Hitchcock, Ethan Allen, 1835-1909

Charles L. Davis, superintendent of Sullys Hill National Park, encloses for George W. H. Davis a report from Secretary of the Interior Ethan Allen Hitchcock which will shed light on the park’s status. Davis notes that Hitchcock did not request appropriation for the park. He believes that the North Dakota delegation should demonstrate more interest in the park and makes the case for the park’s importance. It has geological and historical significance, and with the right financial support it could become a popular recreation site for North Dakotans.

Collection

White Horse Hill

Creation Date

1905-01-24

James G. Lewis explains how deforestation in China became a central part of President Theodore Roosevelt’s last annual message to Congress in December 1908. Lewis notes that Roosevelt’s conservation efforts had been increasingly thwarted by Congress in the last two years of his administration, and Roosevelt decided that he needed to make a strong case to Congress in his last message. Roosevelt used the example of what had happened to China’s soil, rivers, and climate after massive deforestation had rid many of its mountains of trees and vegetation. Roosevelt relied on evidence, eyewitness accounts, and photographs supplied by Frank Nicholas Meyer and Willis Bailey to emphasize the damage done in China. Lewis notes that Roosevelt was the first president to add photographs to his annual message. 

Five photographs appear in the article, including three of deforestation in China, a similar scene from Utah, and one of Meyer. 

A composite image in which President Roosevelt sits on horseback, surrounded by Secretary of Agriculture James Wilson, Secretary of the Interior Ethan Allen Hitchcock, and General Henry Clark Corbin.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1901-11-15

President Roosevelt would like Commissioner of Indian Affairs Leupp’s opinion of Assistant Attorney General James Clark McReynolds before deciding if the disagreement between the two should be referred to Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-15

In this chapter excerpt from his book John Muir and His Legacy: The American Conservation Movement, Stephen Fox examines efforts to expand Yosemite National Park, the battle between preservationists and conservationists over the use of forests, and provides portraits of John Muir, Gifford Pinchot, John Burroughs, and Theodore Roosevelt. He looks at the work undertaken by the conservation movement to preserve Niagara Falls, the redwood forests of California, and Mount Desert Island in Maine. Fox concludes the chapter with a look at the battle over the city of San Francisco’s desire to build a dam at the southern end of Hetch Hetchy valley in Yosemite National Park. In addition to looking at the life and work of Muir, the chapter provides information on many lesser known figures in the turn of the twentieth-century conservation movement.

A listing of the officers and the members of the executive, finance, and Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace committees of the Theodore Roosevelt Association is found on the second page of the excerpt.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

David Eugene Conrad examines the relationship between President Theodore Roosevelt and retired naval officer George T. Emmons. Roosevelt made Emmons “his principal adviser on Alaska,” and tasked him with helping to resolve a boundary dispute with Canada and with examining the condition of Native American tribes who were suffering at the hands of white settlers and miners. Conrad notes how Roosevelt used Emmons to go around the federal government bureaucracy, especially in the Department of the Interior. He stresses Emmons’s concern for the plight of the native tribes of Alaska, and he notes that some of his recommendations to Roosevelt were made into law by acts of Congress. 

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1977

President Roosevelt looks out of his office at members of his cabinet standing on stumps: Secretary of Commerce and Labor Oscar S. Straus, Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte, Secretary of State Elihu Root, Secretary of Agriculture James Wilson, Secretary of the Navy Victor Howard Metcalf, Secretary of War Luke E. Wright, and Secretary of the Interior Ethan Allen Hitchcock. Roosevelt says, “Durn the luck.” Caption: Every member of his cabinet on the stump and he can’t get into the game.

comments and context

Comments and Context

The long-time political cartoonist of the Minneapolis Journal (and remembered as founder of a successful correspondence school of cartooning), Charles Lewis “Bart” Bartholomew pictured a situation that was known to all citizens, and regretted by many, not least President Roosevelt himself. There was a strict precedent and tradition against presidents campaigning in person — with few exceptions for themselves (somehow seen as not dignified), but never for candidates down the ballot lists; and certainly not for candidates in elections where a successor would be chosen.

President Roosevelt looks on as members of his 1906 cabinet laugh at papers with the heading, “Storer.” One chair is empty, and there are pictures on the wall of Postmaster General Charles Emory Smith, Secretary of the Navy John Davis Long, Secretary of the Treasury Lyman J. Gage, and Attorney General Philander C. Knox, all from 1901.

Comments and Context

This political cartoon by Clifford Kennedy Berryman, with its typically awkward depictions of public figures, addresses not the general composition of President Roosevelt’s cabinet, although it was within a week of this cartoon that Oscar S. Strauss succeeded George B. Cortelyou as Secretary of Commerce and Labor, the latter moving to the Treasure portfolio.

It rather has to do with the denouement of a protracted and embarrassing contretemps between Roosevelt and erstwhile friends and political sponsors, Bellamy and Maria Longworth Storer of Cincinnati. The wealthy Storers of Cincinnati, friends of William H. Taft of their city, had a home in Washington, D.C., where they hosted friends like Taft when he was President Benjamin Harrison’s Solicitor General. They attached themselves to Taft’s friend Theodore Roosevelt, too, when he became Civil Service Commissioner in 1889.

Secretary of State Elihu Root, Secretary of War William H. Taft, Secretary of the Navy Charles J. Bonaparte, Attorney General William H. Moody, Secretary of the Treasury Leslie M. Shaw, Postmaster General George B. Cortelyou, Secretary of Commerce and Labor Victor H. Metcalf, Secretary of Agriculture James Wilson, and Secretary of the Interior Ethan A. Hitchcock all march out of the “White House” and to the “keeper of the gags.” There is a large sign that reads, “Notice! By order of the President the members of the cabinet will resume their muzzles on leaving the White House.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-10-23

“The Press” tries to walk toward the “cabinet” car, which includes Secretary of State Elihu Root, Secretary of the Treasury Leslie M. Shaw, Secretary of War William H. Taft, Attorney General William H. Moody, Secretary of Agriculture James Wilson, Secretary of the Navy Charles J. Bonaparte, and Secretary of Commerce Victor H. Metcalf, but “Headkeeper” William Loeb holds “the big stick” and tells him to stop. There is a dove of “peace” on the car and a sign that reads, “This way to the stuffed bears and mountain lions.” President Roosevelt rides away on an elephant.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-10-22

All of the cabinet officers stand in a circle, have gags in their mouths, and point at one another: Secretary of State Elihu Root, Secretary of War William H. Taft, Secretary of the Navy Charles J. Bonaparte, Attorney General William H. Moody, Secretary of the Treasury Leslie M. Shaw, Postmaster General George B. Cortelyou, Secretary of Commerce and Labor Victor H. Metcalf, Secretary of Agriculture James Wilson, and Secretary of the Interior Ethan A. Hitchcock.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-04

Cabinet officers march out of the “White House” with each one holding an axe: Secretary of State Elihu Root, Secretary of War William H. Taft, Secretary of the Navy Charles J. Bonaparte, Attorney General William H. Moody, Secretary of the Treasury Leslie M. Shaw, Postmaster General George B. Cortelyou, Secretary of Commerce and Labor Victor H. Metcalf, Secretary of Agriculture James Wilson, and Secretary of the Interior Ethan A. Hitchcock. A bald eagle looks on and says, “Gee whiz!” Caption: Shade of George Washington!

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-10-18

“The Press” looks a number of cabinet officers who have gags in their mouths: Secretary of State Elihu Root, Secretary of War William H. Taft, Secretary of the Navy Charles J. Bonaparte, Attorney General William H. Moody, Secretary of the Treasury Leslie M. Shaw, Postmaster General George B. Cortelyou, Secretary of Commerce and Labor Victor H. Metcalf, and Secretary of the Interior Ethan A. Hitchcock. The “White House” is in the background. Caption: “Think twice before you speak, then talk to yourself.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-10-19

President Roosevelt holds up two fingers and talks to his cabinet: Secretary of State John Hay, Secretary of War William H. Taft, Postmaster General George B. Cortelyou, Secretary of the Treasury Leslie M. Shaw, Attorney General William H. Moody, Secretary of the Interior Ethan A. Hitchcock, Secretary of Agriculture James Wilson, and Secretary of Commerce and Labor Victor H. Metcalf. There is a bear skin with two holes on the wall.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-05-14

President Roosevelt holds a rifle as he and Secretary of the Interior Ethan Allen Hitchcock, who holds a “U.S. game bag,” walk on the “Oregon Hunting Grounds” toward the “big game section.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-02

Indian Commissioner Leupp informs William Loeb that Oklahoma Representative Dennis T. Flynn told Secretary of the Interior Ethan Allen Hitchcock about the “shocking” habits of Frank C. Frantz, who may be made governor of Oklahoma. Flynn said that he would tell President Roosevelt the same story and make the accusations to Frantz’s face. Leupp hastily suggests that, as Flynn is leaving town tonight and Frantz is arriving tonight, Roosevelt invite both men and have them face each other today.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-23

William J. Arkell introduces William G. Tiffany to President Roosevelt, and vouches for his character. Tiffany wishes to get water from Walker Lake in Nevada for Tonopah and Goldfield, but needs consent from President Roosevelt and Secretary of the Interior Ethan Allen Hitchcock. Arkell mentions that Governor John Sparks of Nevada is also anxious for this to occur, and believes that although Sparks is a Democrat, granting this would bring benefits to Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-24

Former New Mexico Governor Herbert J. Hagerman sent many private telegrams at public expense, which this newspaper article suggests reveals his corruption. Several personal telegrams are reprinted. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-15

Dr. Jordan forwards to Congressman Needham a petition from several residents of San Benito County, California, to set aside lands containing the Pinnacles and establish them as a National Park. Jordan encloses a map of the proposed park, the book A Voyage of Discovery to the North Pacific Ocean by George Vancouver, who describes the area, and a book of photographs of the area. Jordan endorses the effort to create this National Park and asks Needham to pass along the request to Secretary of the Interior Ethan Allen Hitchcock.

Collection

Pinnacles National Park

Creation Date

1904-04-23

Stanford University President Jordan tells Schuyler Colfax Hain that he has been informed by Secretary of the Interior Ethan Allen Hitchcock that the Pinnacles have been withdrawn from sale, with the aim of designating them as a public park.

Collection

Pinnacles National Park

Creation Date

1904-05-23