about to fire a gun labeled “Repeal of Silver Coinage Act” to break up the waterspout. Caption: Captain Cleveland “Fire that gun, boys – it’s the only way to break it!”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1885-12-16
Tensions are high because of the financial panic and President Roosevelt believes it would be best to reschedule the sittings with Bay Emmett for his portrait.
1907-11-01