Your TR Source
President Roosevelt regretfully declines Robert P. Brown’s invitation, because he cannot leave Washington while Congress is in session.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-01-27
President Roosevelt is very glad that there is an effort underway to preserve the house in Rome where John Keats died. He tells Robert Underwood Johnson that he thinks it would be appropriate to buy the house and establish a memorial to Keats and Percy Bysshe Shelley.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-01-05
President Roosevelt affirms that the letter that Osborne Howes published, which was allegedly from Senator Lodge to the late Secretary of State John Hay, was “an impudent forgery.” Lodge’s answer to Howe regarding the correspondence is “true in every detail.” In each letter to Hay, Lodge qualified his promise of support for the fishing treaty by saying he would only support it if the treaty was satisfactory to Gloucester.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-12-20
Following up on a telegram stating that in light of George Haven Putnam’s certainty that there is no copyright infringement, William Loeb sends President Roosevelt’s foreword for the volume of Abraham Lincoln’s writings.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-09-26
In response to press reports regarding Herbert Wolcott Bowen’s false statements about the relationship between Assistant Secretary of State Loomis and the late Secretary of State John Hay, President Roosevelt assures Loomis that Hay spoke highly of him and strongly condemned Bowen.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-09-27
President Roosevelt regrets that he cannot accept Charles Franklin Thwing’s invitation to speak. He is going to have to follow the example of his late Secretary of State John Hay and limit his speaking engagements.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-09-29
President Roosevelt tells Carl Schurz that Czar Nicholas II wants to appear to take the initiative for calling the second peace conference at The Hague and would like Roosevelt to allow him to do it. Roosevelt is amused at this turn of events, but happy to allow him to do so, as he wants the conference to be called but does not want the reputation of “professional peacemaker.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-09-18
President Roosevelt has heard that the heirs of John Hay and John G. Nicolay are contesting Putnam’s Sons’s right to publish an edition of Abraham Lincoln’s writings. Roosevelt hopes that George Haven Putnam will do what is right in the situation, but states that in light of his relation to John Hay, he cannot author the prologue in question without the heirs’ consent.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-09-22
President Roosevelt reflects on the peace between Japan and Russia, especially discussing the Russian diplomat Sergei Witte and the future of Russia. He believes that Russia needs to take steps towards liberty and self-government. Roosevelt also tells George Otto Trevelyan about several books he has been reading and thanks him for his letter about the late Secretary of State John Hay. Roosevelt wishes that Trevelyan could come stay at the White House, and hopes that when his term as president is done, he can travel around the world as a private citizen, without having to attend official functions.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-09-12
President Roosevelt asks whether or not Brander Matthews knows French Ambassador J. J. Jusserand personally. He will read Howell’s article and Matthews’s speech on recently deceased Secretary of State John Hay. Roosevelt comments on how “mean and foolish” the novel Democracy is.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-09-02
President Roosevelt asks that Cecil Spring Rice give his regards to Lord Henry Charles Keith Petty-FitzMaurice Lansdowne. Roosevelt writes at length about the current state of international affairs and of relationships between different nations. He feels that it is not in Japan’s interest to extend the Russo-Japanese War for another year and explains his actions in pressing for peace negotiations between the two powers. Roosevelt also discusses his efforts urging the United States to interpret the Monroe Doctrine in an active way and remarks upon the recent death of Secretary of State John Hay.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-07-24
President Roosevelt was very interested in Senator Lodge’s talk with Belgian King Léopold II. Roosevelt also liked Lodge’s thoughts of John Hay, although he feels that they should not be melancholy, as Hay had had a long, successful life. He reflects on his choice of Elihu Root as the new Secretary of State. There is no new information regarding the Russian and Japanese peace negotiations. Roosevelt is enjoying his time at Oyster Bay with his family.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-07-18
President Roosevelt thanks Reverend Abbott for writing to him. He feels the death of former Secretary of State John Hay “bitterly” for both personal and public reasons, but what he must now “make good” is the public loss. He will not stop Secretary of War William H. Taft from going to the Philippines, but is having difficulty managing the State Department by himself. He wishes he could find help for the peace negotiations between Japan and Russia, as well as for San Domingo and Venezuela. If William J. Calhoun is willing to go to Venezuela, Roosevelt will send him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-07-03
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-07-11
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
President Roosevelt tells Senator Lodge of his sorrow at the death of John Hay, who, while not flawless as Secretary of State, he greatly respected. He believes Elihu Root will be a good Secretary of State. Roosevelt updates Lodge on the progress of arranging peace talks between the Japanese and Russians, as well as his part serving as an intermediary between France and Germany. Newspapers are speculating that Root agreed to join the cabinet as a step towards the presidency, but Roosevelt feels that Secretary of War William H. Taft may make a better candidate.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-07-11
President Roosevelt thanks King Edward VII of Great Britain for his expression of sympathy at the death of Secretary of State John Hay.
Secretary of State John Hay died on July 1, 1905, of complications with his heart. He had been sick for some time. President Roosevelt would issue a proclamation announcing Hay’s death, and directing flags to be flown at half mast, on July 3.
President Roosevelt sends Clara Louise Hay his deepest sympathy for the recent death of her husband, Secretary of State John Hay.
Secretary of State John Hay died on July 1, 1905, of complications with his heart. He had been sick for some time. President Roosevelt would issue a proclamation announcing Hay’s death, and directing flags to be flown at half mast, on July 3.
President Roosevelt informs Clara Louise Hay that he will notify the members of his cabinet that he hopes they will be able to serve as honorary pallbearers at the funeral of former Secretary of State John Hay. He plans to attend the funeral himself as well, and asks that Clarence L. Hay, the son of John and Clara Hay, let him know as soon as it is scheduled.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-07-01
President Roosevelt asks Caspar Whitney for more information about Herbert Wolcott Bowen’s claims, including if Bowen expressed them in a letter. Roosevelt tells Whitney Bowen wrote him a letter saying he did make the statements about Assistant Secretary of State Francis B. Loomis and showed papers to representatives of the Herald. Roosevelt is disgusted by Bowen quibbling about the word “charges,” as it was obvious Bowen was making charges even though he did not use the word.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-12
President Roosevelt tells Caspar Whitney that thus far the facts against Assistant Secretary of State Francis B. Loomis have not convicted him of the charges made by Herbert Wolcott Bowen. However, “positive testimony” has convicted Bowen of gossip against a superior officer, which he furnished to newspapers. Roosevelt believes this is a very grave offense and that there is “no room for a difference of opinion about his conduct.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-08