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President Roosevelt informs Governor Curry of New Mexico of his upcoming discussion with Ormsby McHarg. Roosevelt insists Curry’s subordinates meet standards of honesty. He requests Curry look into former Governor of New Mexico Territory Herbert J. Hagerman’s use of public money and supposes that Willard S. Hopewell and George W. Pritchard have already been removed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-09
The writer challenges the pessimistic view of the degradation of American society, including quotes from President James Roscoe Day of Syracuse University and Chancellor Henry S. Drinker of Lehigh University.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-29
President Roosevelt’s former classmate, James Ford Rhodes, reflects on Roosevelt’s administration and how it will be viewed by history. He believes three points will endure: the man whose critics called him a champion of war has become a peace keeper; Roosevelt has set a high standard of honesty in public service, and has inspired good young men to enter into politics; and his presidency has favored neither the rich nor the poor, but administered justice to both. Rhodes also reflects on the lives of the rich, comparing America’s wealthy with others in history, particularly those of the Roman Republic and Empire. He believes the Americans are better because of the use they make of their wealth. While the ancient Romans dedicated themselves to lives of sensual pleasure, the modern Americans live simply and give to educational and charitable causes.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-16
Henry Bazeley Wolryche-Whitmore congratulates President Roosevelt on the election and wishes him a happy second term. Wolryche-Whitmore explains his wife, Harriet Douglas Robinson Wolryche-Whitmore, is in New York with her mother, Francis Monroe Robinson, so Roosevelt may very likely see her.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-10
As President Roosevelt holds a “dishonest” brand on a stick labeled “special message to Congress,” he chases a man holding “dishonest wealth,” “illegal discrimination,” “watered stocks,” “stock gambling,” and “dishonest corporation methods.” The man says, “The public and the courts be ‘d–d.'” In the background, “Congress” says, “Oh I’m so afraid somebody will be hurt!”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-02-01
President Roosevelt is depicted as Ben-Hur and drives a chariot of four horses: “public honesty,” “square deal,” “publicity,” and “centralization.” He leads the chariot race. Behind him are “swollen fortune” and a “reactionary.” On the ground are an “undesirable citizen” and a “molly-coddle.” In the stands are Miss Columbia, William Loeb, Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker, Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon, Pennsylvania Senator Philander C. Knox, Secretary of War William H. Taft, Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks, New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes, and Secretary of the Treasury George B. Cortelyou.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-18
President Roosevelt throws horseshoes at “honesty.” “Fair Deal” has landed squarely on the stake, and Roosevelt holds another labeled “National honor” in his hand. “Tariff reform,” “equal rights,” and “corporation control” are all on the ground beside him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-05
A caricatured, dark-skinned President Roosevelt takes several bites out of a “strenuous politics” watermelon outside of the United States Capitol building. There are a variety of phrases on the watermelon: “peace terms for Russia & Japan,” “no war taxes in times of peace,” “square deals,” “honesty in politics,” “uniting the North & South,” “ousting the political grafters,” and “anti-trust crusade.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-09-02
President Roosevelt agrees with Charles Vezin that there is no difference between public and private dishonesty. Roosevelt provides a recent example of a wealthy and respected business man who would have preferred settling the Anthracite Coal Strike with bribery rather then the formalized settlement which was achieved.
1903-09-10
President Roosevelt tells Sir George Otto Trevelyan of his happiness regarding the recent 1904 presidential election, and remarks that he is glad people decided to support the positive message of the Republican Party, rather than the negativity of the Democratic Party. The president attributes his victory to the clear-cut message in his speeches and addresses as well as those canvassing for him. Roosevelt discusses the differences between the American president and other political leaders and believes the American president is more like the British prime minister than the French president. he additionally reflects on his intention not to run for a third term. Even without the convention of only two terms, the president believes it would be better for Secretary of War William H. Taft or Elihu Root to succeed him; they are similar in policy, but would have fresh thoughts and ways. Roosevelt concludes by discussing his recent reading. He praises a section from one of Abraham Lincoln’s speeches after his reelection and equates certain American political leaders to characters in Charles Dickens’s works.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-24
Theodore Roosevelt does not remember the event fully, but believes Hawes was a good soldier who at that time behaved with honesty.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-05-31
Theodore Roosevelt turns down a request for a joint debate. Roosevelt is concerned about political honesty.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1914-11-30
President Roosevelt chastises Norman Hapgood for his inability to answer when and to whom Roosevelt allegedly spoke to, allegedly “telling them something and then later denying the statement.” Hapgood deliberately misunderstood William Loeb’s request for this information, and Roosevelt believes that Hapgood wrote this statement knowing it was false.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-29
President Roosevelt writes to Melville Elijah Stone because he has heard a rumor that Elmer E. Paine is to be replaced as a reporter at the White House because of his truthful reporting on the “Mrs. Morris affair.” Roosevelt defends Paine and his reporting and makes it known that he “should feel in the strongest way his change under these circumstances.” Roosevelt feels that Paine’s removal would signal that reporters should not report the truth and does not want them to be punished for being honest.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-05-08
President Roosevelt accepts Joseph L. Bristow’s resignation as fourth assistant postmaster general only because Bristow is remaining in government service in another capacity. He deeply appreciates Bristow’s work in “cleansing the Post Office Department of corruption.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-16
President Roosevelt agrees with Charles Vezin that there is no difference between public and private dishonesty. Roosevelt provides a recent example of a wealthy and respected business man who would have preferred to settle the Anthracite Coal Strike with bribery rather then the formalized settlement which was achieved.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-09-10
Vice President Roosevelt shares his opinions about Senators Marcus Alonzo Hanna, Matthew Stanley Quay, Thomas Collier Platt, and George W. Dunn. His main supporters are farmers, upper class mechanics, small businessmen, and others who oppose populism.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-08-27
Alfred E. Stearns, principal of Phillips Academy, reminds Secretary of War Stimson of their discussion about extending the scope of activities regarding honesty in the boys outside the classroom. The executive committee of the Head Masters Association agreed to have it as a prominent topic for the upcoming meeting and want Theodore Roosevelt to present on it. Stearns asks Stimson to suggest this to Roosevelt and encloses a list of the Association’s schools and headmasters. He gives updates on the academy’s building projects.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-11-07
George Gardner Rockwood shares an amusing anecdote with Theodore Roosevelt about George W. Perkins’ stenographer’s quip of “and Teddy did it” in response to “honesty is the policy.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-01-11
George Heber Jones relays for David Thompson a conversation he had with Prince Itō Hirobumi, the Japanese Resident General of Korea, wherein the Prince praised President Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-01