Loeb, William, 1866-1937

Alfred L. Hutchinson sends Theodore Roosevelt a second copy of his book, The Limit of Wealth, to showcase the many things he said in his book that are now happening. Hutchinson handed a book to William H. Taft, and after becoming president, Taft enacted the corporation tax, which is something Hutchinson advocated for. Now Roosevelt is writing about the inheritance tax law, which is a step toward Hutchinson’s suggestion that there should be no limits on wealth, but that wealth should be redistributed after death.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-12

Creator(s)

Hutchinson, Alfred L., 1859-

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-05-25

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Recipient

Roosevelt, Kermit, 1889-1943

Language

English

President Roosevelt reports on the family animals and how he has been acting as “vice-mother” while Edith is gone for nine days. He has been reading a lot to Archie and Quentin. Roosevelt expresses his disappointment at Seth Low’s recent defeat. William Loeb inquires as to whether Kermit is receiving the Saturday Commercial Advertiser.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1903-11-15

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt encloses a letter for Kermit Roosevelt. Roosevelt has written to Edgar Huidekoper Wells about Kermit’s study of Greek, which he encourages as he did Ted Roosevelt’s reading of Latin. Both Roosevelt and William Loeb approve of Kermit’s course schedule.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-03

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Kermit, 1889-1943

President Roosevelt responds to William I. Nichols’s letter to William Loeb by saying that any good guidance can be twisted to serve bad ends. The statistics surrounding the country’s birth rate, in particular a decrease in the Native American birth rate, prove his beliefs are correct. Roosevelt feels that no one should marry who can not support a family. He describes the sociological situation in France to support his points.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-21

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt demands that Second Assistant Postmaster General McCleary either cease canvassing or send his resignation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-09

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt will send William H. Taft a copy of his letter to Representatives Henry C. Loudenslager and William Brown McKinley. He wonders if Taft has seen George W. Alger’s recent article on Taft, which Roosevelt believes should be widely circulated. Roosevelt agrees Taft should give a number of big speeches in several states and earnestly wants Taft’s personality to be more evident. Regarding Governor Charles Evans Hughes, Roosevelt still thinks he should be renominated. He discusses the guaranty of bank deposits but can offer no advice on the subject.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-29

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt informs Frederick C. Stevens that William Loeb has taken over the investigation of John A. Merritt, but Loeb is away on holiday, so Roosevelt has sent Stevens’ letter to Secretary of the Treasury George B. Cortelyou with instructions to take “immediate and drastic action” in the case.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-11

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt is glad to see Secretary of State Root returning to his old self. Roosevelt feels he should accept the appointment of Tingfang Wu as China’s Ambassador to the United States as they are unlikely to get an ambassador like the one who has just left. He has received a report that the Chinese Army has stopped reforming itself and cannot compare to leading military powers. Roosevelt asks Root to give his good wishes to Mexican President Porfirio Díaz.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-26

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt hopes William Loeb will be named as a delegate to the Republican National Convention. He asks for the help of United States Attorney Youngs, to ensure local disputes will not interfere with the upcoming presidential election.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt finds it a great comfort that his elder son, Kermit Roosevelt, is caring for his younger son, Archibald B. Roosevelt, while they are away at school. President Roosevelt gives Kermit advice on what he should do upon graduating. He believes it would only help Kermit to attend Harvard College for three years, and that going immediately into a career would not be beneficial because he is still young and inexperienced. Roosevelt encourages Kermit to seek advice from others, but emphasizes that college will help him mature and will benefit him in the long-run.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

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

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

President Roosevelt congratulates Francis G. Landon on his victory in Dutchess County, New York, and asks Landon to thank James A. Lavery for informing William Loeb.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-14

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt and William Loeb both think Secretary of War Taft’s chances of being elected are improving. Removing Kentucky Collector of Internal Revenue Edward T. Franks is delicate, and Roosevelt will consult with Commissioner of Internal Revenue John G. Capers. Roosevelt will echo Taft’s statement on the Philippines. The financiers are now attacking the Great White Fleet’s trip to the Pacific. Roosevelt sends an enclosure exemplifying Lucius Nathan Littauer’s behavior, and he has heard there will be support for Governor Charles Evans Hughes.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-05

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt agrees with Attorney General Bonaparte on the appointment of Assistant Attorney General Marsden C. Burch in the Idaho land fraud case. On the New Mexico issue, Roosevelt details Attorney General William H. H. Llewellyn’s rise as an attorney. In light of Judge James H. Beatty’s letter, Roosevelt feels there is no need to be involved. Although Roosevelt does not trust rumors, it does seem based on recent behavior that Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis may be suffering a breakdown. In a post script, Roosevelt comments on William Randolph Hearst’s recent supposed sympathy toward Bonaparte after his siding with Wall Street. In Roosevelt’s view, the recurrent rumor about Bonaparte resigning to appease financiers has actually shown the public that Bonaparte alarms those who are corrupt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-31

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt initially finds it hard to advise Representative Burton on whether he should campaign for mayor of Cleveland. As a representative, Burton’s knowledge and leadership are difficult to replace. However, these same qualities make him an ideal public servant, especially when “our democratic system has come nearest to breaking down in our cities.” Roosevelt, therefore, advises Burton to campaign for the mayoralty.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-30

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt looked over Admiral Sims’s letter and the “accompanying admirable article.” He agrees it is discouraging to have previously resolved arguments resurrected, especially those concerning the relationship between rapidity of shots and accuracy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-29

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt is unsure if he will call the convention Representative Burton references. Before doing so, he wants clarification from Burton and Gifford Pinchot about the Mississippi movement. Roosevelt asks Burton to send the advice concerning Roosevelt’s speeches in St. Louis and Memphis on his upcoming Mississippi trip.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-21

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Out of concern for the convalescing Archibald Hopkins, clerk for the United States Court of Claims, President Roosevelt inquires of Chief Justice Peelle if Hopkins’s leave of absence has caused any difficulties.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919