Your TR Source
President Roosevelt is astounded by the degree of falsehood contained in an article in Robert J. Collier’s weekly magazine about the Department of the Interior. Roosevelt would like to opportunity to explain the true situation to Collier or Mark Sullivan.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-14
President Roosevelt asks Senator Clark if enactment of legislation regarding the Muscogee Nation in Oklahoma could be postponed until the new Secretary of the Interior James Rudolph Garfield takes office. The request, Roosevelt says, is in best interest of the Native Americans of Oklahoma and Clark’s own Senate committee.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-05
President Roosevelt tells Senator La Follette that in his view, La Follette’s bill would be less desirable than some alternatives. After speaking with the invested politicians and civil servants, Roosevelt believes that any action on the matter of leasing coal mining rights would be progress, and that they should not be overly selective in their attempt to pass such a bill. It is important that the representatives of the states affected by such a bill support it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-05
President Roosevelt updates his son Kermit Roosevelt on the comings and goings of the White House and his thoughts on a recent article that appeared in Outing. Roosevelt had hoped to keep his upcoming visit to Groton School and Harvard University private, but it has leaked. He is having difficulties resolving the segregation of Japanese students from San Fransisco schools and the resulting diplomatic tensions, but has decided immigration from Japan must be curtailed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-09
President Roosevelt sends letters to him from Charles Patrick Neill and James R. Garfield, and one from himself to Mr. Hanks, to Chairman Martin A. Knapp of the Interstate Commerce Commission.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-30
President Roosevelt encloses a report for Charles Stedman Hanks regarding charges made against the Interstate Commerce Commission statistician Henry C. Adams by George W. R. Harriman. After an investigation, it has been proven that these charges have been made without foundation and Roosevelt declares the incident closed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-31
President Roosevelt has received William Allen White’s letter, and asks that he write to him again about Judge Dickerson and Judge Townsend. Roosevelt has been reading the advance sheets of White’s upcoming article, and appreciates all the things that White has written, whether or not he deserves them. He disagrees, however, with the implication that his administration could be compared to that of Washington, Lincoln, or Franklin, as they faced great crises while Roosevelt has not. Roosevelt is not concerned whether he will have a place in history, but simply wants to do his best to work with the other people in his administration to govern the nation well.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-28
President Roosevelt remarks that he has been able to get the Cabinet appointments he has wanted. He now has to give another appointment in Ohio of James Rudolph Garfield. He did not write Senator Dick earlier because the announcement was made earlier than expected. He is not sure whether he is more pleased by the gubernatorial election of Frank Robert Gooding in Idaho or Charles Evans Hughes in New York.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-08
President Roosevelt remarks that he has been able to get the Cabinet appointments he has wanted. He now has to give another appointment in Ohio of James Rudolph Garfield. He did not write Senator Foraker earlier because the announcement was made earlier than expected. He is not sure whether he is more pleased by the gubernatorial election of Frank Robert Gooding in Idaho or Charles Evans Hughes in New York.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-08
President Roosevelt informs James K. Jones that he has enclosed a letter from Secretary of the Interior Ethan Allen Hitchcock that is agreed upon by President Roosevelt himself and Department of Commerce and Labor Commissioner of Corporations James Rudolph Garfield. He no longer wishes to discuss the matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-03
President Roosevelt wishes to change positions within the Department of the Interior to make James Rudolph Garfield the Secretary of the Interior. He proposes to John Campbell Greenway that he become the Commissioner of the General Land Office beginning the next March. Roosevelt wishes to discuss it with Garfield and US Forest Service Chief Gifford Pinchot the next time Greenway is in Washington, D. C. G. W. Woodruff, a friend of theirs from Yale, will be the Assistant Attorney General for the Department of the Interior as well.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-05
President Roosevelt shares Secretary of the Interior Ethan Allen Hitchcock’s report on the “Barnsdall matter” with Senator Jones and asks for Jones’ comments.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-13
President Roosevelt follows up with Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock on several cases, in particular that of Governor of Oklahoma Territory Frank C. Frantz.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-06
President Roosevelt tells Secretary of War Taft that he may want to appoint Commissioner of Corporations James Rudolph Garfield as a judge in spite of Taft’s reservations, as he thinks he would be a good judge, but that he will talk with Taft in person about it. Responding to what Taft had said about Senator Julius C. Burrows objecting to his talking about the Michigan judiciary, Roosevelt writes “let him object until he is black in the face,” and contemplates driving the conflict to a head by appointing Arthur C. Denison over Burrows’s objections and emphasizing the president’s power to make appointments.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-23
President Roosevelt authorizes Secretary of War Taft to use funds to stable the cavalry at Boise, Idaho as General Fred C. Ainsworth mentioned. Roosevelt additionally comments on several appointments, saying he believes that Walston H. Brown should be allowed to carry out his proposal, that he has decided to appoint James Shanklin Harlan to the Interstate Commerce Commission, and that he is inclined to appoint Horace H. Lurton, which will necessitate appointing a new Circuit Court Judge. Roosevelt also writes at length about some recent articles by Poultney Bigelow which contain some “slanderous falsehood,” but about which he believes some response should be made.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-17
President Roosevelt enjoyed reading Frederick Scott Oliver’s book on Alexander Hamilton, and sends him some of his related thoughts. Roosevelt greatly prefers Hamilton to Thomas Jefferson, and feels that Jefferson largely did harm to the United States, although he acknowledges that there were several points on which Jefferson was better than Hamilton. Roosevelt remarks on Oliver’s statement that he lacks direct familiarity with American politics, and invites him to visit the United States and come to the White House.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-09
In one sense, President Roosevelt is pleased by Elliot Howard Gilkey’s letter, while in another sense it makes him very uncomfortable. Roosevelt believes the decision he made was correct, but hates to have his reasons for it be misunderstood by men like Gilkey.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-06
President Roosevelt explains that he cannot get any Ohio appointments confirmed for local office without the consent of the Ohio senators. He tells Harry B. Kirtland that he already asked about Howard D. Manington, and was advised that he would not be confirmed. Roosevelt could make a fight for the appointment of Judge Reynolds R. Kinkade on principle, but does not feel that that is possible for Manington, where it is simply a matter of preference. Changing topics, Roosevelt promises to order an investigation into relations between the railroads and the ice trust if Kirtland thinks it would be advisable to do so.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-07
President Roosevelt greatly appreciated a recent editorial by Frank Irving Cobb, and believes that Cobb is correct in highlighting the administrative work of government of enforcing and administering laws as important. Roosevelt names a number of people involved in his government who he believe are doing very good work.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-03
President Roosevelt explains to Martin A. Knapp the employment of Francis S. Monnett “was in effect a deliberate submission to blackmail.” Monnett claimed that Roosevelt had directed the Interstate Commerce Commission to not conduct an oil investigation and threatened to share the news with hostile senators. Roosevelt directs Knapp to investigate this matter, as well as the conduct of Edward A. Moseley, who hired Monnett. He includes the text of letters he wrote to Knapp and Monnett concerning the oil investigation, showing that it was merely put on hold, not cancelled.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-05-19