Your TR Source
Theodore Roosevelt writes to his sister Anna Roosevelt about her recent trip to Ireland. He says Ireland is a terrible problem for the English. He also updates her about happenings in Oyster Bay, New York. Daughter Alice has returned home from a visit with her late mother’s family. There is some trouble with the servants. The polo club is doing well, as is baby Ted.
1888-06-10
This article discusses relations between Great Britain and France, as well as the deployment of troops. Because of reports that the French Government has received concerning the Chinese territory along the Tonquin boarder, the number of European troops in Indo-China will be raised to 30,000. The article also notes that there are “vague reports that negotiations are in progress between Great Britain and other European Powers touching the future status of the valley of the Yangtse-kiang, looking to British predominance in the provinces boarding that stream.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-09
William Michael Byrne’s address welcomes John Edward Redmond to the United States and applauds his efforts on behalf of Irish independence.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-25
Transcription discussing creating a universal arbitration treaty between the United States and Great Britain. A treaty between the United States and the Dominican Republic is mentioned. This may be the words of Theodore Roosevelt. There are a number of words missing and a note on page 2 says the subject is continued for 6 more pages of shorthand.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1911
President Roosevelt thanks John St. Loe Strachey for his letter and comments that both of them agree with the great questions between Great Britain and the United States. Roosevelt worries about the rise of socialism in Britain. He also discusses issues of immigration, particularly comparing the race riots in Vancouver, Canada, with those in San Francisco, California.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-09
President Roosevelt agrees with Secretary of War Taft and has removed the reference to receivership from his speech. The “Philippine question” is the only point on which he remains uneasy. He details his thoughts and concerns about the United States’ continued relationship with the islands, including their strategic importance in the event of a conflict with Japan and the issue of granting autonomy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-21
President Roosevelt tells Nathan Bijur that it is difficult for him to understand how prosecuting “certain criminal rich” would affect stock markets around the world, but understands that he will be responsible for the results, whether he deserves it or not. Roosevelt cannot change his Provincetown speech, but will look for the opportunity to make a statement like the one Bijur suggests.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-14
President Roosevelt asks Secretary of State Root about his opinion regarding a proposal by Great Britain at the International Peace Conference at the Hague. Roosevelt is inclined to agree with Admiral Charles S. Sperry’s views.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-29
President Roosevelt approves of the response sent to the Smart Set magazine in response to a request for his endorsement. He says reports of Ambassador Reid’s “ostentation” and other unflattering news reports about official embassy conduct are harmless; he appreciates all the speeches Reid has made in an effort to unite the “right classes” of Americans and English people. Roosevelt agrees with Reid regarding pursuing arbitration in a treaty dispute with Great Britain over fisheries in Newfoundland. He also comments briefly on the result of the trial of Big Bill Hayward, calling it a “gross miscarriage of justice.” Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt appreciates the silver bowl Elisabeth Mills Reid sent as a gift.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-29
President Roosevelt compliments Ambassador Reid’s handling of the international arbitration proposal regarding American fishing rights in Newfoundland. Roosevelt says his chief concern in foreign affairs is the potential hostility between the United States and Japan, either due to “mob leaders” and “yellow journals” in California, or to the lack of foresight in men like Maine Senator Eugene Hale with regard to funding the Navy. Roosevelt is surprised that anyone pays attention to recent negative comments in the news about him made by George Brinton McClellan Harvey.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-26
President Roosevelt appreciated Eleanora Kissel Kinnicutt’s letter and was greatly interested in everything she said.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-25
President Roosevelt tells Ambassador Reid that he has heard from Andrew Carnegie, who heard from members of the British parliament, who heard from the British ambassador to Germany, who heard from Emperor William II that he is building Germany’s navy up against the United States. This story “did not impress [Roosevelt] in the least.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-10
President Roosevelt assures Emperor William II that he does not believe the rumors that the German Empire is building their fleet against the United States. He hears of such rumors on a regular basis against all countries, and they will never cause “more than good-natured amusement.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-08
President Roosevelt thanks Arthur Hamilton Lee for sending Robert Louis Stevenson’s essays. He thinks Lee’s visit accomplished a good deal, and that Viscount James Bryce will do well. The British government has the same issue with Newfoundland that the United States has with California, in that the central government must work with smaller governments to manage foreign policy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-05
President Roosevelt supports the Monroe Doctrine and wants South America to “develop on its own lines, with an open door to all outside nations.” He wishes that the same policy could be applied to China. Roosevelt is saddened by England’s military “decay” and wonders if the Franco-Russian alliance will be permanent.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-10-11
President Roosevelt acknowledges receipt of Ambassador Choate’s letter, and hopes to see him at the White House soon. He is pleased by the Isthmian Canal treaty, and believes Secretary of State John Hay “is already satisfied of having stayed with me.” Roosevelt was interested to read Choate’s account of King Edward VII’s remarks about him, and asks Choate to convey his personal greeting and regards to the King.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-10-09
Thomas T. Wright expresses to Oscar W. Underwood that the U.S. needs more American ships in foreign trade and urges Congress to pass a ship subsidy bill to support the merchant marine and boost the southern economy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-11
Arthur Lee is enjoying his holiday in the Scottish Highlands and feels refreshed after engaging in outdoor recreation. He is glad to hear Theodore Roosevelt is likewise taking pleasure in his leisure. Lee discusses recent British political issues, including debates over Constitutional law and Irish Home Rule. Additionally, he comments on international relations between Morocco, Germany, and France, and the United States’ proposed arbitration treaty with Great Britain. Hopefully, in the near future, he and his wife, Ruth Moore Lee, can travel to the United States and visit the Roosevelt family.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-10
Andrew Carnegie sends President Roosevelt clippings from the London Times and Scotsman that “show how the crisis develops.” Carnegie believes that Great Britain is “helpless to meet the question” because it has to deal with India as well as Japan and thinks the United States can do better with the Japanese than Great Britain.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-11
Attorney Otto Gresham sends President Roosevelt a letter from Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis. Gresham shares his views, as well as the views of various local lawyers and judges, on Landis’s actions and the proceedings of the Standard Oil case. Gresham also summarizes the conversations he had with Landis regarding the potential reversal of the case and the imposition of the fine. After discussing the history of law in Britain, Gresham concludes that the people support Roosevelt in his actions to control the corporations.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-04