Judges

Memorandum l listing major problems with the facilities and services of the Children’s Court of New York County. The building that currently houses the court is inadequate and even though money has been allocated for a new building, the Board of Aldermen has stalled any action. There is one probation officer for 10,000 cases, nineteen have been requested but the Board of Aldermen has not yet acted. The Big Brothers of America have had excellent results with delinquent boys, but it is funded by volunteers and donors.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-02

Creator(s)

Kaminsky, Alexander H., 1883-1937

President Roosevelt writes about Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker to Senator Lodge. New information regarding Foraker’s motives provides proof that Foraker was working in the interest of the corporations, not for African Americans. Roosevelt feels this is the same reason Foraker was fighting the judgeship in Ohio.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt encourages Attorney General Bonaparte to wire Judge Frank Sigel Dietrich. Roosevelt does not know Judge Edward Whitson, but he is sure that if they could get Judge William Henry Hunt the trial would be fair.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-04

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt writes confidentially to Supreme Court Associate Justice Moody that he has read and enjoyed District Court Judge Charles Fremont Amidon’s address to the American Bar Association in support of the education of the courts. Roosevelt feels that John Marshall and Roger Brooke Taney differed primarily in their interpretation of the Constitution. Enclosed, Roosevelt sends a draft of his Saint Louis speech along with a letter from Alexander. If what Alexander has said is true, Roosevelt’s dislike of him may be wrong, and he asks Moody for a comment on the speech.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-03

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt approves of Attorney General Bonaparte’s letter to United States Attorney Edwin Walter Sims, and feels they are prepared for any attacks. A Missouri correspondent has just sent an attack upon Roosevelt regarding Standard Oil. If the judge fights them, Roosevelt will publish a statement. Along with the publication of Bonaparte’s previous communications, this will prove that the record did not warrant the statements.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-03

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt agrees with Attorney General Bonaparte on the appointment of Assistant Attorney General Marsden C. Burch in the Idaho land fraud case. On the New Mexico issue, Roosevelt details Attorney General William H. H. Llewellyn’s rise as an attorney. In light of Judge James H. Beatty’s letter, Roosevelt feels there is no need to be involved. Although Roosevelt does not trust rumors, it does seem based on recent behavior that Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis may be suffering a breakdown. In a post script, Roosevelt comments on William Randolph Hearst’s recent supposed sympathy toward Bonaparte after his siding with Wall Street. In Roosevelt’s view, the recurrent rumor about Bonaparte resigning to appease financiers has actually shown the public that Bonaparte alarms those who are corrupt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-31

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt tells Judge Campbell that there are no charges being brough against him, and will clarify the matter when they meet in the spring. Roosevelt also notes that the recent fights in Idaho and Colorado were in the name of “civilization.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-17

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt writes Senator Clark strongly recommending Alford Warriner Cooley for the position of Assistant Attorney General, and he encourages Clark to share this letter with the rest of the Judiciary Committee. Roosevelt writes that Cooley was suggested by Attorney General William H. Moody, and he is also favored by Secretary of the Navy Charles J. Bonaparte. Roosevelt outlines Cooley’s education and career, which includes time as judge for various courts in New York and Washington DC; positions at the Department of Justice; and a member of New York City’s Corporation Counsel. Roosevelt concludes that he doesn’t believe it “would be possible to obtain a better man for the place.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-07

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Herbert Parsons assures Theodore Roosevelt that they will re-nominate Scott. Parsons believes that Pendleton and Fowler might decline the nomination and gives reasons for why each should not be nominated.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-10

Creator(s)

Parsons, Herbert, 1869-1925

Otto Christensen sends Theodore Roosevelt a copy of Twentieth Century Magazine, containing his article on “Judicial Usurpation.” Christensen thinks Roosevelt will be interested in the article, because it deals with the threat of the judiciary encroaching on the powers of congress. Christensen is concerned that the country is becoming a “personal government,” rather than a “government of law.” 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-23

Creator(s)

Christensen, Otto

Attorney Otto Gresham sends President Roosevelt a letter from Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis. Gresham shares his views, as well as the views of various local lawyers and judges, on Landis’s actions and the proceedings of the Standard Oil case. Gresham also summarizes the conversations he had with Landis regarding the potential reversal of the case and the imposition of the fine. After discussing the history of law in Britain, Gresham concludes that the people support Roosevelt in his actions to control the corporations.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-04

Creator(s)

Gresham, Otto, 1859-1946

Attorney General Bonaparte has heard from Assistant Attorney General Marsden C. Burch that Judge Frank Sigel Dietrich has asked Judge William B. Gilbert to bring in another judge for the senator’s trial. Judge William Henry Hunt has been suggested. Bonaparte asks for President Roosevelt’s input before he responds to Dietrich.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-04

Creator(s)

Bonaparte, Charles J. (Charles Joseph), 1851-1921

Secret Service Chief Wilkie decodes and forwards two telegrams from Assistant Attorney General Marsden C. Burch to Attorney General Bonaparte. The first confirms the present parties and the forthcoming report. The second confirms that District Attorney N. M. Ruick is behaving, and asks that Bonaparte wait for further information before asking Judge William B. Gilbert to send another judge.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-03

Creator(s)

Wilkie, John E. (John Elbert), 1860-1934

John C. Spooner is complying with the president’s request to send letters about a judgeship.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-19

Creator(s)

Spooner, John C. (John Coit), 1843-1919

Henry W. Taft believes that Governor of the Philippines William H. Taft is a better politician than he would be a judge. Taft can influence more people as a statesman than if he were held within the limitations of the bench.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-01-16

Creator(s)

Taft, Henry W. (Henry Waters), 1859-1945

Theodore Roosevelt writes to his sister Anna about recent happenings in Washington. Roosevelt has begun to vary his civil service work, with his “chief ally” being Charles J. Bonaparte. He recently spent a few days in New York visiting friends. Their sister, Corinne Roosevelt Robinson, is having difficulty with her in-laws.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1891-04-05

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

In a courtroom, a prisoner and a police officer stand before a judge. The prisoner is explaining to the judge why he assaulted another person. Caption: Judge — You admit you sand-bagged the man. Have you any excuse? / Prisoner — Yes, yer Honor. De sand-bag wuz me own property and J.P. Morgan says a man has de right ter do wot he pleases wit’ his own property.

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1904-02-17

In a country courtroom, a judge pronounces a verdict based on the testimony of a cowboy standing in front of the clerk’s desk. Caption: Rube Roundup — Yes, your Honor, I admit I shot the tenderfoot, but he asked me to play a game of “ping-pong” with him. / Lead Gulch Justice — Discriminatin’ sarcumstances. When he gets out o’ the hospittle I’ll see thet you get the justice of his commitment. Next case.

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1902-07-02

A schoolboy stands outside a “Public School.” On the left is Charles M. Schwab sitting atop a large money bag labeled “Manager of Steel Trust $1,000,000 yearly salary,” resting on a steel factory; and on the right is Chief Justice Melville Weston Fuller holding a balance scale in one hand and a tiny money bag with the label “Chief Justice of U.S. $10,500 yearly salary,” sitting on a large book labeled “Law and Constitution.” Caption: “Shall I be wise and great, or rich and powerful?”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1901-06-12

Creator(s)

Dalrymple, Louis, 1866-1905

President Roosevelt informs Speaker of the House Cannon about the proper precedence at the upcoming judiciary dinner. Under ordinary circumstances Roosevelt has heard that Attorney General William H. Moody would be glad to have Cannon take precedence over him. However, in the case of the judiciary dinner, Cannon cannot come ahead of the Justices of the Supreme Court because they are all the guests of honor and it would be a slight to the Supreme Court. In a postscript, Roosevelt explains proper precedence at other dinners he has held.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02-02

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919