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President Roosevelt tells Lyman Abbott that the letter from A. M. Fairbairn is a fine one. Roosevelt wishes that Congress would provide for the circulation of volumes of the kind that Abbott mentioned more, but does not believe it will.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-10
President Roosevelt sends Secretary of War Wright the text of two letters written by former Secretary of War William H. Taft that are relevant to the current question involving the purchase of ships. Roosevelt believes that the letters clearly show that most of the questions regarding whether to purchase ships were settled long ago, and the only question currently relevant is what the price for the ships will be.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-29
President Roosevelt discusses an exchange of letters between himself, President-elect Taft, Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, and Secretary of War Luke E. Wright. Roosevelt tells Taft that his feeling is that going forward, if Congress wishes a certain course to be followed it should direct that course through legislation. In the absence of the law, however, Roosevelt feels that the Executive should have a free hand to act as they determine the interests of the United States requires.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-29
President Roosevelt had thought that Commissioner of Indian Affairs Francis E. Leupp had answered Bishop Hare’s letter, but, seeing that he has not, attempts to answer Hare’s question himself. The Department of Justice has had a great deal of internal debate about what the law authorized regarding the matter Hare referred to. Funds appear to have been spent by religious bodies, following a mistaken opinion, and while those funds will be paid out until the end of the current month, the way future funds should be spent will be made clearer. This will be the case unless, Roosevelt, the lawsuit started by Samuel M. Brosius changes things.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-04
President Roosevelt believes any proposition stopping the building up of the navy comes “at the expense of far-seeing patriotism” and finds no justification for it. He directs Representative Foss, chairman of the Committee on Naval Affairs, to ensure this does not occur.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-13
President Roosevelt calls St. Clair McKelway’s attention to an article by Frederick Boyd Stevenson that appeared in the March 13 edition of Brooklyn Eagle. Roosevelt argues that Stevens makes many false statements regarding government expenditures.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-03-17
President Roosevelt comments on false stories that have appeared in the press regarding executive spending. He defends the expansion of the White House as being necessary and the cost of the tennis court as trivial. There was no “personal naval review” that used public money and Roosevelt has used the government yachts, Mayflower and Sylph, sparingly. The yachts are also not exclusive to the president and are used by other government officials. Finally, entertainment at the White House is paid personally by Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-03-14
Bradner F. Bean welcomes Theodore Roosevelt to Los Angeles. Bean tells Roosevelt of his worries regarding the Mexican Revolution, and is of the opinion that peace is the most important thing at this time as he does not want the Panama Canal Exposition ruined by conflict. Money should be be invested in irrigation projects rather than in the military.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-03-20
Secretary of the Navy Metcalf tells Bernard Goldsmith that the Department of the Navy will not pay for the inventor of the Bender Smoke Consumer to travel to the United States.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-16
Secretary of War Taft reports to President Roosevelt on his campaign activities, asks Roosevelt to review an article for The Churchman, and forwards a report on the progress of the Panama Canal. In preparation for a speech, Taft requests a meeting with the head of the Treasury Department to review government expenditures and also expresses his desire to review Judge Parker’s Democratic nomination acceptance letter. Finally, Taft forwards a letter from Cardinal Merry del Val and asks Roosevelt’s opinion on whether he should respond.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-20
Chief of the United States Forest Service Gifford Pinchot writes to Stanford University President Jordan, to follow up on a letter that Jordan wrote to Congressman James Carson Needham. In the letter, Jordan sent a petition from citizens of San Benito County, California, asking that the Pinnacles area be set aside as a National Park. While Pinchot has received reports that this area should be preserved, “its picturesque qualities alone would not warrant the Government in spending money to protect and administer it.” If it is of scientific interest, however, the government would be more justified in doing this, and Pinchot therefore asks Jordan to judge the area’s value to geological science.
1905-02-09
Lawrence F. Abbott writes to President Roosevelt to express his displeasure with remarks made in the newspapers about Roosevelt’s alleged personal and professional spending habits.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-03-17
The sixth draft of a news release with handwritten edits. President Roosevelt formally accepts the Republican presidential nomination. He then reviews several campaign issues and the achievements of his administration, especially focusing on tariffs, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. He also attacks his opponents for their contrary views, especially in regard to downsizing the military and increasing public spending.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-12
A fire at the Treasury Building is billowing clouds of smoke labeled “Deficit.” Nelson W. Aldrich is the fire chief, and he is telling firefighters Stephen B. Elkins, Joseph Gurney Cannon, Sereno Elisha Payne, and Jacob H. Gallinger to send a fire engine labeled “Lower Tariff” back to the station. President William H. Taft and Elihu Root carry a large fire extinguisher labeled “Corporation Tax” and race up the steps of the building, attempting to extinguish the blaze. Caption: Chief Aldrich (at the great Treasury blaze) — Send that engine home! We’ll put her out with the extinguisher!
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1909-07-14
Uncle Sam leans against the rail at a bar, a glass in one hand and a cigar in the other, and looking a little disheveled. A cloth hanging from a pocket is labeled “Deficit.” A bottle labeled “High Protection” rests at his right elbow. The bartender, labeled “Congress,” is represented by the figure of Senator Nelson W. Aldrich, is offering some friendly advice. Caption: “Quit nothin’! Why, a little more of the same’ll make you feel O.K.”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1909-07-07
Uncle Sam uses a pitchfork to pile up money labeled “$160,000,000.00 Yearly” as food for a “U.S. White Elephant” wearing a military hat labeled “Pensions.” Caption: “Has the moth of avarice, the canker of greed, so eaten into the hearts of this generation that they are unmindful of these men? God forbid!” (From Harrison’s speech to the G.A.R. encampment.)
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1893-09-20
Several members of Congress stand around a large Christmas tree labeled “Tax Surplus” decorated with money bags labeled “Surplus.” The legislators carry bags in which to place the bags of surplus they pluck from the tree. Among those identified are Charles W. Jones holding a bag labeled “Naval,” William E. Chandler holding a bag labeled “Subsidies for a Merchant Steam Marine,” William Mahone holding a bag labeled “Public Buildings and Grounds,” John A. Logan holding a bag labeled “Appropriations” and reaching for a sack on the tree, Joseph W. Keifer lifting George M. Robeson holding a bag labeled “Partners in the New Naval Scheme,” John Roach holding a bag labeled “New Navy Scheme,” Henry L. Dawes holding a bag labeled “River & Harbor Bill,” Francis M. Cockrell holding a bag labeled “Improvement of Mississippi River,” Eugene Hale holding a bag labeled “River & Harbor Bill,” John J. Ingalls holding a bag labeled “More Pensions,” Benjamin F. Jonas holding a bag labeled “Improvement of Mississippi River,” and Elbridge G. Lapham who is speaking to two well-dressed women, one holding a bag labeled “Lobby.” Lapham is also depicted in the angel at the top of the tree holding a banner labeled “Help Yourself.” Uncle Sam dances with three men in the foreground and, on the right, a lone “Taxpayer” stands outside in the snow.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1883-12-19