Knox, Philander C. (Philander Chase), 1853-1921

Presidential Snapshot (#38): Excerpt of a letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Owen Wister

In a letter to his friend and novelist Owen Wister, President Roosevelt reviews his recently won election victory in the presidential contest of 1904. Roosevelt highlights some of the accomplishments of his first term and notes that his Democratic opponent, Alton B. Parker, proved to be a poor candidate. Roosevelt expresses gratitude for members of his Cabinet, and he believes that he won the election because of the support of ordinary citizens.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1904-11-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Lyman Abbott

President Roosevelt records the facts about his influence on the nomination of William H. Taft in the Southern states, countering reports in the press. Roosevelt analyzes the breakdown of support for candidates in each area of the country, and summarizes that the Northern officials followed the trajectories in their districts, and opposition to Taft in the Southern states was largely a result of the influence of outside interests.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-05

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Lawrence F. Abbott

President Roosevelt thanks Lawrence F. Abbott for his answer to R. T. Vann. The only way Roosevelt influenced office holders was by preventing them from nominating him for a third term. He details what candidates the office holders were mostly supporting in various states. Enclosed are two letters regarding Oklahoma Governor Charles Nathaniel Haskell, one from Mrs. Williams which Roosevelt would like to see published and one which has already been published.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-03

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Nicholas Murray Butler

President Roosevelt shares his opinions on various politicians with Columbia University President Butler. He thinks that reactionaries hope to use politicians like New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes, Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon, or Senator Philander C. Knox to enact their own agendas, but Roosevelt believes all of these men would be loyal to the nation’s interests. Roosevelt still feels that Secretary of War William H. Taft is the best man for the presidency, though he is not very concerned about the matter now.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-27

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Nicholas Murray Butler

President Roosevelt agrees with Columbia University President Nicholas Murray Butler’s ideas about monetary policy, but does not see how they could be implemented at the present. Members of Congress are entirely at odds about what to do, and those who wish to revise the tariff now want to do so simply to hurt the Republican Party. Roosevelt is not concerned about reluctance to support Secretary of War William H. Taft’s bid for the presidency as he believes people are even more reluctant to support other candidates. He is more worried at the suggestion that each party might choose a nominee who had not held high office before, as Roosevelt believes a president must have experience handling the many responsibilities of the government.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

President Roosevelt is amused at some of the political attacks against him. He agrees to Senator Lodge’s suggestions for personnel changes in the Spanish Treaty Claims Commission, but is unsure how to handle the “whisky business” regarding the Pure Food and Drug Act. Roosevelt is facing a number of requests that he run for reelection, but is not concerned with what most people think.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-21

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt tells Secretary of War Taft that he admires his willingness to sacrifice his own interests for a principle, but encourages him to avoid talking about delicate subjects where his words could be twisted. Roosevelt is glad that Taft understands the situation with another potential presidential candidate, Governor Charles Evans Hughes, remarking that he has a “distinct strength with the people.” The president believes that Taft will get the majority of the delegates in the West on the first roll and that the majority of people in New England are for Taft. Finally, Roosevelt notes that the New York papers are “almost insane” in regard to his actions, suggesting that Judas Iscariot and Benedict Arnold were “pretty good citizens by comparison.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Lawrence F. Abbott

President Roosevelt explains to Lawrence F. Abbott why he does not want public use made of the letters and telegrams he sent to Abbott. The president will explain more in detail when he sees Abbott or his father, Lyman Abbott, about the conversations Roosevelt had with Cornelius Newton Bliss and Senator Philander C. Knox regarding campaign donations from corporations or individuals connected with corporations.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-17

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt updates Secretary of War Taft on his conversation with Secretary of the Treasury George B. Cortelyou in which he made clear that the nominee for president will be chosen based on what is best for the party. Men from various states have contacted Roosevelt attempting to convince him to run again and expressing whether they would support Taft. Evaluating the potential candidates, Roosevelt focuses on Governor Charles Evans Hughes, who is the biggest potential threat. Roosevelt says that Bishop Charles Henry Brent recently delivered a ridiculous sermon on the Philippines and that Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte has been doing well this summer despite his difficult work.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-03

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Gifford Pinchot

President Theodore Roosevelt will try to make Secretary of the Interior James Rudolph Garfield take a vacation. Assistant Secretary Robert Bacon is off for five weeks and Roosevelt is not happy about Secretary of State Elihu Root’s health either.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-21

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Gifford Pinchot

President Theodore Roosevelt encloses letters from Senator Philander C. Knox. Roosevelt would like a full report on the matter and suggests that Gifford Pinchot may want to go there in person.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-15

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Samuel Harden Church

President Roosevelt encloses a letter to Samuel Harden Church noting that Church knows Pennsylvania Senator Philander C. Knox “is not an anarchist or a truckler to mobs.” Roosevelt says speculators, rather than government cases against trusts, are responsible for financial panics.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-14

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Philip Battell Stewart

President Roosevelt is “puzzled” by a telegram from Philip Battell Stewart about Rittenhouse, a name he does not recognize. Roosevelt has put forward D. C. Bailey’s name and is sorry Stewart could not accept the Commissionership of the General Land Office.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-15

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Clarence D. Clark

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

Letter from Charles G. Washburn to John W. Weeks

Charles G. Washburn writes to John W. Weeks about their mutual concerns related to the Department of Justice’s enforcement of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. Washburn summarizes the history of the Sherman Act. He discusses the effect of the 1897 Trans-Missouri case and efforts by politicians, including Theodore Roosevelt, to amend the Sherman Act. Washburn also describes a number of cases which have gone to court under the Sherman Act. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-28

Creator(s)

Washburn, Charles G. (Charles Grenfill), 1857-1928

Letter from William E. Chandler to William Loeb

William E. Chandler asks William Loeb if it is possible for Henry K. Daugherty to retire from the Spanish Treaty Claims Commission within the next month or so. Otherwise, Chandler plans to leave himself. Chandler notes how long he has served on the commission and that Daugherty cannot be the “impartial umpire” between the two sides of the commission. Chandler hopes the mistake of selecting Daugherty can be corrected with “due regard” to his feelings.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-10

Creator(s)

Chandler, William E. (William Eaton), 1835-1917

Letter from John Callan O’Laughlin to William Loeb

John Callan O’Laughlin asks William Loeb to suggest hunting locations for his friend Medill McCormick. He hopes Loeb will continue writing occasionally. O’Laughlin encloses several articles.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-19

Creator(s)

O'Laughlin, John Callan, 1873-1949

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Lodge writes to President Roosevelt discussing the deteriorating health of his sister-in-law. He also discusses the potential candidates for the 1908 presidential election and their various levels of support.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-07

Creator(s)

Lodge, Henry Cabot, 1850-1924

Violations of law

An article in The Press lists President Roosevelt’s Cabinet as violators of the law and how they should be dismissed from their positions. This dismissal is based on the Conrad-Bonaparte report which states it is a violation of the law for “laborers” to do clerical work. The article states every department in Washington employs laborers to do clerical work, so the Cabinet should be dismissed. The writer also discusses how the attorneys Conrad and Bonaparte are breaking the law about office rental and should also be dismissed.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-03-14

Creator(s)

Unknown

Letter from William H. Moody to Theodore Roosevelt

Attorney General Moody writes to President Roosevelt regarding funding sources for American Indian Day and industrial schools. Members of Congress declared that public money could not be used to fund sectarian schools, but the Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock can use certain money for American Indians held in trust in any way he saw fit, including assistance to sectarian schools.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02-02

Creator(s)

Moody, William H. (William Henry), 1853-1917