Your TR Source
President Roosevelt assures Senator Hopkins that the newspapers must have “concocted his remarks, as he does not have any ill feeling toward Hopkins. Roosevelt comments on Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte’s appointment of a special counsel in the Yates matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-22
William E. Dodd tells Theodore Roosevelt how outraged he is at an article in the recent Harper’s Weekly magazine that he perceives as slanderous towards Roosevelt and paints him as attacking William H. Taft.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-14
William Dudley Foulke calls President Roosevelt’s attention to a paper he encloses which was “published ostensibly by negroes” and distributed widely in Indianapolis. Foulke also comments on the situation of Francis Augustus MacNutt, who had been in the service of the United States as a diplomat until certain charges were raised against him. MacNutt was acquitted at Rome, but subsequent statements attributed to Roosevelt led to his not being received at the Vatican. MacNutt begs the privilege of answering any definite charge against him. He is still abroad, but would return to the United States to have the opportunity to prove his innocence.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-28
Elihu Root writes to President Roosevelt from the train to Philadelphia where he is going to consult with Mayor John Weaver. Root thinks Roosevelt’s letter to Secretary of the Navy Paul Morton is “bully” and only has one or two verbal suggestions to offer. Clarence Winthrop Bowen came to visit Root and ask for “merciful treatment” for his brother, Herbert Wolcott Bowen, who is embroiled in a libel case with Assistant Secretary of State Francis B. Loomis.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-16
Caspar Whitney responds to a letter President Roosevelt previously sent him concerning the libel case between Assistant Secretary of State Loomis and Herbert Wolcott Bowen. Whitney admits that he knows little about the case, but that he believes Bowen to be a good public servant.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-09
Eben H. Hubbard writes to Secretary of the Treasury Shaw that the reports against Mobile collector William Frye Tebbetts are inaccurate. The president of a Mobile bank sent a letter to Senator William P. Frye to vouch for Tebbetts’s character, as well.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-27
Assistant Postmaster General Wynne denies allegations from Senator Asbury Churchwell Latimer regarding a statement Wynne made about the promotion of women.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-03-14
President Roosevelt tells his son Kermit that there has been considerable grumbling over his order regarding physical exercise. In order to put a stop to it, Roosevelt decided to ride 90 miles in one day himself. He and three others rode from Washington, D.C., to Warrenton and back, a distance of 98 miles, beginning at 3:30 a.m. and returning at 8:30 p.m.
Congress feels they do not have to listen to the President since his term is nearly up and he expects fights over some veto messages he will send. He will start his libel suits against The World and the Indianapolis News. Roosevelt says he and Mother have enjoyed life at the White House but are ready to leave.
1909-01-14
Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit to say that he will be heading to Syracuse for the trial for his libel suit brought against him by William Barnes. Edith had to go to the hospital for an operation. Roosevelt also addresses problems at the bank about which Kermit had written. He has consulted with Ted and they agree that the best Kermit can do is preserve relations with Allen and do the best work he can. Archie is visiting, staying with Ethel, and looks forward to the military encampment this summer.
1915-04-17
President Roosevelt informs William Allen White that Senator Thomas Collier Platt came in “literally raving” and saying he was going to sue White for libel and accusing Roosevelt of being complicit in the writing of White’s article. Roosevelt informed him that he had no part in writing it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-12-17
On behalf of Theodore Roosevelt, his secretary thanks W. C. Lowry for the letter. The clipping Lowry sent is from a “bad paper” published by a “disreputable lot.” The only action that could be taken is a lawsuit but that would serve their purposes so it is better to ignore them.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-11-11
Theodore Roosevelt accuses William Jennings Bryan of misquoting a statement Roosevelt made regarding the Steel Trust. Roosevelt provides evidence of his actual statement and requests that Bryan issue a public retraction.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-10-22
Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary thanks Louis F. Valentine for the letter and clipping. The article regarding Roosevelt’s drinking habits was entirely false and the matter has been taken up with the author and the newspaper that first published the article. A libel suit may be brought in the future.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-10-10
Theodore Roosevelt thanks Jacob A. Riis for sending Paul Underwood Kellogg’s letter. He has heard several absurd rumors similar to the one related by Kellogg. Roosevelt is not in favor of criminal libel charges unless the accusation is made by a prominent individual.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-07-03
Theodore Roosevelt thanks Governor Hadley for countering rumors regarding Roosevelt’s consumption of alcohol. Roosevelt appreciates Hadley’s work during the campaign for the Republican presidential nomination and regrets that Hadley will not be joining the new third party movement. Roosevelt does not see a usefulness for the Republican Party under its current leadership but would never question Hadley’s “conscientiousness.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-06-28
Theodore Roosevelt writes to H. R. Vaughan to clear up rumors regarding a false statement about Governor Hadley.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-06-28
Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary writes Mrs. B. von S. Higgins to explain Roosevelt’s previous communication with a woman who had made assertions about von S. Higgins’ activities in Seattle.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-06-07
Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary believes that sections of the report on Mr. Barnes would be considered libelous if published. Roosevelt appreciates Hamilton Fish’s suggestion and has several copies of the report.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-06-05
Theodore Roosevelt’s brother-in-law Douglas Robinson and his son-in-law Nicholas Longworth have not made money on Wall Street as far as Roosevelt knows and says that the statement is an infamous slander.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-06-03
Theodore Roosevelt asserts that he was only defending himself from attacks and claims that a man is trying to use Freemasonry to Roosevelt’s political disadvantage.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-06-03