Governmental investigations

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Ethan Allen Hitchcock

President Roosevelt explains to Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock that he is writing again because  another issue has been raised in regard to Hitchcock’s earlier letter. Roosevelt questions why an exhibit has been provided to him by the Department of the Interior which appears to have been done without Hitchcock’s knowledge. He would like a report from Inspector Edward B. Linnen as to why he sent in the exhibit and what purpose it served. Also, it appears details have been leaked to the press that falsely hold Roosevelt responsible for ordering the investigation into the matter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-24

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Ethan Allen Hitchcock

President Roosevelt would like to know what he should do with the affidavits Ethan Allen Hitchcock gave him regarding the management of the General Land Office, particularly Assistant Commissioner George F. Pollock. Roosevelt would like to give them to the incoming Commissioner Richard Achilles Ballinger so he can conduct a thorough investigation and clean out the office.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-23

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Carter P. Johnson

President Roosevelt instructs Captain Johnson to proceed to the Uintah Agency to investigate why the Ute Indians left their reservation and the basis of their complaints.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-21

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Albert Johnson

President Roosevelt feels that Governor Johnson has made a strong case for Alvah Eastman, and has directed an immediate investigation and report from the War Department. He will ask the department to send their results to the Congressional Committees on Military Affairs.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-14

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Marshall L. Mott

President Roosevelt will meet with Marshall L. Mott when Congress has adjourned, though he does not think there is anything more to be said. He has written to Charles Nagel, and directed Secretary of the Interior Ethan Allen Hitchcock to take up charges against Dawes Commission member Tams Bixby.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-12

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to M. C. Butler

President Roosevelt thanks former Senator Butler for his “commendation of my message,” and appreciates the praise from Sir Hubert. Roosevelt notes that his northern friends are troubling him over the recent military incident in Brownsville, Texas involving the African American 25^th infantry regiment as much as “I ever had with my southern friends over the southern situation.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-12

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Wilson

President Roosevelt introduces Secretary of Agriculture Wilson to social reformer and immigration investigator Frances Kellor, who may present the note in person or send it to him. Kellor has provided the president with guidance in regard to immigration laws, and “thru her agents obtains special reports on conditions affecting various Departments of the Government.” Roosevelt asks Wilson to carefully consider Kellor’s advice regarding the current investigation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-10

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Philander C. Knox

President Roosevelt asks Attorney General Knox to read and return some newspaper clippings. He believes they must be “more than careful” not to build up an Anti-American Native Faction in Hawaii, and wishes they could send someone out there to report on the situation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-10-09

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Hugh Smith Thompson

President Roosevelt will carefully look into the case of Lieutenant Preston Brown.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-10-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Ethan Allen Hitchcock

President Roosevelt has examined the papers related to Dr. Austin M. Curtis of Freedman’s Hospital and has a high opinion of Paul Laurence Dunbar. He would appreciate Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock looking into the case.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-10-01

Letter from Edward Thompson to Theodore Roosevelt

Edward Thompson thanks Theodore Roosevelt for his reply but regrets he can’t follow his advice. He hopes Roosevelt will still help fix what he sees as an unfair situation in the Canal Zone.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-12

Letter from Alford Warriner Cooley to Theodore Roosevelt

Alford Warriner Cooley reports to President Roosevelt of his visit to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Although the conspiracy was formed in New Mexico, Cooley observes that the main case can be brought in the District of Columbia because the overt act was committed there. Cooley details his conversation with George Curry, who expects to see the president in Saint Louis, Missouri, on October 1. After Albert B. Fall and William H. H. Llewellyn leave, Cooley does not expect to have any difficulties in New Mexico.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-10

Letter from Joseph Bucklin Bishop to Theodore Roosevelt

Joseph Bucklin Bishop tells President Roosevelt that Colonel George W. Goethals was pleased with the excavation in August, but that the showing will not be as good in September due to holidays. Bishop updates Roosevelt on the work of the Isthmian Canal Commission, including careful examination of a report that criticizes its conduct.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-09

Letter from Frank Sigel Dietrich to Charles J. Bonaparte

Judge Dietrich informs Attorney General Bonaparte he had asked for a large panel of seventy jurors and informed the U.S. Marshal to avoid any appearance of bias. Dietrich also reports on developments regarding the judge to be appointed for the Idaho land fraud case. He reached out to several judges before eventually deciding on Judge Edward Whitson, an outside judge which will give the appearance of fairness. The decision was “entirely satisfactory to all parties here.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-07

Letter from Frank Sigel Dietrich to Charles J. Bonaparte

Judge Dietrich reports to Attorney General Bonaparte on discussions he has had with the parties and special government counsel regarding the outside judge to be appointed in the Idaho land fraud cases. All parties agreed to Judge Edward Whitson, but Dietrich is not sure all would agree to Judge William Henry Hunt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-06

Letter from Charles J. Bonaparte to Theodore Roosevelt

Attorney General Bonaparte sends President Roosevelt letters from United States Attorney Edwin Walter Sims and Assistant Attorney General Marsden C. Burch along with a clipping about Special Assistant U.S. District Attorney Grace Humiston (Mrs. Quackenbos). Bonaparte thinks his statement will suffice until he gets to Chicago, but the press will likely attack them anyway. It puzzles Bonaparte that Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis does not see that going back on the matter the would be exactly what Standard Oil wants.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-05

Letter from Charles J. Bonaparte to Theodore Roosevelt

Attorney General Bonaparte tells President Roosevelt that District Attorney Edwin Walter Sims has asked for a postponement in Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis’s case, perhaps due to Landis’s behavior. The press covering Secretary of State Elihu Root and Thomas Fortune Ryan has been sensationalized, and Bonaparte feels it is unfortunate that Root is taking the blame on the whiskey situation. Bonaparte will get an update from Department of Justice Agent Peyton Gordon about Agent Ormsby McHarg. As he will be traveling, Bonaparte sends his forwarding address. He encloses telegrams from Assistant Attorney General Marsden C. Burch regarding Judge Frank Sigel Dietrich.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-04

Telegram from Charles J. Bonaparte to Theodore Roosevelt

Attorney General Bonaparte has heard from Assistant Attorney General Marsden C. Burch that Judge Frank Sigel Dietrich has asked Judge William B. Gilbert to bring in another judge for the senator’s trial. Judge William Henry Hunt has been suggested. Bonaparte asks for President Roosevelt’s input before he responds to Dietrich.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-04

Letter from John E. Wilkie to Charles J. Bonaparte

Secret Service Chief Wilkie decodes and forwards two telegrams from Assistant Attorney General Marsden C. Burch to Attorney General Bonaparte. The first confirms the present parties and the forthcoming report. The second confirms that District Attorney N. M. Ruick is behaving, and asks that Bonaparte wait for further information before asking Judge William B. Gilbert to send another judge.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-03

Letter from Charles J. Bonaparte to Theodore Roosevelt

Attorney General Bonaparte sent President Roosevelt a draft of the telegram to United States District Attorney N. M. Ruick. Bonaparte shares his thoughts about the intentions of the press in attacking him and gives an update on the International Harvester Company trust prosecution. Additionally, Bonaparte comments on Special Assistant Attorney General Ormsby McHarg and the conference of attorneys general.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-26