Your TR Source
President Roosevelt would like to talk to Gifford Pinchot about Governor Frank Robert Gooding’s note about the grazing bill and forest reserves. Roosevelt believes they must be cautious in the creation of new reserves.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-09
President Roosevelt congratulates Idaho Governor Gooding on his reelection. Roosevelt asked Secretary of War William H. Taft to visit Idaho because he believes Gooding is “a champion of that spirit of American liberty.” He does not regard Gooding’s victory more highly than that of Charles Evans Hughes in New York but rather applauds them both for helping to work against tyranny.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-27
President Roosevelt thanks his daughter Alice Roosevelt Longworth for the birthday present of the glasses. He congratulates her and her husband Nicholas Longworth on his campaign. He recounts his wishes for reelection of Idaho Governor Frank Robert Gooding. He also is glad Samuel Gompers is no longer in power.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-07
President Roosevelt recounts the recent Congressional election wins across the country. He applauds the replacement of some Republican leaders in New York and Idaho. He is glad several border states near the South have also done well. Roosevelt and his wife Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt are heading to Panama soon. Their son Ted has come home from Harvard after six weeks there and seems to be “deprest.” He cannot play football on account of his leg and is not popular among his classmates due to his arrest, but he appears to be doing well in his studies.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-07
President Roosevelt thanks Charles Sprague Smith for his congratulations on the election results. He is glad Charles Evans Hughes was able to get enough support to be elected Governor of New York. He was astounded by the New York Times‘ editorial response to the election results.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-07
President Roosevelt encloses several letters from Secretary of War William H. Taft to explain the current situation in Idaho.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-08
President Roosevelt sends his congratulations to Calvin Cobb and Idaho Governor Frank Robert Gooding. He is proud of Secretary of War William H. Taft’s speech in Idaho and Secretary of State Elihu Root’s speech in New York that helped with the election of Governor-elect Charles Evans Hughes.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-08
President Roosevelt does not know if he is more proud of what Secretary of State Elihu Root did in New York or what Secretary of War Taft did in Idaho. He describes some of the Democratic competition in New York. He proposes that the Democratic Party should dissolve because it has been shamed in New York and Idaho. Roosevelt sometimes wishes “I was not in the White House and could be on the stage and speak frankly!”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-08
President Roosevelt asks Senator Lodge to review his speeches, and states that it is best to attack “Hearstism” and “Moranism” without naming anyone. For Roosevelt is aiming his criticism “more at agitators, at corrupt or sinister or foolish visionaries, at reckless slanders in the newspapers and magazines, and at preachers of social unrest and discontent,” rather than any political movement as a whole, because he sees that all matters, of labor or capital, should be met fairly. Roosevelt also shares his thoughts about Republican candidate Charles Evans Hughes and the upcoming election for governor of New York.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-16
President Roosevelt was greatly amused by a cartoon depicting Secretary of War Taft and sends it to him along with words of support for the handling of the recent events in Cuba. Roosevelt wishes to meet with Taft in person about the nomination of Horace H. Lurton to the Supreme Court, along with Supreme Court Justice William R. Day, Secretary of State Elihu Root, and Attorney General William Henry Moody. Roosevelt mentions that Philip Battell Stewart will not run for governor in Colorado, and wonders if Taft can make it to Idaho for a campaign speech.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-04
President Roosevelt feels Philip Battell Stewart, candidate for governor of Colorado, was right in his stand. He finds it unfortunate that at times the Republican party is put in the position of championing improper corporate influences, especially as it weakens the party’s other platforms.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-25
President Roosevelt sent Speaker of the House Cannon’s letter to Frank P. Sargent and Edgar E. Clark. He suggests Cannon write to Senator Boies Penrose about the John Mitchell matter. Going forward, Roosevelt directs Cannon to be careful about directly attacking labor leader Samuel Gompers and instead emphasize the administration’s recent accomplishments on behalf of labor.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-17
President Roosevelt is delighted with the army’s preparations under Secretary of War Taft. He thanks Taft for sending Judge Advocate General George B. Davis’s opinion on the right to intervene in Cuba. However, if intervention is necessary, he would “not dream of asking the permission of Congress.” He regards the treaty as the law and he “shall execute it.” Roosevelt requests Taft give speeches in Colorado and Idaho.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-17
President Roosevelt cannot write a personal letter for Progressive candidate for governor of Colorado Philip Battell Stewart and tells Republican State Chairman D.B. Fairley not to publish his letter. Roosevelt believes Secretary of War William H. Taft will be of help in the gubernatorial races in both Colorado and Idaho.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-17
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Keep, Comptroller of Currency Murray, and Chief Forester Pinchot provide President Roosevelt with a detailed report of the organization and operations of the Department of the Interior. The report highlights “grave defects” in the structure of the Department such as redundant job functions, an “abuse of letter writing” that impedes public business, and rampant inefficiency. The report recommends the dissolution of several divisions.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-22
President Roosevelt comments on the ongoing furor surrounding the trials of Charles H. Moyer and Big Bill Haywood, looking down on he support they are receiving from socialists and anarchists from across the country. He reflects that he has had an odd presidency, and that “a goodly number of the things I have done which i regard as most important will probably never see the light and will be known to only a few people,” including the situation in Idaho, the Russo-Japanese peace negotiations, the Algeciras conference, and the Alaska boundary dispute.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-10
President Roosevelt is very pleased by Idaho Governor Gooding’s letter, and believes he is doing exactly the right thing.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-10
President Roosevelt has heard that Idaho Governor Frank Robert Gooding has received contributions from mine owners to help in the prosecution of the alleged murderers of ex-Governor Frank Steunenberg, and tells Idaho Statesman owner Calvin Cobb that if this is true it would represent “the grossest impropriety.” The government must show that it is a neutral party and is not working on behalf of either the mine owners or the Western Federation of Miners. Roosevelt has previously condemned labor unions sending money to the accused, and just as strongly condemns capitalists sending in money to support the prosecution. He asks that Cobb show this letter to Gooding.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-20
President Roosevelt does not feel that it would be wise to publish Assistant Attorney General Charles Henry Robb’s report yet, both because Roosevelt is still personally investigating some issues relating to the case in Idaho, and because he does not feel it is wise to participate publicly in the matter at this time. He acknowledges that Abbott is likely right concerning whether to print Philip Battell Stewart’s letter, but suggests that the circumstances surrounding the situation may be extraordinary enough to permit it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-21
President Roosevelt tells Calvin Cobb that he appreciates what Idaho Governor Frank Robert Gooding is trying to do in trying to bring the murderers of ex-Governor Frank Steunenberg to justice. Roosevelt believes that the Western Federation of Miners has been conducting a reign of terror on many Rocky Mountain states, and recognizes the risk that Gooding is in in trying to prosecute them. While Charles S. Moyer and Big Bill Haywood deserve a fair trial, Roosevelt believes that their “black record of wrong-doing” should get them no sympathy. He hopes, however, that Gooding will act against both the Western Federation of Miners on the one hand and the corporations on the other, and not fall into the errors of former Colorado Governor James Hamilton Peabody.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-16