Judges--Selection and appointment

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Moses E. Clapp

Should Judge William Lochren remain in his judgeship for another few weeks, President Roosevelt will make a recess appointment to fill the seat, potentially with Milton Dwight Purdy. Roosevelt reminds Senator Clapp that he asked Clapp and Senator Knute Nelson for names of men to appoint, and Nelson did not care to make a suggestion. Roosevelt reminds Clapp of his power as President to make nominations, and suggests that the Senate vote on his nomination.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-05-25

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Jacob A. Riis

President Roosevelt tells Jacob A. Riis to tell Henry K. McHarg that his protest over the nomination of Howell H. Haynes to a federal judgeship weighs on his mind because Hayes had been suggested as a compromise candidate.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-05-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Emlen Roosevelt

President Roosevelt tells William Emlen Roosevelt that James Alexander Fowler, who Henry K. McHarg mentions in his letter, is the best man for the judicial position, but he is the machine candidate. Howell H. Haynes, on the other hand, is independent and has been recommended by many people.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-25

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John W. Gaines

President Roosevelt informs Representative Gaines that he does not like to appoint judges over the age of sixty. He would like to make an exception for Judge John Allison, but believes it is unwise.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-14

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Knute Nelson

President Roosevelt assures Minnesota Senator Nelson that he is not discriminating against him in refusing his pick for a judicial appointment. However, he believes that judges should retire at 70 and thus does not want to appoint Judge William Edward Hale because he is already older than 60. With few exceptions, Roosevelt does not nominate judges older than 60.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-14

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Horace H. Lurton

President Roosevelt thanks Judge Lurton for his letter, and will take his suggestion to not immediately appoint a successor to Judge Charles D. Clark.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-20

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Pearl Wight

President Roosevelt asks that Pearl Wight and Francis Bennett Williams send him the names of two or three Republicans that Roosevelt can consider as candidates for Judge.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-10

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Cecil Andrew Lyon

President Roosevelt tells Cecil Andrew Lyon that he cannot make definite promises, but that his present intention is that if a vacancy opens up in the circuit court he will promote Judge Waller Thomas Burns to that position, and then appoint Joseph Manson McCormick as judge to to replace Burns.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-21

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edward Kent

President Roosevelt is pleased that Edward Kent, Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court, approves of his appointment of Louis A. Coolidge. Roosevelt enjoyed seeing Governor Joseph H. Kibbey.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-22

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles William Fulton

President Roosevelt received Senator Fulton’s telegram to Attorney General Bonaparte too late, and Roosevelt had already announced that he would appoint Christian Schuebel to the position. However, he will be happy to appoint Robert S. Bean to the West Point Board of Visitors.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-01-07

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James B. Whitfield

President Roosevelt is glad Florida Supreme Court Justice James B. Whitfield liked his message to Congress and appreciates Whitfield’s approval of Judge William B. Sheppard’s appointment.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-12-11

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to J. M. Dickinson

President Roosevelt approves of Judge Dillon’s “definition of an upright judge,” and plans to use it himself. Roosevelt agrees that Judge A. H. Whitfield’s appointment would be ideal, even if he is not able to affect the decision.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-07

Telegram from Theodore Roosevelt to William Alden Smith

If Senator Smith wishes to make a nomination for the Michigan Court of Claims he needs to tell President Roosevelt immediately, and preferably would have contacted him much earlier.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10-28

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles J. Bonaparte

President Roosevelt tells Attorney General Bonaparte not to decide on the Alaska judgeship yet, as Senator E. J. Burkett has just suggested to him a new candidate. Roosevelt has promised Burkett that Bonaparte will consider his candidate so long as he is qualified.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-28

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles Emory Smith

President Roosevelt believes that Judge Hosea Townsend’s age and health make it undesirable to appoint him, a topic Roosevelt and Charles Emory Smith have discussed before. Roosevelt believes he and Smith feel the same way about Judge Luman F. Parker.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-28

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt informs Secretary of War Taft about conditions in the South regarding Taft’s nomination to be the presidential candidate for the Republican Party. One of Roosevelt’s informants told him that the constituents in Alabama will vote for Joseph Benson Foraker if Taft is approved. Roosevelt still believes that the southern states will be in favor of Taft. On another matter, Roosevelt reports that many people want him to nominate John K. Beach over Walter Chadwick Noyes for a circuit court judge position.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-10

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles J. Bonaparte

President Roosevelt writes to Attorney General Bonaparte regarding the hasty Interstate Commerce Commission report. Bonaparte has received censure from the New York press for criticizing Standard Oil. Roosevelt discusses how he distrusts Senator Eugene Hale and is disgusted by his lack of patriotism in criticizing the Army and Navy. The postscript describes judgeships and appointments.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt tells Secretary of War Taft that he approves of Philippines Governor James Francis Smith’s action regarding the Japanese consul. Roosevelt will talk to Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte about appointing John K. Beach to the federal judgeship in Connecticut. Roosevelt approves of Beach’s knowledge of and sympathy with labor unions. After talking with William Loeb, Roosevelt has instructed Postmaster General George von Lengerke Meyer to follow Taft’s instructions regarding postmaster appointments in Ohio.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-15

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frank B. Brandegee

President Roosevelt explains that his choice of nominee for a position as a circuit court judge will come down to who is the best man for the role, not only who is a good one, and assures Senator Brandgegee that it would be in Connecticut’s interest to appoint someone from New York if the New Yorker is “markedly better.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-06-24

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt tells Secretary of War Taft that he will have Frank H. Hitchcock come to see him about comments he had made against Taft’s candidacy for president. Roosevelt says William Loeb has the same suspicions Taft does, but on the other hand, an enclosed clipping reports Hitchcock being attacked for appearing to promote Taft’s candidacy. Roosevelt will appoint Taft’s selection for Quartermaster General, James Buchanan Aleshire. In a lengthy postscript, Roosevelt says he is annoyed with complaints that the construction of the Panama Canal is being mismanaged, and reminds Taft to send him information about John K. Beach.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-01