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Theodore Roosevelt compliments Clark Howell’s editorial and the letter from Albert L. Key that Howell forwarded him. He states that Key is “one of the finest fellows I know” and encourages Howell to visit if he comes in New York.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-12-13
President Roosevelt shares Commander Albert L. Key’s letter with Secretary of the Navy Newberry. Roosevelt is unsure whether a court-martial is appropriate, but believes “action of a drastic kind should be taken” against Admiral W. L. Capps, Admiral Philip R. Alger, and Key for their public statements about the Department of the Navy. Roosevelt also requests that Newberry report back on the accusations against Capps.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-08
President Roosevelt has had his attention called to the annual report of Rear Admiral W. L. Capps, Constructor of the Navy, in which Capps made comments concerning criticisms by Commander Albert L. Key about the design of the North Dakota. Roosevelt tells Secretary of the Navy Newberry that this is the “most flagrant possible violation of my directions as to avoiding public recrimination between officers,” and says that if Capps has any explanation for this, he would like to hear it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-29
President Roosevelt asks Secretary of the Navy Metcalf to submit a letter from Albert L. Key to the General Board and the Naval War College, and order the two bodies to make a joint report on the contents of the letter. Key had previously written addressing what he saw as defects in the design of the North Dakota class battleships, and Roosevelt requests an opinion about these comments, as well as whether they can be fixed. Roosevelt particularly requests input regarding the battleship’s armor, main guns, torpedo-defense guns, and torpedo tubes. Roosevelt also requests that Metcalf ask whether it would be good to have the commanding officer of each ship appoint a board to determine the draft of the ships at various stages of being loaded.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-30
President Roosevelt asks Acting Secretary of the Navy Newberry to send him reports from seagoing officers in addition to reports from W. L. Capps and the Bureau of Construction. While Roosevelt was convinced that William Sowden Sims, Albert L. Key, and Cameron McRae Winslow exaggerated the defects of battleships, Roosevelt is worried that there may still be some merit to their complaints.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-01
Following Secretary of the Navy Metcalf’s advice that he sent via William S. Cowles, President Roosevelt met with William Sowden Sims, and thinks it will be all right now. Roosevelt asks if Metcalf would keep Albert L. Key in town for several days, as there are some things Roosevelt would like to discuss with him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-09
President Roosevelt sends Admiral Dewey a note from Albert L. Key, Roosevelt’s naval aide. Roosevelt requests to look at a letter Dewey received from Willard H. Brownson.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-04-02
President Roosevelt thanks Commander Winslow for the letter, and asks if he can continue as his aide until the English fleet arrives. At that point Roosevelt plans to put Lieutenant-Commander Albert L. Key in his place, and detail him as an additional aide.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-08-31
Leonard Wood has spoken with Albert L. Key about many of the present discussions going on in reference to the Navy, and encourages President Roosevelt to read some letters that Key will send to him. Wood has been working on a question involving Cuba, and will send Roosevelt his recommendations.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-26
William Sowden Sims sends President Roosevelt a copy of a letter from Albert L. Key criticizing the plans of the North Dakota class of battleship. Sims has read the letter and agrees with many of the criticisms, and summarizes the various points that Key makes in his criticism. The Board of Construction seems to stand in opposition to the General Board and majority of officers in the Navy, who Sims says support many of the criticisms. Sims criticizes the actions of Admiral George Albert Converse, who supports the Board of Construction in the face of much of the Navy, and suggests that Converse is impeding progress in his current position. He also criticizes Chief Constructor W. L. Capps’s inability to admit that he may be mistaken with regard to the current design.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-23
Lieutenant Commander Albert L. Key will become naval aide to President Roosevelt after Commander Winslow is relieved of duty, or whenever Roosevelt wishes.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-08-28
The Senate Committee on Naval Affairs interviews a number of naval officers on some alleged defects in the construction of several battleships now being built. Chief among these concerns are the questions of the placement of the armor belt, the positions of the guns, and the design of the hoists to provide the turrets with ammunition.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-21
David S. Barry encloses a communication from Albert L. Key that he requests be delivered to President Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-02-04
Secretary of the Navy Long explains why Lieutenant Albert L. Key is being denied his request to be assigned to a ship surveying the coast of Cuba. Key will instead be assigned to a ship headed for the Philippines.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-01-20
Admiral Crowninshield is opposing Lieutenant Key’s posting and General Wood wants to ensure that Lieutenant Key receives command of Restless. Restless is scheduled to survey the coast of Cuba, close to where Wood is stationed. Lieutenant Key is General Wood’s brother-in-law and Wood’s wife was looking forward to seeing her sister.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-01-13