Your TR Source
President Roosevelt apologizes to Jesse Watson for being unable to recall which companies he signed with for his books. He also does not know the valuation of special editions or the letter Watson refers to.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-20
President Roosevelt requests Secretary Root send back his letter related to the recalling of Minister Bellamy Storer. Roosevelt thinks that they should support Thomas I. Chatfield for a judge position in Brooklyn largely based on support from members of his cabinet and congress. The president tells Root that he will appoint Chatfield unless the secretary feels “there are very strong reasons to the contrary.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-08
President Roosevelt has received Senator Platt’s letter, and while he is not yet ready to announce his decision to nominate Charles M. Hough for a judgeship in New York, he disagrees with Platt’s assertion that his preference of J. Addison Young should be enough to tip the scales in Young’s favor. He furthermore does not understand how Platt can say that Roosevelt’s preference for Hough over Young is an “affront,” and rebukes Platt, saying that his duty as the president is to nominate a candidate, and the Senate’s duty is to confirm or not confirm that candidate, with both bodies trying to find the best person for the position. Neither Platt nor Roosevelt himself should let individual preferences affect who they determine to be the best candidate.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-17
President Roosevelt thanks District Attorney Stimson for the letter and copy of the opinion. He praises Stimson and Judge Charles M. Hough.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-05-16
President Roosevelt tells Secretary of War Taft the names of the men he is appointing to the West Point Board of Visitors.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-01-03
President Roosevelt describes to Mark Sullivan the considerations that have gone into his selections for federal judgeships. Roosevelt reviews his appointments in detail, noting that some were made at the request of the local organization and some against their wishes. The goal in each case was to appoint someone “of the high character, the good sense, the trained legal ability, and the necessary broad-mindedness of spirit…essential to a good judge.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-05-13
President Roosevelt passes along Charles Burlingham’s note to Representative Herbert Parsons, who is also a lawyer. Assuming Roosevelt nominates Judge George Holt, he has asked Parsons to discuss the matter with District Attorney Henry Stimson and Judge Charles Hough.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-04-29
President Roosevelt congratulates United States Attorney Stimson on a case he just concluded against the New York Herald and its owners. He also applauds what United States District Court Judge Charles M. Hough said in court.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-04-12
President Roosevelt was delighted by Judge George C. Holt’s letter, and informs him that his support for Judge Charles M. Hough was one of the deciding factors prompting Roosevelt to stand by him in the face of opposition. Roosevelt asks if Hough has shown Holt any of Roosevelt’s correspondence with Senator Thomas Collier Platt concerning the nomination, as he has asked him to do so.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-06
President Roosevelt is pleased that Judge Townsend is in favor of Charles M. Hough’s appointment, and hopes that they can get him confirmed. He additionally appreciates Townsend’s kind words, but tells him he will have to vote for another presidential candidate in 1908.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-21
President Roosevelt feels it is necessary to send Senator Platt one more letter on the matter of appointing a judge to the Southern District of New York, given Platt’s previous letter. William Loeb has not written to friends of J. Addison Young on the necessity of saving face for Herbert Parsons, and would not have had any authority from Roosevelt if he had done so. Roosevelt was concerned with pleasing Parsons, but was more concerned with Platt’s opinion, and would have been pleased if the facts had shown J. Addision Young to be a better candidate than Charles M. Hough for the position. Roosevelt emphasizes, however, that he has put no one’s opinion on the matter above getting the best candidate, and has not been trying to humiliate Platt in any way.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-18
President Roosevelt asks what Senator Platt’s objections to Judge Charles M. Hough are, as he has been recommended to Roosevelt “in the highest terms by the lawyers and judges who should be particularly well qualified to speak.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-13
President Roosevelt agrees with Senator Platt that Thomas I. Chatfield is a good candidate, but he is not from the correct district in New York, which could cause problems if he were appointed. Concerning the other candidates, Roosevelt believes that Charles M. Hough best meets the requirements. While there had been concern regarding Hough’s connection with the Pennsylvania Railroad, Roosevelt has come to the conclusion that they do not impact Hough’s qualifications for the position, and that he can be trusted to deal with corporations fairly. Roosevelt encloses three letters supporting this position.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-08
President Roosevelt was impressed by Robert C. Morris’s straightforward letter to Senator Platt explaining he did not want to be considered for a Federal judgeship. The sentiment in New York is in favor of appointing Charles M. Hough. Roosevelt has looked into Hough’s connections with the Pennsylvania railroad and has not found anything objectionable, and so feels that he ought to be appointed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-06
President Roosevelt thanks F. V. Greene for his testimony about Davis, and says that he has not yet made up his mind about who to appoint. He is leaning towards choosing Charles M. Hough, and comments that Representative Herbert Parsons is anxious to have his advice followed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-05
President Roosevelt trusts Charles C. Burlingham’s judgement, but explains that he not only has to consider Charles M. Hough’s character, but also how the public might view him. While Roosevelt is sure that he would be a good judge, his connection with railroad interests might harm his reputation with the public, as Roosevelt has seen happen with some judges in western states. Roosevelt does not believe he will appoint George W. Alger, but encourages Burlingham to read his articles in the Atlantic Monthly and then get in contact with him, as Roosevelt believes Alger could be of some use.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-05
President Roosevelt wishes he could have seen Senator Platt before Platt left on vacation, as he would have liked to discuss the question of the New York judgeship with him. Roosevelt does not believe Robert C. Morris fits the requirements of the position, but is reluctant to appoint Charles M. Hough because of his ties with the Pennsylvania Railroad. Roosevelt comments on some other candidates as well, and guesses that he will be able to write to Platt on the matter more definitively in a couple days.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-02
Austin V. Cannon invites Theodore Roosevelt to deliver the annual address at the convention of the Commercial Law League of America. Cannon briefly mentions a history of the organization, those who have delivered the address in the past, and some of the prominent members of the organization.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-03-06
New York State Representative Parsons was pleased to see President Roosevelt’s statement regarding apportionment, and asks William Loeb to thank Roosevelt for considering Judge Charles M. Hough for the Board of Visitors at West Point.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-06-19
New York attorney Edwin A. Jones acknowledges receipt of William Loeb’s note, which included words from Senator Thomas Collier Platt regarding the United States judgeship. Jones gives his opinion about possible appointees, noting that he favors J. Addison Young over Charles M. Hough. Jones has encouraged Young’s friends to seek support from Representative Herbert Parsons in order to increase Young’s chances of being appointed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-19