Your TR Source
Theodore Roosevelt excoriates John W. Foster, saying that Foster’s statements are knowingly false, and stating that Henry White, former ambassador to France, can corroborate his own statements.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-06-13
Theodore Roosevelt refutes John Watson Foster’s public statements about the Bearing Sea Arbitration, particularly those regarding statements made by Secretary of State John Hay on the Alaskan boundary dispute. Roosevelt calls Foster’s statements untruthful and refers to Foster as “dishonorable” and his actions as a “flagrant impropriety.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-06-05
Theodore Roosevelt calls John W. Foster’s attention to several misstatements of fact he made in a recent speech. Roosevelt states that he has always been consistent on the subject of international arbitration, and he explains his positions on the seal industry in the Bering Sea and the Alaskan boundary dispute. Roosevelt does not wish to start a public controversy on the matter but felt that an ex-Secretary of State such as Foster needs to have the record set straight when he publicly misstates facts about an ex-President.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-05-26
Theodore Roosevelt is very sorry that he cannot write a letter for Mary H. Krout as she has requested. However, if she is still in possession of the letter he wrote for her to give to John Hay, Roosevelt suggests that he could make a note upon it expressing how he is still of the same opinion. Roosevelt apologizes for not having known her sister when he met her in Indiana.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-04-28
Theodore Roosevelt thinks Myron T. Herrick is a mighty good man, and he is glad that Herrick made that speech. Roosevelt trusts that Henry Cabot Lodge liked his cordial and enthusiastic endorsement of President Wilson’s message. Roosevelt thinks the step Lodge took related to Senator Smith’s resolution was admirable. Roosevelt has the same information about Charles Evans Hughes that Lodge has, but Roosevelt says there is a considerable feeling that it is unwise to take a candidate from the Supreme Court as this would establish a bad precedent. Roosevelt encloses a nice letter from Gillett, and notes that he has received two letters from men who were Wilson delegates at the Convention and nominated Wilson for president, but who now enthusiastically support him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-12-17
Theodore Roosevelt provides several corrections to William Roscoe Thayer’s article, “John Hay and the Panama Republic.” Roosevelt denies conspiring with Philippe Bunau-Varilla and defends his actions as Colombia could not be treated as a “responsible power.” Had there not been a revolt, Roosevelt was prepared to seize the isthmus by force. However, he took advantage of the situation and stopped the “bandits” from holding up a great project.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-07-02
Theodore Roosevelt instructs Robert Underwood Johnson to write to William Roscoe Thayer about John Hay’s original manuscripts.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-03-30
Theodore Roosevelt advises Gardiner Howland Shaw regarding his future plans, as he will graduate from Harvard in just a few months. (Shaw’s father, Henry Russell Shaw, was a Harvard classmate of Roosevelt’s, and died in 1904.) Roosevelt advises against studying law for a year if Shaw does not intend to be a lawyer. He recommends that Shaw meet with Arthur Dehon Hill, who was district attorney in Boston. If Shaw is ultimately interested in politics, Roosevelt suggests an apprenticeship at a newspaper. Shaw should not look for a diplomatic position until he acquires some experience in local politics.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-01-27
Theodore Roosevelt is doing all he can against the Ship Purchase Bill, and he believes President Wilson is the worst president since President Buchanan, not excepting President Andrew Johnson. Roosevelt says William Roscoe Thayer can use anything he has said about John Hay, as long as he is allowed to look it over first. Roosevelt is looking forward to Thayer’s visit and also enjoyed his article in Harper’s.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-01-27
Theodore Roosevelt mentions William Roscoe Thayer and his book Life and Times of Cavour. Roosevelt knows that Assistant Secretary of State Phillips is acquainted with Thayer and will help him get access to material about John Hay.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-01-15
A full account of Theodore Roosevelt’s actions towards Colombia and the creation of the Panama Canal will appear in two weeks in Metropolitan Magazine. He does not understand Hannis Taylor’s attempts at misrepresenting his actions; he was transparent in the process. As president at the time, Roosevelt takes responsibility for gaining control of the canal zone and beginning construction of the Panama Canal. His actions were in accord with the nation’s treaty obligations, followed American policy precedents towards the region, were ratified by Congress, and were “indispensable to the honor and the interest of the United States.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-01-07
President Roosevelt is delighted with the John Hay letter. He got Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt to read the first four pages. He is equally pleased with Senator Lodge’s speech, and returns the copy of the transcript.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-15
President Roosevelt disagrees with several statements Secretary of State John Hay wrote. While Hay was one of the most “delightful characters” Roosevelt had ever met, he found Hay lacking leadership qualities as a Secretary of State. Roosevelt provides Senator Lodge with his view of the Alaska Boundary dispute in 1903. He includes copies of the letters Roosevelt wrote to Judge Oliver Wendell Holmes and Henry White to show to British Secretary of State for the Colonies James Chamberlain and Prime Minister James Arthur Balfour. Roosevelt explains why certain appointments were made following the death of President William McKinley and details for why Hay was not consulted on matters concerning the Russo-Japanese War and the acquisition of Panama.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-28
President Roosevelt is pleased that Ambassador Griscom will be returning to the Untied States, and praises his diplomatic career. He hopes that Griscom will remain in politics, and believes that he will do well.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-28
President Roosevelt introduces Francis B. Loomis, F. J. V. Skiff, and Francis Davis Millet to Kentarō Kaneko. The men will form the Commission to the upcoming Tokyo Exposition.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-29
President Roosevelt thanks Baron Kentarō Kaneko for the letters and telegrams they have exchanged, and sends him a copy of the bill that was finally passed regarding the American commission to the Japanese exhibition. Roosevelt believes that they have been able to meet Kaneko’s hopes for the law, and that it was done in the correct spirit. Roosevelt and Secretary of State Elihu Root both worked hard to make sure that the bill was passed. F. J. V. Skiff, Francis Davis Millet, and Francis B. Loomis have been appointed commissioners, and Roosevelt offers to have them visit Tokyo as soon as their visit would be useful. Skiff and Millet have had past experiences with Worlds Exhibitions, and may be able to give valuable insight.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-13
President Roosevelt informs Secretary of State Root that he believes that a particular circular should be withdrawn, and that another should be substituted for it. Roosevelt understands that it was a document similar to other government circulars, where it was prepared by a staff member and then simply signed by Root, but thinks that as it currently stands it is misleading.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-01-23
President Roosevelt tells Clara Louise Stone Hay he was was pleased to see her son Clarence L. Hay. Roosevelt will return most of her deceased husband’s, Secretary of State John Hay’s, letters to her, and send a few to Henry Adams.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-02
President Roosevelt has enclosed the letters of former Secretary of State John Hay, now deceased, that he believes Henry Adams can make use of. Roosevelt may have more at Oyster Bay, but does not know if they would be of any use to Adams.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-04
In a letter to Elihu Root (and possibly intended for a wider audience), President Roosevelt gives his perspective of his conflict with the recently-recalled Austrian Ambassador Bellamy Storer. Embedded within the letter are reproductions of private letters between President Roosevelt, members of his administration, and Storer. The letters detail the saga of the Storers’s push for Archbishop Ireland to become Cardinal and the fracturing of their friendship with the Roosevelts.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-02