Harriman, Edward Henry, 1848-1909

President Roosevelt responds to a letter from Nicholas Murray Butler that had criticized Roosevelt’s recent message to Congress. Roosevelt was not surprised by the letter, as Butler had been moving away from Roosevelt’s policies for the past year or two. While Roosevelt’s message did upset some people, he says that his real supporters have strongly supported it, and that he has received many letters to that effect. Roosevelt believes that he has done the right thing in speaking out against corruption in politics and business.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-06

President Roosevelt tells Paul Morton that the things that Roosevelt wanted to talk to him about are not enough to warrant him coming back. Roosevelt had been feeling angry over some of the antics of Standard Oil and the Edward Henry Harriman crowd. Roosevelt believes that Morton is correct in what he said about Secretary of War William H. Taft and William Jennings Bryan.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-01-28

President Roosevelt comments to Benjamin Ide Wheeler, President of the University of California Berkeley, regarding a letter from H. T. Cory. In the matter that Cory mentioned, Roosevelt wants to treat Edward Henry Harriman as generously as he can. Roosevelt would not discriminate against Cory for being an official or tool of Harriman unless he actually was one.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-01-30

President Roosevelt discusses recent attacks made against him by Supreme Court Justice David J. Brewer. He considers Brewer one of the “corporation judges” who are naturally given to work against Roosevelt, and so appreciated William Allen White’s kind letter more than he was concerned by Brewer’s comments. Roosevelt is more concerned that individuals like Edward Henry Harriman and John D. Rockefeller would see to use and perhaps exacerbate the current economic crisis to undermine his presidency and turn public opinion against him. Roosevelt closes by asking that White keep this letter private.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-26

President Roosevelt is happy to hear that Lawrence F. Abbott likes the design for the new $10 coin, but he is even more excited for Abbott to see the $20 coin which he considers one of the most beautiful modern coin designs. Roosevelt is amused by the Supreme Court’s recent decision declaring a bill passed by New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes as constitutional, although he is not surprised. He notes that his opponents tend to automatically declare any of his laws unconstitutional even if they have been approved by the Supreme Court.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-27

President Roosevelt diagnoses the root cause of the current financial crisis as the public’s lack of confidence caused by the revelations of corrupt practices among several prominent businessmen. In fact, Roosevelt believes such a crisis was inevitable in light of dishonest business practices, and that his policies merely exposed them sooner than expected. Despite this, Roosevelt cannot regret his decisions and can only resolve to do what he can to restore confidence.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-16

President Roosevelt agrees with Douglas Robinson’s assessment of the financial panic discussed in a previous letter. While Roosevelt has done what he can to improve the crisis and restore the public’s faith in the economy, the actions of businessmen like Edward Henry Harriman have done too much to undermine people’s trust in American financial systems.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-19

President Roosevelt does not wish to interfere in New York State judicial politics, but feels the New York State Court of Appeals has been unwise in its treatment of laborers and could benefit from the addition of judges who interpret the law broadly and use it to protect working class people. Roosevelt fears there will be dangerous consequences if corporations continue to control the court, and he does not want the tabloid press to use this opportunity to paint themselves as “champion of the plain man.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-28

President Roosevelt forwards to Attorney General Bonaparte the Interstate Commerce Commission’s report, letters, and a map on the Edward Henry Harriman matter. He suggests that Bonaparte publish the report at the same time he announces the law suit. In a postscript dated July 11, Roosevelt responds to a letter he received from Bonaparte in the meantime. He expects to be “in an awful row” regarding Ulysses S. Bratton. He discusses the timing of Alexander McDonald McBlair’s and Mary Tayloe Key’s marriage, as it relates to McBlair’s responsibilities in the Oregon land fraud cases. He praises Bonaparte’s handling of the tobacco case. Finally, he alerts Bonaparte that Senator William Peters Hepburn wants to speak with him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-10

President Roosevelt directs the Interstate Commerce Commission to withdraw its authorization to publish the report regarding Edward Henry Harriman. The Commission should not have released this report until Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte acted upon it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-12

President Roosevelt is glad to hear more about Senator Knox’s address at Yale, especially his reference to the Girondists. He wants people to understand that “to be moderate does not mean to be timid.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-06-24

In the event that a move must be made against Edward H. Harriman, President Roosevelt would like to employ Francis J. Heney, former U.S. District Attorney for the District of Oregon.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-06-26

President Roosevelt responds to William Emlen Roosevelt and is sorry to hear that Roosevelt will not be able to join him on his travels. Roosevelt tells his cousin that he is interested in the prediction of bad crops, as it is contrary to other predictions he had heard several months prior. Roosevelt predicts that if there is not a good harvest this year then farmers will blame the railroads, and railroads will blame the government. Theodore Roosevelt uses this as justification for why government needs to regulate the railroads to protect industry and agriculture in the United States.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-05-27

President Roosevelt responds to a letter from William Henry Jackson, sent on behalf of the Cook County Moyer-Haywood-Pettibone Conference. Jackson had taken exception to an earlier letter in which Roosevelt had referred to several people, including Charles H. Moyer and Big Bill Haywood, as “undesirable citizens.” Roosevelt stands by his description of Moyer, Haywood, and Eugene V. Debs as undesirable citizens, although he assures Jackson that his statement was not an attempt to influence the outcome of the trial of Moyer and Haywood for the murder of former Idaho Governor Frank Steunenberg.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-22

President Roosevelt has seen the article sent by Paul Tuckerman and believes the writer to be ignorant of some facets of the subject on which he writes. Economic instability is less caused by the administration’s policy toward the railroads and more by the mischief of people like railroad executive Edward Henry Harriman in the financial industry.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-16

President Roosevelt enjoyed Ernest McGaffey’s book, and would like him to autograph it. He is pleased to hear of McGaffey’s political views.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-17

President Roosevelt reminds his cousin Emlen Roosevelt that Fitz Gerald applied to a civil service position and that he must “enter as others enter.” Roosevelt discusses the Edward Henry Harriman matter and believes as long as Harriman and his supporters continue to run things there will always be a “upsetting of Wall Street.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-05

President Roosevelt informs Kermit Roosevelt about the unseasonal weather they have been experiencing in Washington. He updates Kermit on his physical activities, including riding and tennis, and the family bulldog Pete, who they might rehome due to his behavior. Roosevelt hopes to complete five speeches before his visit to the Jamestown Ter-centennial, when he can take a short break.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-07

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-08

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Recipient

Patterson, Thomas MacDonald, 1839-1916

President Roosevelt informs Nicholas Murry Butler that he is unable to speak at the National Arbitration and Peace Congress, citing that it would not change public opinion concerning the episode regarding Edward Henry Harriman. However, he has sent a written message to be read at the Peace Congress instead. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-09