Goethals, George W. (George Washington), 1858-1928

President Roosevelt informs President-Elect Taft about a “scrape” regarding ships that Congress authorized to have purchased for the Panama Canal against the wishes of Chief Engineer George W. Goethals. The ship owners insist that the War Department approved the bill’s passage with knowledge that Goethals protested. Secretary of War Luke E. Wright is reluctant to sign off on something that is a mere promise, and not a direction, from Congress against the wishes of canal officials. Roosevelt asks Taft to see Wright and himself, if necessary, to explain what he said on the matter when he was Secretary of War.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-23

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt tells Joseph Bucklin Bishop that he does not need to worry because Jackson Smith is leaving the Isthmian Canal Commission. Regarding the “scandalous articles” Bishop enclosed, Roosevelt notes that those types of articles are bound to appear, but he does not “care a snap of [his] fingers for them.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-05-23

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt tells Joseph Bucklin Bishop that he joins George W. Goethals and the rest of the Isthmian Canal Commission in their enthusiasm over Harry H. Rousseau’s marriage. He will not punish Rousseau for marrying Gladys Fargo Rousseau against her parents’ wishes and instead wishes to promote him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-17

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt informs Colonel Hodges that he reluctantly approves the Panama Canal Commission rejecting all bids and re-advertising for contracts. Roosevelt urges the Commission to be mindful that rejected bidders often do not bid again, and other bidders sometimes benefit. The Commission should not do anything that will arouse suspicion and discourage honest contractors from bidding on government work.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-09

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt would be glad to write to George W. Goethals to see if there is work that Walter S. Cash could do in Panama, but says that Cash needs to give him a more specific statement of the kind of work that he is looking for and what his qualifications are.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-25

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt sends William Emlen Roosevelt some letters from George W. Goethals for him to read and return. Secretary of State Root is of the opinion that James Alexander Scrymser is impossible to deal with because of the frequent haggling, but Roosevelt thinks that Goethals’s proposals were reasonable.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-12

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt encloses a letter from Colonel George W. Goethals for Secretary of State Root. As Roosevelt understands the situation, the State Department has assumed the position that Panama has no authority over the entryways into the canal or the canal itself, which is entirely under United States control.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-12-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt tells Fairfax Henry Wheelan he cannot write for positions under the Isthmian Canal Commission because he has so many requests. The president can, however, bring Albert P. Wheelan’s application to Chairman of the Isthmian Canal Commission George W. Goethals’s attention.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-12-10

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt thanks Secretary to the Isthmian Canal Commission Bishop for updating him on the situation in Panama and agrees with the policy changes Bishop has suggested. Without knowing exactly to whom General Counsel Richard R. Rogers allegedly made disparaging comments about his administration, Roosevelt is unwilling to take action against him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-27

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt tells Joseph Bucklin Bishop he will change his upcoming message to reflect the changes requested by Bishop and Colonel George W. Goethals. Roosevelt will ask for the Isthmian Canal Commission members to be appointed in the order Bishop suggests, and will ask for the design specifications Bishop mentions to be carried out by government workers. Roosevelt asks Bishop to give his regards to Goethals.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10-25

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt tells Secretary of War Taft that he will have Frank H. Hitchcock come to see him about comments he had made against Taft’s candidacy for president. Roosevelt says William Loeb has the same suspicions Taft does, but on the other hand, an enclosed clipping reports Hitchcock being attacked for appearing to promote Taft’s candidacy. Roosevelt will appoint Taft’s selection for Quartermaster General, James Buchanan Aleshire. In a lengthy postscript, Roosevelt says he is annoyed with complaints that the construction of the Panama Canal is being mismanaged, and reminds Taft to send him information about John K. Beach.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-01

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

After serious review, President Roosevelt asks Chairman Shonts whether to accept a bid for the construction of the Panama Canal under the present contract or to reject all bids entirely. Roosevelt cites that the two most desirable bids, McArthur Syndicate then William J. Oliver and Anson M. Bangs, fit all the requirements with exception to “the least expense of the Government” due to the bidders’ desire to split profits with investors. Roosevelt also informs Shonts of the resignation of John F. Stevens, chief engineer of the project, and solicits to have him replaced with Major George W. Goethals, who agrees with Roosevelt and Stevens that a new contract must be drafted. In the meantime, he requests that the Commission reject the two bids aforementioned. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-26

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt writes to Henry S. Pritchett about the construction on the Panama Canal. Roosevelt says that the construction is going well but laments the resignation of Chief Engineer John F. Stevens.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-01

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt tells Secretary of War Taft that the memorandum written for Pierce was “most remarkable” and that Taft should take it into account when responding back with the reasons for rejecting any bids.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-22

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-10

Creator(s)

Jusserand, J. J. (Jean Jules), 1855-1932

Recipient

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Language

English

Joseph Bucklin Bishop explains why he did not make more of an effort to correct statements in Hayden Talbot’s article about the Panama Canal. Bishop was instructed to ensure that Talbot did not put words in George W. Goethals’s mouth, and did not feel that he could censor Talbot by going further. Bishop will not be able to see Theodore Roosevelt before he sails for Panama, but mentions that his son Farnham is moving to New York to start a literary career and asks if Roosevelt can help him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-07-23

Creator(s)

Bishop, Joseph Bucklin, 1847-1928

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-30

Creator(s)

Bishop, Joseph Bucklin, 1847-1928

Recipient

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Language

English

H. B. Decius finds Theodore Roosevelt’s “noble life” and editorials inspiring. He comments on the work of Roosevelt, Lyman Abbott, and George W. Goethals in building the island possessions of the United States. Decius discusses how the average citizen depends on the wisdom of The Outlook to understand and act on issues of national and international importance.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-13

Creator(s)

Decius, H. B.

After reading Theodore Roosevelt’s editorial comment on Hayden Talbot’s article in The Outlook, Joseph Bucklin Bishop says that he read Talbot’s article on the Panama Canal before it was published. He tried to get him to change the statements that Roosevelt criticized, but he left them in. Bishop believes that the change in leadership at the canal will be pleasing to Colonel George W. Goethals. Bishop hopes to see Roosevelt before he sails for Panama.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-07-19

Creator(s)

Bishop, Joseph Bucklin, 1847-1928

Joseph Bucklin Bishop did not receive Theodore Roosevelt’s letter until General Ian Hamilton left. However, George W. Goethals, Governor of the Panama Canal Zone, showed Hamilton most of the work. Bishop is touched that Roosevelt remembered his longing for the northern spring. He will inform Roosevelt when he and his wife, Harriet Hartwell Bishop, arrive in New York City, and they can have a “good talk.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-24

Creator(s)

Bishop, Joseph Bucklin, 1847-1928