Legislation

Presidential Snapshot (#40): Excerpt of a letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

In a letter to Governor General Taft, President Roosevelt expresses his admiration for certain members of the Senate with whom he has been able to work to pass legislation through Congress, but he also makes clear his frustration with others, including those from his home state of New York. Roosevelt concedes that the administration failed to pass tariff relief for the Philippines, and he hopes that Taft will take up the post of Secretary of War when Elihu Root leaves the position.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1903-03-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Richard Watson Gilder

Civil Service Commissioner Roosevelt inquires if anything on Kit Carson’s life is to be published. Roosevelt admires Carson and does not think he should be forgotten. He also suggests that Henry Cabot Lodge would write an article and makes several other suggestions regarding possible articles. Roosevelt promises to write his three articles about hunting and expresses hope that the copyright bill will go through.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1890-03-30

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from George Haven Putnam to Theodore Roosevelt

Publisher George Haven Putnam writes to President Roosevelt about the inadequacy of current copyright laws. Putnam asks that the topic be included in Roosevelt’s upcoming “Presidential Message.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-18

Creator(s)

Putnam, George Haven, 1844-1930

Letter fragment to Lawrence F. Abbott

A fragment of a letter to The Outlook editor Lawrence F. Abbott regarding a letter to Minnesota farmer Peter Shipman and the Postal Savings Bank Bill. The signature on the letter is illegible and there is no date.

Collection

Sagamore Hill National Historic Site

Creation Date

Unknown

Creator(s)

Unknown

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Helen Matilda Bent

Theodore Roosevelt informs Helen Mitchell Bent that her letter was received too late to make any alterations to his speech and informs her that the matter she brings up is alien to what he is talking about. He questions if the subject matter is appropriate for a speech at all, but is in agreement with her view. Roosevelt wishes Bent could tell him more about what has been accomplished in the states where there is women suffrage, such as Colorado. He wishes to learn more about their experiences and the kinds of legislation needed.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Brown McKinley

President Roosevelt agrees with Representative McKinley’s comments on the amount of constructive, beneficial legislation accomplished by Congress in the past seven years. He lists specific pieces of legislation that he feels “form a record of substantial legislative achievement in harmony with the best and most progressive thought of our people.” Roosevelt argues that electing William H. Taft will ensure such progress continues.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-09

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Telegram from Theodore Roosevelt to John James Jenkins

President Roosevelt informs Representative Jenkins of his sincere support for the ship subsidy bill for the reasons he outlined in his messages to Congress and in speeches given by Secretary of State Elihu Root. He appreciates those congressmen who voted for the bill.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to E. J. Burkett

President Roosevelt tells Senator Burkett he “heartily approve[s]” the currency measure and believes it would have been unwise to have not passed it. He encloses a copy of a letter he wrote previously on the subject.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-18

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Alden Smith

President Roosevelt tells Senator Smith that he cannot discuss the statement Smith says he made, as he does not remember making it. Regarding the Brownsville affair, Roosevelt affirms his right to dismiss the officers and states that Senator Joseph Benson Foraker’s bill regarding the matter is “purely academic.” The investigation has shown that ten to twenty black soldiers committed the assault and many more of their comrades knew about it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frank P. Flint

President Roosevelt hopes that Senator Frank P. Flint will support the bill to authorize and appropriate funds for the construction of four new battleships, as he feels it would be unpatriotic not to.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-23

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Samuel H. Piles

President Roosevelt is pleased to hear that Senator Piles is going to introduce the amendment to build four battleships. Roosevelt believes it is vital to get these battleships, and cannot understand the shortsightedness of those who oppose the motion.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-22

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles J. Bonaparte

President Roosevelt believes that it is absurd for the president to approve expense accounts and thinks that the law should be changed to allow the attorney general to approve them himself. Because the president does not know anything about the cases, his approval is only “perfunctory.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Kermit Roosevelt

President Roosevelt expresses concern about his son Kermit Roosevelt’s health. He mentions the Brownsville matter, the opposition from the Senate over the battleships and offers his view on Native Americans. Roosevelt is pleased that Kermit has been reading and studying, and updates Kermit on recent family activities.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-26

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Edward Hyatt to Charles A. Reese

Edward Hyatt, Superintendent of Public Instruction in California, informs Charles A. Reese that he read Reese’s recent letter about using schoolhouses for social meetings with interest. The new School Law will address this by giving trustees greater power, and Hyatt will always welcome hearing from Reese on this topic.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-09

Creator(s)

Hyatt, Edward, 1858-1919

Letter from Walter L. Fisher to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of the Interior Walter L. Fisher thanks Theodore Roosevelt for his previous letter and gladly accepts his invitation to lunch. Fisher believes he and Roosevelt share the same views of Alaskan resources and working with The Outlook will allow for the adoption of the necessary legislation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-30

Creator(s)

Fisher, Walter L. (Walter Lowrie), 1862-1935

Letter from Arthur Hamilton Lee to Theodore Roosevelt

Arthur Hamilton Lee is enjoying his holiday in the Scottish Highlands and feels refreshed after engaging in outdoor recreation. He is glad to hear Theodore Roosevelt is likewise taking pleasure in his leisure. Lee discusses recent British political issues, including debates over Constitutional law and Irish Home Rule. Additionally, he comments on international relations between Morocco, Germany, and France, and the United States’ proposed arbitration treaty with Great Britain. Hopefully, in the near future, he and his wife, Ruth Moore Lee, can travel to the United States and visit the Roosevelt family. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-10

Creator(s)

Lee of Fareham, Viscount (Arthur Hamilton Lee), 1868-1947

Letter from Edward A. Moseley to William Loeb

Secretary of the Interstate Commerce Commission Moseley sends William Loeb two opinions on the constitutionality of the Federal Employers’ Liability Act.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-19

Creator(s)

Moseley, Edward A. (Edward Augustus), 1846-1911

Letter from William H. Taft to Joseph Benson Foraker

Secretary of War Taft tells Senator Foraker that he has correctly stated Taft’s initial suggestion, but he now believes it is unwise to recommend the adoption of the proposed amendment to the statute. He is anxious not to delay the settlement of the unfortunate controversy, referring to the Brownsville matter, which has interfered with the discipline of the Army.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-01

Creator(s)

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

Memorandum on coal country

Senator Robert M. La Follette has met with Commissioner of Indian Affairs Francis E. Leupp and discussed their disagreements over a bill concerning Choctaw and Chickasaw coal lands. La Follette may support Leupp’s provisions, but he feels that the bill, leaving out any reference to the Choctaw and Chickasaw lands, should be introduced today.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-22

Creator(s)

Unknown

Memorandum from Smith S. Leach to James Franklin Bell

Corps of Engineers Lieutenant Colonel Leach summarizes James F. J. Archibald’s letter to President Roosevelt regarding the weak defense of the Hawaiian Islands. In general, the Pacific Ocean is very poorly defended and should be considered a vulnerability. Leach discuses the logistics of introducing submarine weapons into naval defenses and previous attempts to acquire such weapons. While Leach concedes that Hawaii is lacking in defense, he strongly disagrees with the position that the Pacific Ocean is vulnerable and proves this by listing the local forts and their weaponized capacity.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-21

Creator(s)

Leach, Smith S.