Your TR Source
President Roosevelt has received a number of complaints on the cotton report leaks which might have been used to “help the stock gamblers.” He would like to hear from Secretary James Wilson on the matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-12-11
President Roosevelt informs Herman Henry Kohlsaat that he has not turned out General Miles due to misinformed popular feeling on Miles’s behalf. Roosevelt is convinced that Miles is releasing secret information to the army’s opponents in order to gain political capital for himself. If this could be proven, Miles would be removed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-06-10
President Roosevelt informs Secretary of War Root that General Nelson Appleton Miles made his request public with the intention of discrediting the administration and American authorities in the Philippines. Roosevelt does not believe Miles understands the situation or the nature of current campaigns since the Wounded Knee Massacre.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-03-19
Theodore Roosevelt has been told that President Wilson and William F. McCombs contacted Hugo Munsterberg regarding the hostility of German Americans towards the Wilson administration. The information came to Roosevelt from an outside source and he assures Munsterberg that he did not leak the information about Wilson’s communication. Roosevelt would like Edmund von Mach to know that he appreciated von Mach’s account of the significance of Kiao Chou (Jiaozhou) and he finds the threat to the “extension of civilization” to be a dreadful part of the war.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1914-12-02
President Roosevelt has received Lawrence F. Abbott’s letter and the accompanying enclosure. He believes that they had to anticipate the information leaking and thinks they are lucky that it happened so late. Roosevelt does not think it is necessary to comment, but approves of Abbott’s statement if he feels that he must say something.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-20
President Roosevelt would like to discuss the recent decision by the United States Circuit Court of Appeals of Illinois in person with Attorney General Bonaparte and Frank B. Kellogg. Roosevelt feels that the fine Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis initially imposed on Standard Oil was excessive, but would have preferred to modify the fine rather than reverse the decision. In a postscript, Roosevelt agrees with Bonaparte’s view regarding the Standard Oil Case, and sends a clipping about it. In a second postscript, Roosevelt agrees with Bonaparte that John D. Archbold must have had advance notice of the decision. Roosevelt does not believe the railroads should raise their rates until December.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-25
President Roosevelt informs George W. Perkins that since a personal meeting in which the two discussed raising railroad rates, Roosevelt has seen reports in the press that there will be a general raise in railway rates. Roosevelt pointedly hopes these reports are in error. Roosevelt goes on to say that some people believe that some rates might be raised, while others could be lowered, and Perkins should contact the Interstate Commerce Commission before acting.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-23
President Roosevelt believes he knows who leaked the proposition and says it is of no consequence. He trusts William L. Ward entirely and looks forward to having a satisfactory talk once he returns to Washington, D.C.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-10-07
President Roosevelt warns Secretary of Agriculture Wilson to be careful of further leaks from his department regarding the governmental investigations into beef packers. Roosevelt believes that the department should announce that the report is merely a preliminary one, as he is also unsatisfied by its current state. At present, it does not give any clear, definite answers, and Roosevelt has submitted it to Commissioner of Labor Charles Patrick Neill for revision and further development.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-11
President Roosevelt wants John A. Sleicher to communicate with Chauncey M. Depew on the Bennett matter. Roosevelt does not know where all of the information in the Sun clippings came from, because he has not thought of or spoken of the matter with anybody recently.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-06-10
Secretary of Agriculture James Wilson had no intention of attacking Cornell University but was trying to justify the Department of Agriculture’s efforts on behalf of the university. The testimony was supposed to be for the private information of the committee. Wilson regrets the incident.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-02-08
President Roosevelt will no longer tolerate Post Office Department officials releasing information to the press without authorization.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-06-25
President Roosevelt thanks Mrs. Edward S. Bragg for writing and understands that the leak of the letter was from a betrayal of Mrs. Bragg’s confidence. The letter portrayed Cubans in an undesirable light and Roosevelt feels that it is unfortunate that the letter damaged relations with Cuba.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-08-07
Governor Hunt of Puerto Rico has complained that one of his private letters was publicly quoted. President Roosevelt sent a variety of papers to Attorney General Knox for his use in examining a case regarding a Puerto Rican judge and there was carelessness during the transfer of the papers. Roosevelt requests that confidential letters no longer be given out to anyone.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-08-02
President Roosevelt wants it understood that positions in the White House, such as telegrapher and clerk, must be treated as special due to the confidential nature of the work. Great damage can be done by men in these positions, such as the recent unauthorized publication of War Department documents. Roosevelt is also distressed by the civil service reformers and their support for Mrs. Taylor’s suit. The suit is making it difficult to remove “recalcitrant clerks” and Roosevelt fears that this is damaging public service.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-07-30
An unnamed individual has leaked to the press that he has asked to be sent to the Philippines. President Roosevelt believes his motives are political.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-03-15
Lawrence F. Abbott thanks William Loeb for sending him copies of President Roosevelt’s letters to Senator Philander C. Knox and Patrick H. Grace, treasurer of Parlor City Lodge Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen. Abbott does not think The Outlook will comment on them because, due to the New York Times leak connecting Roosevelt with The Outlook, they want to be “particularly reticent.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-23
Lawrence F. Abbott, president and publisher of The Outlook, thinks that the New York Times was “very unfraternal” in printing the story that connected President Roosevelt to The Outlook. It was published through the efforts of William C. Reick, who has previously been affiliated with the New York Herald. The Outlook intends to ignore the story, except for giving a brief statement to reporters who “flooded the office with inquiries.” Lawrence is pleased with the conduct and record of the Atlantic Fleet in Australasia and Japan.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-23
Secretary of Agriculture Wilson regrets that information about the department’s investigation of beef packers in Chicago seems to have been leaked to the press. Wilson assures President Roosevelt that he will ascertain whether any of his employees had anything to do with it, although he also notes that the Chicago Tribune article contains errors and large portions of it may have been based on guess work.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-11
Hugo Münsterberg writes that excerpts from President Theodore Roosevelt’s letter to him have been printed in German newspapers. Münsterberg begs Roosevelt’s pardon for giving the letter to the newspaper but assures the President of the “excellent effect” his words have had “in the whole German empire.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-09-28