Governmental investigations

Theodore Roosevelt encloses a letter from someone in “sore straits” and asks William Loeb to look into the matter. Roosevelt has heard that various Congressional committees are investigating his presidential actions relating to Tennessee Coal and Iron, the Sugar Trust, and the Panama affair. He knows there is nothing to investigate but wants to have the facts at hand so no one can accuse him of forgetting a trivial detail. Roosevelt is particularly interested in locating a letter he wrote to Charles J. Bonaparte discussing the Tennessee Coal and Iron matter.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1911-06-02

William Loeb has seen that Theodore Roosevelt has been invited to appear before the House Committee. He thinks it would be outrageous if Roosevelt is subpoenaed and is unsure of the propriety of examining an ex-President regarding his official acts. Loeb is opposed to Roosevelt appearing either voluntarily or involuntarily. He believes a principle is at stake for Roosevelt and his successors. The committee could acquire all relevant information from Charles J. Bonaparte and Elihu Root. The letter to Bonaparte that Roosevelt is looking for can be found in the letter press copy book at Sagamore Hill and is likely dated November 5, 1907.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1911-06-03

Theodore Roosevelt believes that William Loeb followed the right course regarding Dawson. Roosevelt met with the congressional committee and enjoyed the session at least as much as they did.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1911-08-05

Theodore Roosevelt asks William Loeb to find the letters at Sagamore Hill and submit them to the committee. He also requests that Loeb search for evidence that Roosevelt wrote to Mr. Sheldon and William H. Taft protesting against contributions from the Standard Oil Company before the 1908 election. Loeb should also testify about the Edward Henry Harriman incident and the meetings with John D. Archbold if he recalls them.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1912-09-11

Theodore Roosevelt has decided that it would be better for him to take the letter books to the committee. William Loeb can submit copies and should travel to Oyster Bay, New York, to find and examine the letter books. Loeb should not copy the letters from Frank B. Kellogg related to political contributions from the Standard Oil Company. Roosevelt will submit these letters himself. Roosevelt does not believe that Loeb was present at the John D. Archbold interviews but he was present during the Edward Henry Harriman interview. He recalls Harriman requesting funds from the National Committee for Mr. Higgins’s election, as well as requesting that Chauncey M. Depew be appointed Ambassador to France. Roosevelt asks if Loeb’s recollection of the meeting is similar.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1912-09-15

Theodore Roosevelt wishes it could be arranged for their testimonies to be near the same time. He requests William Loeb’s opinion on his plan for Loeb to present copies of the telegrams sent to George B. Cortelyou followed by Roosevelt presenting the letter books with the letters to Mr. Sheldon and William H. Taft from 1908. Roosevelt would like Loeb to look through the letter books and see if there are any other letters that should be submitted.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1912-09-21

Governor Roosevelt will look into the Samuels case and has not received the photograph mentioned in Jacob A. Riis’s letter of March 12. In a handwritten note to Mrs. Wald, Riis assures her that the Samuels case is in good hands.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1900-03-16

A spider labeled “Interstate Commerce Commission” has caught in its web labeled “The Law” a large fly labeled “Harriman.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

As the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) recently had been empowered with teeth — or, in Udo J. Keppler’s cartoon analogy, pincers and a fuller ability to weave webs — it really was unknown whether the railroad trusts or government regulators would prevail in the early showdowns.

Theodore Roosevelt is dressed as an elderly woman, wearing furs, and holding on to a strap labeled “The Outlook” on a crowded streetcar. He is addressing the Republican elephant labeled “G.O.P.” sitting on a seat next to a small child labeled “Taft” who is holding a toy dog labeled “Tariff Board.” Caption: “Madam, are you going to permit that child to keep his seat and let ME stand?”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1912-03-27

Secretary of the Treasury Shaw has reviewed the case of John C. Lynch, Collector of Internal Revenue at San Francisco, and believes that the only objections are political but it might be advisable to turn the case over to the Civil Service Commission. Shaw would also like to travel to New York to review matters concerning the “big ships” if this does not interfere with President Roosevelt’s plans.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-03-06

President Roosevelt would like information for his investigation of the Post Office Department.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-03-10

Representative Jenkins believes that the public will not tolerate a delay by Congress in investigating the Anthracite Coal Strike.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-10-08

Charles E. W. Smith suggests that a commission of men familiar with the actual mining of anthracite coal be created to investigate the Anthracite Coal Strike and inform the public.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-10-10

Republican National Committee Chairman Cortelyou forwards to President Roosevelt a letter from Oliver D. Wilkerson about alleged abuses in the Bureau of Pensions. Cortelyou asks Roosevelt and William Loeb to quietly investigate the allegations at the request of Wilkerson so as not to raise concerns before the election.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-03

Postmaster General Wynne discusses the post office investigation that occurred from 1903 to 1904, during which he discussed the issue of how to handle George W. Beavers with President Roosevelt. Wynne states he understands why Roosevelt was interested in the investigation, and that it was worthy of Roosevelt’s attention.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-03-01

A report detailing the results of an investigation into the Baliwag, Balacan, school system.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-05

An investigation into the St. Louis post office under the administration of former Postmaster F. W. Baumhoff ended in a scathing report. Representative Richard Bartholdt recommends further investigation and employees expect a “big shakeup.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-03-03

Postmaster General Payne responds to President Roosevelt’s inquiry concerning the investigation of Assistant Postmaster General Perry S. Heath’s connection with the post office irregularities. Payne encloses recent correspondence between himself and Joseph L. Bristow, Fourth Assistant Postmaster General.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-01-29

General Wood requests a copy of Eugene Frederick Ladd’s testimony before the Senate Military Committee. The Committee has been investigating Wood’s handling of Cuban affairs while he was military governor of Cuba.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-01-22

Eugene A. Philbin informs President Roosevelt that the Ellis Island Commission has carefully gone over their report and removed all ambiguities about the administration of immigration laws at Ellis Island. Philbin believes that George B. Cortelyou’s criticisms were unnecessarily harsh but hopes that their revisions meets with Roosevelt’s approval.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-01-25