Haiti

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1917-10-26

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Recipient

Ceruti, Edward Burton, 1875-1927

John G. Meehan forwards Theodore Roosevelt a circular by his correspondent in Nassau, Bahamas, Dr. A.P. Holly, titled “The True Conditions in Haiti.” Meehan is a long admirer of Roosevelt and hopes to help him in the future regain the presidency. He is a member of several organizations which would be of service to Roosevelt. He has also worked with the Haitian Secret Service and been involved with the Central and South American revolution.

Comments and Context

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

A list of all men of color appointed to or continued in office by President Roosevelt, complete with the office and date.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01

Lieutenant Governor Guild of Massachusetts delivers a speech at an event commemorating President Ulysses S. Grant in Des Moines, Iowa. Guild reminds Iowans of their special connection to Grant, as Iowa regiments were key in his first great victory of the American Civil War, the Battle of Fort Donelson. Guild points out how Grant’s administration saw the beginnings of a lot of contemporary issues, like the fight between the gold and silver standard, the corruption of machine politics, and the ills of the spoils system. Guild does, however, defend Grant against his harshest critics, stating that Grant did punish many of the instigators of scandals like Credit Mobilier and the Whiskey ring, and that Grant’s idea to annex the Dominican Republic seems less extreme in light of recent South American upheavals.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-04-27

President Roosevelt writes his son Kermit to tell him about his experiences aboard the USS Louisiana (BB-19) while he and Edith sail to Panama.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1906-11-11

Theodore Roosevelt is away, but his secretary will bring George M. Kirkner’s letter to his attention when he returns.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-06-18

On behalf of Theodore Roosevelt, his secretary thanks Irving Fisher for writing to Roosevelt about the Haiti Currency Commission plan.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-03-22

Frederic J. Paxon asks Theodore Roosevelt for his views on John E. White’s statements regarding arbitration and the interpretation of Roosevelt’s position on international treaties.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-14

President Roosevelt introduces his friend, Harry Johnston, to the Naval and Military Officers of the United States currently stationed around Cuba, Haiti, and other Caribbean states. He attests to Johnston’s discretion and judgement, and asks that his wishes be accommodated, so far as is possible.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-04

President Roosevelt tells Harry Johnston that he does not believe that the United States will intervene in Haiti, although he thinks that it ought to. Roosevelt does not like to act unless he can get the support of the American population behind him. In many cases in Central America and the Antilles, it either took a long time for the population to embrace interference or they never became interested. Roosevelt would have liked the United States to act in Venezuela, Central America, and Haiti, but says that people are “not merely blind, but often malevolently blind, to what goes on.” Roosevelt is pleased that Johnston’s impressions of New York are going to be published, and hopes that his thoughts on the Southern United States are likewise published.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-04

President Roosevelt introduces Harry Johnston to the diplomatic and consular officers of the United States in Cuba, Haiti, and other Caribbean countries. He attests to Johnston’s character, and asks that he be given assistance and shown every official courtesy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-04

President Roosevelt approves of “needed reforms,” but their implementation can occasionally bring about minor irritations. For instance, he is now unable to appoint William Bayard Hale to the position where he feels that Hale could do the most good. Roosevelt muses that it may be possible to use Hale as a special agent for Haiti, but it is not likely. The trouble is not that the government does not know what to do for Haiti, but that many people refuse to accept that it is necessary for the United States to “exercise some kind of supervision over the island.” He cites several other instances in which the United States intervened in countries in the Caribbean or Central America, “in each case for the immeasurable betterment of the people.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-03

President Roosevelt encloses letters of introduction for Harry Johnston. While Roosevelt cannot write to Haitians and Santo Domingans, he can write to the American Ministers there; they may be able to assist Johnston.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-27

President Roosevelt was very interested in Harry Johnston’s letter, and hopes that he can visit the United States while Roosevelt is still president. Roosevelt has a slight disagreement with Johnston, saying that there is no objection to a reasonable amount of hunting, and believing that conservation can be best done through the efforts of sportsmen. More than hunting, however, Roosevelt wishes to hear from Johnston about the “many complex problems, which we mean when we speak of the Negro question.” Roosevelt would like to hear about Johnston’s observations of Liberia, and touches on conditions in Haiti and South Africa as well. He says that he knows of no one better to assess the treatment and condition of African Americans in the United States than Johnston. Roosevelt says that, “on the one hand I very firmly believe in granting to Negroes and to all other races the largest amount of self-government which they can exercise,” but he also thinks that some races are not yet ready for full self-government. He looks forward to reading Johnston’s book on the Congo.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-11

President Roosevelt tells his son Kermit Roosevelt that he has been a bit bored on the trip, but he has been reading a lot, and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt has been enjoying herself. The officers and crew have been very good to them. He describes the sight of the three battleships cruising at night and reflects on his current state as president helping to build the Panama Canal. He outlines their typical day. In an entry a few days later, Roosevelt comments on their reaching San Salvador, where Christopher Columbus first landed in the Americas. They are getting closer to Panama and hope to reach it that afternoon, just six days from when they left Washington, D. C.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-11-14

President Roosevelt writes to Owen Wister about a letter Roosevelt received from Judge J. M. Dickinson. Dickinson suggested that while the race question may never be settled, he believes that Roosevelt has helped quiet it for a time. Roosevelt believes that this is a common view in the South. He asserts that while many problems still remain in race relations and universal suffrage, the current situation has improved upon the past.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-03

In response to a letter from William R. Funk about the possibility of a white man, John R. King, succeeding John T. Williams, a black man, as American Consul in Sierra Leone, President Roosevelt tells Secretary of State Root to work with Booker T. Washington to find a “good colored man” for the post.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-30

President Roosevelt has acted on Colonel Lawton’s suggestion regarding the Athens post office. However, his suggestion of naming Deveaux minister to Haiti is not possible. President Roosevelt will look for another position for Deveaux.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-02-19

Joseph-Anténor Firmin describes the political unrest in Haiti to Theodore Roosevelt, noting that several successive governments have usurped power through military means. Firmin is now hoping to seek the presidency of Haiti through democratic means, and reiterates his hope that Roosevelt might endorse his candidacy to the United States government. While Haiti is an independent nation, Firmin feels that a strong relationship with the United States could help improve conditions in the state, and the government’s approval of his candidacy would be a boon to him personally.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-07-25

In the case of a vacancy in the presidency of Haiti, Joseph-Anténor Fermin asks if Theodore Roosevelt would be willing to recommend his candidacy to the American government for its moral support.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-07-24