Your TR Source
Alice Lee Moqué writes to Theodore Roosevelt requesting assistance in finding employment with the Bureau of Emigration. She has previously worked with the Census Bureau and wishes to apply her credentials to further government work to support her family.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-05-27
Frank C. Williams received an oil painting of President William H. Taft to hang in his office, and requests a similar portrait of Theodore Roosevelt to place alongside it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-05-22
Nora Elizabeth Scanlon’s family is impoverished, and she heard that Theodore Roosevelt is sympathetic to Irish Catholics. She asks Roosevelt to have Postmaster General Frank H. Hitchcock reinstate her husband, Jeremiah Scanlon, to his position as a mail carrier. She also wrote to King George V since she only moved to the United States because her wealthy father was killed during the agitation in Ireland.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-01
Paul F. Krause, a Spanish-American War veteran, asks Theodore Roosevelt to find out why he did not get the postmaster position at Avon Park, Florida, despite his experience.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-01-31
Gifford Pinchot writes to Theodore Roosevelt in Africa to provide a recap of current events. An investigation into Secretary of the Interior Richard Achilles Ballinger and the Forest Service will begin shortly. Pinchot believes that special interests control Congress and President William H. Taft’s administration, whose actions are characterized by “a most surprising weakness and indecision.” Taft has abandoned many of Roosevelt’s policies, and Pinchot sees a rift emerging between Taft and the more progressive elements of the Republican party. Pinchot sends his love to Kermit Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-12-31
Whitelaw Reid encloses a copy of the letter he wrote to President-elect William H. Taft in which he explains why he believes he should maintain his post longer than currently planned. The King of England appreciated President Roosevelt’s speech on British rule in India and mentioned as well that he hoped Reid would remain Ambassador. Reid updates Roosevelt on diplomatic work he has been doing concerning the Panama Canal and Newfoundland.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-22
Richard H. Taylor requests a number of resources, including reports and letters, from William Loeb in order to continue investigating the alleged failure of the International Bank of Coalgate, Oklahoma. The investigation has been progressing admirably thus far.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-02
Daniel J. Keefe is pleased with the election results, especially the efforts of the National Republican Committee Chairman Hitchcock and Assistant Attorney General Ellis. Keefe leaves Thursday for the annual convention of the American Federation of Labor, which he expects will be “a warm one.” He will report anything of interest to President Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-04
John Appleton Stewart, President of the New York State League of Republican Clubs, asks William Loeb if Secretary of War Root might be interested in replacing Senator Thomas Collier Platt. The State League supports it. Stewart discusses the electoral situation in New York, and complains that Frank H. Hitchcock, Timothy L. Woodruff, and others in the Republican state and national committees are not supporting the League or any associated clubs. Stewart points out that in the past, the League and its clubs have done good work for the party.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-12
George W. Brown writes to President Roosevelt after having written many times before to strongly suggest that Chairman of the Republican National Committee Frank H. Hitchcock and Senator Boies Penrose be put in the background for the campaign. Brown feels this is necessary in order to win the support of Civil War veterans and others who associate the men with Representative Thomas S. Butler, who repeatedly failed to defend Roosevelt against bad press and has negatively affected the Congressional District of West Chester, Pennsylvania.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-21
William H. Taft writes to President Roosevelt that he is not sure what effect Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker’s actions will have on the Republican party, and his conciliatory attitude toward Taft is clearly motivated by a potential run for Senate. Taft feels George Barnsdale Cox and his associates are attempting to make him look bad, and he will not risk his position over it. Taft has been writing speeches and an article tackling his beliefs on tariffs. The public wants real change, and there will be less difficulty achieving it than there would have been with the last Congress. Chairman of the Republican National Committee Frank H. Hitchcock is succeeding, but those with Taft despise him and it creates difficulty. Taft has informed New York Republican State Committee treasurer George Rumsey Sheldon not to take money from trust affiliates. Taft updates Roosevelt on his health and his upcoming campaign.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-21
William H. Taft sends President Roosevelt a letter he has sent to Chairman of the Republican National Committee Frank H. Hitchcock, and asks Roosevelt to meet with Hitchcock about it. Taft has been frustrated with T. Coleman Du Pont’s position in the Speakers Bureau, in which he has not been very useful, and Taft reminds Roosevelt that he was not the one who appointed Du Pont.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-22
William L. Ward tells President Roosevelt that Governor Charles Evans Hughes of New York will only speak at his own events and not at those with William H. Taft. Ward hopes Roosevelt has tackled the situation with T. Coleman Du Pont of the Speakers Bureau, and reports that Treasurer of the Republican National Committee George Rumsey Sheldon will follow directions regarding Standard Oil.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-22
Frank B. Kellogg of the Republican National Committee sends President Roosevelt a copy of his letter to Treasurer of the Republican National Committee George Rumsey Sheldon. Kellogg has raised the issue of contributions from trusts with Sheldon, as have William H. Taft and and William Loeb, but Sheldon continues his behavior. If John D. Archbold spoke out about the solicitation, it would cause problems for the campaign. Kellogg has already told this to the Executive Committee, and now writes to Roosevelt with all the facts.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-23
Whitelaw Reid, Ambassador to the United Kingdom, updates President Roosevelt on King of Britain Edward VII’s respectful behavior toward Sultan of the Turks Abdülhamid II. Turkey has embraced British Ambassador Sir Gerard Lowther, who has ended up in a position of power mostly by luck. The German Emperor William II has been recklessly deepening the financial troubles that plague Berlin. Reid does not think Roosevelt will need his Colonel’s uniform for visiting England, and details the appropriate attire. He discusses an agreement made with Chairman of the Republican National Committee Frank H. Hitchcock to send copies of the Daily Tribune to voters in New York. Lord Robert Offley Ashburton Crewe-Milnes has been unavailable due to travel, but Reid should have more information when the next session begins in three weeks.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-23
William H. Taft encloses a letter that is being sent out widely by General Solicitor of the Burlington Railroad James Blythe. Taft discusses the stops on his trip and writes that, based on the reception thus far, he feels the campaign will be a success even if there are still worries about the labor vote. Support for William Jennings Bryan appears to be waning after President Roosevelt’s swift attack. Taft has written to Treasurer of the Republican National Committee George Rumsey Sheldon about avoiding contributions from trust affiliates and instead soliciting businessmen across the country. The election is four weeks away, and Taft is anxious for the speeches and events that precede it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-03
William H. Taft has just returned from an extensive speaking tour in the West and reports to President Roosevelt that on the whole he thinks it went over very well. He is intending not to campaign, but mostly to drum up enthusiasm and excitement. Taft also discusses at length the political situation in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York. He intends to travel next through the South, stopping in Washington, D.C. before returning to Ohio. Taft is optimistic about the campaign and feels that Roosevelt’s letters to William Jennings Bryan have helped immensely.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-09
Secretary of State Root presents his thoughts on matters discussed in President Roosevelt’s previous letters. Topics include whether to send a minister for Abyssinia, Japan’s rescheduling of their planned exposition, Ambassador William Woodville Rockhill’s report on the Lamas, the situation on the Mexican frontier, and the renomination of Governor Charles Evans Hughes.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-23
William H. Taft is glad to see the rough draft of President Roosevelt’s letter to Representatives Henry C. Loudenslager and William Brown McKinley. He has not seen George W. Alger’s article. The New York situation concerns Taft, and he hopes Roosevelt will secure Governor Charles Evans Hughes’ renomination. He has no intentions of making the guaranty of bank deposits an issue and believes the system is erroneous.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-01
President Roosevelt confidentially shares with William H. Taft his feelings on the Republican National Committee’s lack of accomplishment. He believes Taft’s idea for making speeches is wise and counsels Taft to actively put himself in the campaign.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-05