Ireland, John, 1838-1918

President Roosevelt is as sorry as Bishop O’Gorman is about what has been published about the removal of Bellamy Storer and Maria Longworth Storer. The only announcement from the State Department was that Bellamy Storer “had been discontented at not receiving a promotion and that he had declined to answer certain letters,” and Roosevelt did not authorize any comments on the situation beyond the fact that Storer had been recalled. Roosevelt places the responsibility for more information leaking out squarely on the shoulders of Maria Longworth Storer and Bellamy Storer, as he had personally worked to keep the details out of the news.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-03-27

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt rebukes Maria Longworth Storer for her repeated attempts at “ecclesiastical intrigue” while trying to get Archbishop John Ireland made Cardinal. Roosevelt has repeatedly told Storer and her husband, Ambassador Bellamy Storer, that both they and he cannot officially get involved in matters regarding the Catholic Church. However, the Storers seem to have ignored these directives and continued to improperly write letters on Ireland’s behalf and to improperly quote portions of Roosevelt’s letters about the matter. If such actions do not stop, Roosevelt will have to remove Bellamy from his position as Ambassador. He asks Maria to return his letters on the subject.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-12-11

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt tells Archbishop Keane very frankly that he does not at all like the recent self-promotional activity of Nelson O’Shaughnessy, whom Keane has proposed for promotion in the diplomatic service. Roosevelt says O’Shaughnessy is not in the diplomatic corps to serve his country, but only himself. Roosevelt describes all the conditions that must first be met before O’Shaughnessy can be promoted from secretary of the American legation at Copenhagen to first or second secretary of the embassy at Vienna.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-09

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt informs Cardinal Gibbons that Archbishops John Ireland and John J. Keane have recommended Father George J. Waring for one of the two military chaplain vacancies in the Army. Roosevelt plans to give the other vacancy to someone from the East, and asks for Gibbons’s recommendation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-09

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt asks Cardinal Gibbons for his recommendations of whom to appoint for the chaplain vacancies in the Army and Navy. The president desires men who can associate with officers but understand “their chief duty must be done with the enlisted men.” Roosevelt would like Archbishop John M. Farley’s recommendations as well.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-30

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt admires Archbishop John Ireland but warns Ambassador Storer against advocating for Ireland’s cardinalship. In the popular mind it is impossible to separate what Roosevelt says as president from what he says as an individual. As such, he cannot interfere for or against the advancement of any man in any church.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-12-27

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt explains why he supported William Michael Byrne and gives George Kennan permission to show the relevant letters on Byrne to Lyman Abbott.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-03-30

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt encloses a letter from Archbishop Ireland and requests Governor Taft’s opinion on the matter. Roosevelt recently spoke with one of Taft’s brothers regarding Taft’s tenure in the Philippines.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-12-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt will send Senator Platt’s letter regarding General O’Beirne to Archbishop Ireland.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-12-26

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt concedes that in the past he may have said he would like to see Archbishop Ireland as a Cardinal but denies even alluding to the subject while President.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-10-22

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt thanks Eugene A. Philbin for the information on the effect of Mr. Byrne’s speech. Roosevelt describes Byrne as a “zealous Catholic” opposed to Archbishop Ireland. Roosevelt will show Philbin his letter to Taft and offers to keep Philbin informed on any action regarding the “church and school matter” in the Philippines.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-08-07

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

There has been a great deal of Catholic opposition in the United States to William H. Taft’s negotiations with the Holy See regarding the withdrawal of the friars from the Philippines. President Roosevelt fears that the situation will be damaging politically but understands that little can currently be done. Roosevelt agrees that teachers in the Philippines should not express their religious preferences and he does not want any more clergymen appointed as teachers. Roosevelt would also like to appoint a Catholic to the Philippine Commission.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-07-31

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt encloses letters he wrote to Josephine Shaw Lowell and to William Comerford. Roosevelt has been surprised at the negative reaction towards the negotiations to remove the friars from the Philippines and sell their lands. The friars are very unpopular in the Philippines, but the administration is finding it difficult to show that the negotiations are at the request of the Filipino Catholics. Roosevelt suggests that Secretary of War Root speak with Archbishop John Ireland on the issue and that Vice General of the Philippines Luke E. Wright collect statements from leading Catholics that support expelling the friars.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-07-16

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt was pleased with Francis C. Travers’s letter and thought Archbishop Ireland’s speech was admirable.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-06-02

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt thanks Reverend Michael Walsh for sending him the requested address and expresses his admiration for Archbishop John Ireland.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1897-05-28

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Ralph M. Easley tells William Loeb about a recent talk he had with Archbishop John Ireland, and is confident he said what the Star reported him saying. Easley discusses the impressions various groups have regarding the potential nomination Secretary of War William H. Taft or Secretary of the Treasury George B. Cortelyou as the Republican presidential candidate. He warns that organized labor seems to be set against Taft, as is “organized capital,” and is worried that there is not anyone who will be able to beat William Jennings Bryan.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907

Creator(s)

Easley, Ralph M. (Ralph Montgomery), 1858-

Maurice Francis Egan thanks Theodore Roosevelt for hosting a luncheon and the conversations that were had. Egan asks if he could have a copy of the Willard letter and looks forward to reading what Roosevelt writes about it. Egan mentions the translation of St. Bernard’s “Contemptu Mundi” is worth reading.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-09

Creator(s)

Egan, Maurice Francis, 1852-1924

Maurice Francis Egan updates Theodore Roosevelt on his trip. He enjoyed Henry Beach Needham’s article about Roosevelt and has been busy expressing his opinion on “the Vatican incident.” Travel plans prevent him from visiting Oyster Bay, but hopes to see Roosevelt at his office.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-24

Creator(s)

Egan, Maurice Francis, 1852-1924

Charles Phillips thanks Theodore Roosevelt for his letter and the copy of his letter to Cleveland Doge of the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA). He is not surprised by what Roosevelt writes, and it confirms his high regard for him. Archbishop John Ireland recently withdrew his letter endorsing the YMCA since the restrictions against Catholics have not been removed. Ireland encouraged Phillips to continue writing about the good work that can be accomplished through ecumenical cooperation. Phillips agrees with Roosevelt that “it is of the utmost importance…that our people who are straight and decent shall associate together as much as possible without regard to theological differences.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-20

Creator(s)

Phillips, Charles, 1880-1933

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-08-20

Creator(s)

Egan, Maurice Francis, 1852-1924

Recipient

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Language

English