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President Roosevelt finds Attorney General Bonaparte’s letter to United States District Attorney N. M. Ruick admirable. Unfortunately, Francis J. Heney is unable to take the case. Roosevelt encloses a letter from Idaho Governor Frank Robert Gooding. The press has turned its attention to Secretary of State Elihu Root, who has been in poor health.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-27
President Roosevelt sends an editorial for Attorney General Bonaparte to comment on, as well as a rough draft of his speech for the Pilgrim Monument in Provincetown, which he asks Bonaparte to read and comment upon as soon as possible. Roosevelt discusses the railroad rate case in North Carolina, bemoaning the “yellow press” coverage of the situation. In the matter of the case against Idaho Senator William Edgar Borah, Roosevelt agrees with Bonaparte and the action that must be taken, but feels obligated to meet with Borah’s representatives.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-02
President Roosevelt shares his thoughts regarding the upcoming presidential election and the land fraud case against Idaho Senator William Edgar Borah with William Allen White. Roosevelt outlines his personal reasons for supporting Secretary of War William H. Taft for president as well as the political considerations necessary to secure his nomination. In the case of Borah, Roosevelt would like White to come to Oyster Bay to discuss the matter with him and Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte; Roosevelt thinks it would look bad for Borah to come himself, and asks White to bring Borah’s lawyers on August 9.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-30
President Roosevelt explains his opinion to Lyman Abbott on several points on which they disagree. First, Roosevelt would interfere on behalf of the Armenians if they were willing to fight. Second, he is currently trying to form an agreement with Japan that would prohibit laborers from each country immigrating to the other. However, he feels that all the Japanese already in the country should be given “the franchise and school facilities,” and treated as well as possible. Third, he is “not well acquainted with the situation in Utah,” but thinks Mormons should be treated exactly as anyone else. He does understand the situation in Idaho, which was not about Mormonism. McLain W. Davis’s claims regarding polygamy among Mormons in Idaho were investigated and found baseless.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-03
Attorney General Bonaparte updates President Roosevelt on matters regarding United States District Attorney N. M. Ruick, the prosecution of the International Harvester Company, and affairs in Oklahoma. He is greatly concerned about reports of Secretary of State Elihu Root’s health. Territorial Governor of New Mexico George Curry intends to appoint David J. Leahy as assistant attorney general of the territory. Bonaparte feels obligated to inform Roosevelt of this appointment as Leahy is possibly “one of the persons about whom there has been complaint by the Interior Department.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-29
Billings F. Cash informs Attorney General Bonaparte that he is convinced that Calvin Cobb and Governor Frank Robert Gooding were involved in timber fraud. The special agents involved in this case – Gorman, Goodwin, and O’Fallon – connected this timber fraud case to a senator who is serving as the prosecution in the trial of the murder of Governor Frank Steunenberg.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-23
President Roosevelt writes his son Kermit to report on victories for the Republican Party in the last elections, especially beating William Randolph Hearst in New York State. Roosevelt and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt are traveling to Panama, and Ted has come home from Harvard due to abscesses on his leg.
1906-11-07
President Roosevelt will instruct Secretary of War William H. Taft to go to Idaho to speak in support of Governor Frank Robert Gooding against “those dynamiters and thugs” as he seeks reelection.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-15
President Roosevelt summarizes a variety of opinions about judicial appointee candidates in Idaho, and urgently asks Calvin Cobb for his opinion of them.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-18
President Roosevelt would like to talk to Gifford Pinchot about Governor Frank Robert Gooding’s note about the grazing bill and forest reserves. Roosevelt believes they must be cautious in the creation of new reserves.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-09
President Roosevelt does not know if he is more proud of what Secretary of State Elihu Root did in New York or what Secretary of War Taft did in Idaho. He describes some of the Democratic competition in New York. He proposes that the Democratic Party should dissolve because it has been shamed in New York and Idaho. Roosevelt sometimes wishes “I was not in the White House and could be on the stage and speak frankly!”
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 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 sends his congratulations to Calvin Cobb and Idaho Governor Frank Robert Gooding. He is proud of Secretary of War William H. Taft’s speech in Idaho and Secretary of State Elihu Root’s speech in New York that helped with the election of Governor-elect Charles Evans Hughes.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-08
President Roosevelt recounts the recent Congressional election wins across the country. He applauds the replacement of some Republican leaders in New York and Idaho. He is glad several border states near the South have also done well. Roosevelt and his wife Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt are heading to Panama soon. Their son Ted has come home from Harvard after six weeks there and seems to be “deprest.” He cannot play football on account of his leg and is not popular among his classmates due to his arrest, but he appears to be doing well in his studies.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-07
President Roosevelt thanks his daughter Alice Roosevelt Longworth for the birthday present of the glasses. He congratulates her and her husband Nicholas Longworth on his campaign. He recounts his wishes for reelection of Idaho Governor Frank Robert Gooding. He also is glad Samuel Gompers is no longer in power.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-07
President Roosevelt is delighted with the army’s preparations under Secretary of War Taft. He thanks Taft for sending Judge Advocate General George B. Davis’s opinion on the right to intervene in Cuba. However, if intervention is necessary, he would “not dream of asking the permission of Congress.” He regards the treaty as the law and he “shall execute it.” Roosevelt requests Taft give speeches in Colorado and Idaho.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-17
President Roosevelt cannot write a personal letter for Progressive candidate for governor of Colorado Philip Battell Stewart and tells Republican State Chairman D.B. Fairley not to publish his letter. Roosevelt believes Secretary of War William H. Taft will be of help in the gubernatorial races in both Colorado and Idaho.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-17
President Roosevelt has heard that Idaho Governor Frank Robert Gooding has received contributions from mine owners to help in the prosecution of the alleged murderers of ex-Governor Frank Steunenberg, and tells Idaho Statesman owner Calvin Cobb that if this is true it would represent “the grossest impropriety.” The government must show that it is a neutral party and is not working on behalf of either the mine owners or the Western Federation of Miners. Roosevelt has previously condemned labor unions sending money to the accused, and just as strongly condemns capitalists sending in money to support the prosecution. He asks that Cobb show this letter to Gooding.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-20
President Roosevelt tells Calvin Cobb that he appreciates what Idaho Governor Frank Robert Gooding is trying to do in trying to bring the murderers of ex-Governor Frank Steunenberg to justice. Roosevelt believes that the Western Federation of Miners has been conducting a reign of terror on many Rocky Mountain states, and recognizes the risk that Gooding is in in trying to prosecute them. While Charles S. Moyer and Big Bill Haywood deserve a fair trial, Roosevelt believes that their “black record of wrong-doing” should get them no sympathy. He hopes, however, that Gooding will act against both the Western Federation of Miners on the one hand and the corporations on the other, and not fall into the errors of former Colorado Governor James Hamilton Peabody.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-16