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President Roosevelt wants to bring the case of Navy Assistant Paymaster George M. Lukesh to Congress to pass a special law to remove him from the navy. He also wishes for heavier reprimands on those who have been court-martialed and have it appear on their records.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-30
President Roosevelt has received Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte’s letter, and asks for him to forward the clippings he mentioned relating to the matter of Naval Assistant Paymaster George M. Lukesh, saying that he “should like to see your blister-raising letter!” Roosevelt believes Admiral George Albert Converse has the typical and foolish dislike of many naval officers towards the naval militia. Roosevelt feels that the naval militia plays a valuable role, and that they should be allowed to participate in the naval review if they are able to do so.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-13
President Roosevelt comments to Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte about several ships, and shares his amusement at the comment in a newspaper article about the proposed destruction of the Constitution as likely being instigated by Roosevelt, thinking that Roosevelt’s “violent hostility to the Constitution is extended to anything which bears the hated title.” He has “a certain malign satisfaction” in seeing some newspapers take an attitude towards Bonaparte similar to that which they have always taken towards Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-16
Following an exhibition of drunkenness at an official banquet by Naval Paymaster George M. Lukesh, Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte has not dismissed the man, but rather endorsed the recommendation of the court-martial putting him to the bottom of the list of paymasters. The author of the article explains that this is because, while Bonaparte has the ability to punish, neither he nor President Roosevelt have the power to impose a more severe sentence. The author also believes when an officer disgraces the Navy in such a way, there should be a method for imposing stronger punishments against them.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-15
Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte has the correspondence related to the case of Paymaster George M. Lukesh as well as the letter referencing Paymasters Rishworth Nicholson and Harry Earl Biscoe. Bonaparte would like to see President Roosevelt personally in regards to the Lukesh case and will provide Roosevelt with additional information about the other two cases at that time.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-01
Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte is not in Washington, D.C., at present, as he is obliged to attend several events in Maryland, but informs President Roosevelt that he has sent his request for a report on the condition of food at Navy Yards to the Bureau of Supplies and Accounts, and has left instructions for it to be sent to Roosevelt as soon as it is furnished. Bonaparte believes that the contractor may have not been fulfilling the contract as written, and may need to be replaced. There have been some difficulties in securing a ship from the District Naval Militia for the naval review, which Bonaparte has been working on alongside Admiral George Albert Converse. Bonaparte finally informs Roosevelt of his recent communication with a newspaper which had alleged that he and Roosevelt had shown too much leniency towards Naval Paymaster George M. Lukesh. Bonaparte pointed out the actions were taken in accordance with the law, and eventually drove the newspaper to publish an apology.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-11
Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte criticizes Providence Journal editor Frederick H. Howland for his editorial saying Bonaparte was lenient on Paymaster George M. Lukesh. Bonaparte also rebuts the editorial’s accusation that President Roosevelt was complicit in this alleged leniency. Bonaparte says he and Roosevelt believed that Lukesh should not have been allowed to remain in the Navy, but says ultimately the court martial gave the toughest sentence they legally could.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-07