Germany--Berlin

Letter from Whitelaw Reid to Theodore Roosevelt

Whitelaw Reid, Ambassador to the United Kingdom, updates President Roosevelt on King of Britain Edward VII’s respectful behavior toward Sultan of the Turks Abdülhamid II. Turkey has embraced British Ambassador Sir Gerard Lowther, who has ended up in a position of power mostly by luck. The German Emperor William II has been recklessly deepening the financial troubles that plague Berlin. Reid does not think Roosevelt will need his Colonel’s uniform for visiting England, and details the appropriate attire. He discusses an agreement made with Chairman of the Republican National Committee Frank H. Hitchcock to send copies of the Daily Tribune to voters in New York. Lord Robert Offley Ashburton Crewe-Milnes has been unavailable due to travel, but Reid should have more information when the next session begins in three weeks.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-23

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Lodge rarely disagrees with Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt, but is certain President Roosevelt will like Maurice Maeterlinck’s essays. Lodge thinks Roosevelt’s plans for the African trip are excellent, and is glad he and Edith are traveling Europe together. Considering Roosevelt’s soon-to-be previous office as president, Lodge declares he must visit Emperor William II in Berlin, Germany, as it will be of value to the United States. He believes Roosevelt made the correct choice in declining Collier’s offer as “it was not the place for you at any price.” Lodge similarly agrees that Governor Charles Evans Hughes should be renominated. He detests going back into the presidential campaign because he believes William H. Taft’s election seems certain.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-19

Letter from Bernard Goldsmith to Theodore Roosevelt

Bernard Goldsmith urges President Roosevelt to consider visiting Ethiopia during his upcoming safari, and an invitation from Melenik II, Negus (Emperor) of Ethiopia, is coming. Goldsmith explains that his connection to the Emperor is through his friend Baron von Falkenegg, who has a substantial mineral concession in Ethiopia, and the Emperor wants the concession to be financed and controlled in America. Goldsmith discusses some reading he will be helpful for Roosevelt in planning his safari. In a post-script, Goldsmith mentions that an American diplomatic presence is lacking in Ethiopia.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-22

Letter from Rachel Sherman Thorndike to Theodore Roosevelt

Rachel Sherman Thorndike had recently read about plans to change the heads of consular services abroad and hopes that President Roosevelt will keep her brother-in-law, Consul General to Berlin Alexander M. Thackara, in his current position or promote him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-20

Letter from Andrew Dickson White to Theodore Roosevelt

Andrew Dickson White congratulates President Roosevelt on his appointment of David Jayne Hill to replace Charlemagne Tower as the new ambassador to Germany and suggests that Roosevelt purchase outright or take out a long-term lease on the house the American Embassy in Berlin occupies to also function as accommodation for Hill during his tenure.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-23

Letter from Benjamin Ide Wheeler to Theodore Roosevelt

Benjamin Ide Wheeler, returning from a meeting of the Association of State University Presidents, discusses his support for a national public university with President Roosevelt. Wheeler also relays the popularly held belief among “capitalists” in New York that restoring trust in the economy is key to recovering from the current economic crisis and suggests that with Spencer F. Eddy’s promotion to Ambassador to Argentina, John W. Garrett should take over his former position as First Secretary in Berlin.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-24

Telegram from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Taft telegrams President Roosevelt about the timing of his travel from Manila to Berlin for an audience and dinner with German Emperor William II. Taft needs Roosevelt’s decision at once.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10-31

Telegram from Jackson Smith to Theodore Roosevelt

Jackson Smith asks President Roosevelt to direct Secretary of War William H. Taft to postpone his upcoming trip to Berlin by an additional week, as Taft’s work with the Philippine Assembly is of utmost importance and this is a crucial moment for that body.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10-31

Letter from Albert J. Beveridge to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Beveridge hopes that when President Roosevelt names David Jayne Hill as Ambassador to Germany he will assign Henry Lane Wilson to fill Hill’s vacated position as Ambassador to the Netherlands and name Beveridge’s brother-in-law Spencer F. Eddy as Ambassador to Belgium. Beveridge assures Roosevelt that he will approve of Eddy’s work. Beveridge also notes that Eddy’s mother is in poor health and would likely be heartened by the news of such an appointment.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-07

Telegram from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Taft updates President Roosevelt regarding his planned trip from Manila to Berlin via Vladivostok.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10-30

Letter from Whitelaw Reid to Theodore Roosevelt

Ambassador Reid seeks Theodore Roosevelt’s direction as to whether William H. Taft will stop by London on his way back from the Philippines, seeing as he will already be stopping at St. Petersburg and Berlin. If so, Reid will arrange some visits for Taft with British dignitaries. Reid also encloses some news clippings from British publications discussing American political affairs.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10-10

Letter from Albert Gleaves to Theodore Roosevelt

Naval Commander Gleaves details his recent European trip during which he purchased fifty up-to-date torpedoes, which will begin arriving in December. He learned much about mines while observing a field trial conducted off of Marseille, France. Roosevelt’s letters to the various ambassadors made Gleaves’s movements around Europe easier, especially in Berlin where he was permitted to tour the torpedo factory. Unlike England, Gleaves reports a “friendly feeling for the United States” in Germany. Gleaves hopes Roosevelt can tour the Torpedo Station after speaking at Provincetown.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-09

Letter from John Callan O’Laughlin to William Loeb

John Callan O’Laughlin informs William Loeb that his friend Dr. Francis R. Hagner is traveling to London, England, and Berlin, Germany, on Friday. O’Laughlin asks Loeb for letters of introduction for Hagner to present to the United States ambassadors in each country, Whitelaw Reid and Charlemagne Tower.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-08

Letter from Albert Gleaves to Charlemagne Tower

Albert Gleaves describes to Charlemagne Tower, U.S. Ambassador to Germany, the generous reception and accommodation he and others received in Berlin.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-06-30

Letter from Nicholas Murray Butler

In a letter to an unspecified party, Columbia University President Butler speaks about how organizer of the Association for International Conciliation baron Paul-Henri-Benjamin Balluet Estournelles de Constant has requested Butler’s help organizing public relations in regards to the agency. He states that it is particularly desirable for the American representatives at the upcoming Hague Conference to be able to rely upon “instructed and sympathetic public opinion.” Butler asks for the recipient’s opinion on who should be asked to join a related committee.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-05

Letter from Bellamy Storer to Theodore Roosevelt

Bellamy Storer writes to President Roosevelt asking him to consider the facts, which Storer has enclosed as a statement of points, regarding his dismissal from diplomatic service. The dismissal was based on the grounds that both Storer’s conduct, in his capacity as an American ambassador, and his wife Maria Longworth Storer’s conduct in Rome, blurred the lines of public office and personal opinion regarding the promotion of Archbishop John Ireland to Cardinal. Storer defends his actions, including full and partial correspondence between those chiefly involved, to prove that he was acting in his public capacity at the request of President Roosevelt, which Roosevelt now denies. Storer is aggrieved that he was dismissed before his letter of resignation could have reached Washington since he was on leave in Egypt at the time he received Roosevelt’s request for his resignation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-11-18

Letter from Leonard Wood to Theodore Roosevelt

General Wood informs President Roosevelt about the situation in the Philippines, reporting that besides the areas of Leyte and Samor, the situation is relatively quiet. He recommends that America keep the islands garrisoned to prevent agitators from upsetting order. Wood opines that the Filipinos are far behind Cuba on the path to deserving independence, but praises the Spanish for having evangelized and civilized the Philippines. Wood recommends the recovering Lieutenant Gordon Johnston for the Medal of Honor. Wood plans to send his family home to the United States for the children’s schooling, and after the Filipino elections hopes himself to visit France and Germany to observe military maneuvers and methods there. Wood hopes afterwards to be appointed to New York where he can work on seacoast defense, but is willing to return to the Philippines if requested. Wood also discusses his opinions on the results of the Russo-Japanese War.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-11-18

Letter from John William Burgess to Theodore Roosevelt

Professor Burgess reports to President Roosevelt that he delivered a speech yesterday to the German royal family, the ministries, the University of Berlin staff, and other invited guests. Following his address, Emperor Wilhelm II gave a “short stirring speech” and led “three mighty cheers for Theodore Roosevelt” that shook the room. Burgess assures Roosevelt that no such thing had happened there before and suggests that he read newspaper accounts of the address. Finally, Burgess reports that the Roosevelt Room at the University is complete and describes it for the President, noting especially that the portraits “look most imposing” and the room “could not be finer.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-28

Letter from George von Lengerke Meyer to Theodore Roosevelt

George von Lengerke Meyer recounts a series of telegrams sent back and forth regarding his requesting permission to take an after-cure in the mountains to help with his illness. If needed, he will return immediately; otherwise he will remain in Russia until Roosevelt calls on him. Meyer likens Russian’s prejudices against Jews to that of Benjamin R. Tillman’s views on the rights of African Americans. He thinks the next Duma will be radical and that the current quiet in Russia might not last.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-21

Letter from George von Lengerke Meyer to Theodore Roosevelt

Ambassador Meyer writes to President Roosevelt regarding Meyer’s discussion of the Russian situation with French official Maurice Rouvier. Meyer mentions that Rouvier is concerned about the impact of the Russian securities downfall on France’s financial situation, yet German official Bernhard Bülow has a more positive outlook. Next, Meyer describes his dinner meeting with Emperor William II who commented on Roosevelt’s cablegram messages, remarks, and stance regarding a tariff and treaty. Meyer then goes into detail about Russian strikes and the potential plans for deploying Russian Cossack troops to help keep things in order.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-12-06