McCall, Samuel W. (Samuel Walker), 1851-1923

Presidential snapshot (#23): Excerpt of a letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John St. Loe Strachey

President Roosevelt tells John St. Loe Strachey that he believes loose talk and misunderstanding the intentions of each nation almost led to war between England and Germany in 1905. Roosevelt contends that both England and the United States do not suffer from a lust for war, but from a shortsightedness in preparing for it, and he cites Congressman Samuel W. McCall as an example of someone who is both belligerent and critical of armaments. Roosevelt also notes that he is still trying to find a solution to the issue of Japanese immigration to the United States. The letter features Roosevelt’s use of his simplified spelling style.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1907-02-22

A few pleasant recollections of the fifty-fourth Congress

A large group of members of the Fifty-fourth Congress are pictured. Many are dressed as natives, with some wearing grass skirts. Most are armed with spears or clubs, while some have shields. Four are reading the “Reminiscences of John Sherman,” one turns the crank on a spit where John Bull is being roasted, and Thomas B. Reed is standing on a platform on the left. A statue labeled “Jingoism” appears at center. Grover Cleveland appears in effigy with several spears or arrows stuck in him. Joseph G. Cannon sits on the floor on the right.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1896-05-27

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Lincoln Steffens

President Roosevelt writes journalist Lincoln Steffens that the striking down of the Santo Domingo treaty by the Democratic caucus in the Senate is a betrayal to the American people and done only to serve the interests of a small faction. Roosevelt believes they are more dangerous than politicians beholden to corporations. Roosevelt responds to allegations by Steffens that he did not do enough to get results by saying he has gotten closer to what he wanted than other politicians.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1906-02-06

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Kermit Roosevelt

President Roosevelt writes his son Kermit about his battles with Congress to get four battleships. Roosevelt says some senators are indifferent or unpatriotic. He fears war with Japan and that pushes him to build the navy. Roosevelt adds that Ted was home with a sore throat but is now better, and also says that he and Edith went riding.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1908-04-19

List of Republican and Democratic Representatives

A list of Republican and Democratic Representatives, probably related to some piece of legislation under consideration.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-05

Letter from Edward Atkinson to Theodore Roosevelt

Edward Atkinson sends President Roosevelt a pamphlet dealing with “ignorance and illiteracy” as the “main source of the race problem” in the United States. He believes that Republican representatives such as Charles E. Littlefield, Samuel W. McCall, or Theodore E. Burton could introduce a bill to remedy the problem.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-01-08

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Hamilton Fish II

Theodore Roosevelt does not think that Hamilton Fish II needs to reply to William R. McCredie’s letter. Roosevelt responds to Herbert Parson’s letter to Fish, in that Roosevelt never wanted personal loyalty from Parsons, but wanted him to act honestly at the Republican National Convention. Roosevelt believes that the William H. Taft delegates were wrongfully seated.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-11-27

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Philander C. Knox

President Roosevelt advises Senator Knox, who will be president-elect William H. Taft’s secretary of state, on the importance and fragility of the relationship between the United States and Japan. Roosevelt explains why he believes that there is a real possibility that Japan will declare war on the United States, although this is by no means certain. Currently, many Americans are pursuing ineffectual and offensive strategies in an effort to prevent Japanese immigration to the United States. Roosevelt supports their goal but not their means. In Hawaii, meanwhile, Roosevelt disapproves of sugar planters encouraging large numbers of settlers from China and Japan to come work on their plantations. Roosevelt feels that the settlement of Hawaii by individuals from Southern Europe should be encouraged. His more general policy is threefold. He wants the government to prevent Japanese citizens from settling in America, while treating Japan “so courteously that she will not be offended more than necessary,” and building up the navy as a preventative measure. Although the value of this policy should be self-evident, Americans “are shortsighted and have short memories.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-08

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Kermit Roosevelt

President Roosevelt updates Kermit Roosevelt on the family and sends another poem from Philip Roosevelt. He laments Congress’s failure to give him four new battleships and feels that “unpatriotic” Congressional leaders are prioritizing their own interests over those of the country. Roosevelt states that although he does not think the United States will go to war with Japan, naval supremacy is necessary to deter any Japanese attack or invasion of the West Coast.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-19

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles J. Bonaparte

President Roosevelt agrees with Attorney General Bonaparte’s conclusions in the Standard Oil and Chicago Alton Railroad case. While he thinks Bonaparte’s letter to Henry Lee Higginson is admirable, Roosevelt thinks it best not to publish it and open himself to further attacks by the press. He cautions against attending the conference of attorney generals. Roosevelt suggests how to respond to United States District Attorney N. M. Ruick and handle the situation in New Mexico.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-22

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John St. Loe Strachey

President Roosevelt was impressed with what John St. Loe Strachey had to say about Berlin and Paris and discusses his thoughts on the war scare between England and Germany two years prior.  He tells Strachey that there are those who object to “keeping up the Navy” while also persuading him to come to terms with Japan, which he sees as “inviting trouble” and refusing to prepare if conflict with Japan became a reality. Roosevelt believes that the United States will have to adopt a similar policy on Japanese immigration as Australia but is confused as to why a country with a much smaller population and birth-rate adopted such a policy so soon.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-22

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Augustus Peabody Gardner

President Roosevelt congratulates Representative Gardner on the “immigration bill question,” which he succeeded in despite the opposition of Representative Samuel W. McCall. Roosevelt considers McCall “always futile.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-19

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to J. W. Babcock

President Roosevelt is convinced that there is abuse relating to life insurance in Washington D.C. He asks Representative Babcock of the Committee of the District of Columbia to meet with Superintendent of Insurance Thomas F. Drake and “secure a bill” that will solve the problem.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-16

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Lawrence

Although his wife, Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt, will not be able to see Bishop William Lawrence on her way to Groton, President Roosevelt would like to come by Lawrence’s home if he will allow it. Roosevelt asks if Lawrence remembers his critique of Harvard University President Charles William Eliot, who has recently endorsed Representative Samuel W. McCall. McCall, like Richard Olney, is attempting to embarrass the administration without regard to the welfare of the nation, Roosevelt says.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-06

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

President Roosevelt agrees with Senator Lodge about wanting an appointee who follows the tenants of Alexander Hamilton and John Marshall. He is pleased with the outcome in Maine given the previous harm caused by the issue of temperance and liquor laws. Roosevelt shares how he took “solid satisfaction” in taking a shot at journalist Norman Hapgood. Reading Winston Churchill’s biography of his father, Lord Randolph Henry Spencer Churchill, reaffirmed Roosevelt’s dislike of both father and son.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-12

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

President Roosevelt tells Senator Lodge that he plans to “convulse the googoos and mugwumps with horror by taking the chance to write a letter making as strong a plea as I know how for the election of a Republican Congress.” He agrees with Lodge regarding organized labor, and comments on several political candidates. Roosevelt additionally describes some of his recent sailing and rowing adventures he has gone on with his family.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-09

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Lincoln Steffens

President Roosevelt takes issue with some criticisms that Lincoln Steffens has made of his efforts to get Congress to ratify the Santo Domingo treaty. He points out that several Democrats are opposing the treaty merely to be obstructionist, rather than because of an honest difference of opinion. In contrast, Roosevelt believes that there is more room for honest differences in opinion in the railroad rate bill. Steffens’s idea that Roosevelt should refuse to make any concessions and to let the voters decide who is correct in the next election is flawed. Roosevelt cites evidence of voters supporting men who are on two sides of the same issue.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-02-05

Letter from John Callan O’Laughlin to Theodore Roosevelt

John Callan O’Laughlin informs Theodore Roosevelt that John M. Harlan, a previously outspoken critic of Roosevelt, would support him if he were to run for re-election. Many other Republicans have also inquired about whether Roosevelt will seek re-election. O’Laughlin requests that Roosevelt publicly reject Secretary of State Robert Lansing’s treaty with Latin America that would include territorial integrity and prohibitions on shipments of munitions. O’Laughlin fears that this would keep the United States from acquiring any more territory in the future and would have a detrimental effect on relationship between the United States and South American countries.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-01-24

Letter from N. J. Bachelder to Theodore Roosevelt

N. J. Bachelder has enclosed a copy of a letter to Representative McCall about the Canadian Reciprocity Bill. Bachelder shares with Theodore Roosevelt that the farmers of America are against the passing of the bill, and feel it is unfair that they are being treated differently from big business manufacturers. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-19

Letter from Charles J. Bonaparte to Theodore Roosevelt

Attorney General Bonaparte sent President Roosevelt a draft of the telegram to United States District Attorney N. M. Ruick. Bonaparte shares his thoughts about the intentions of the press in attacking him and gives an update on the International Harvester Company trust prosecution. Additionally, Bonaparte comments on Special Assistant Attorney General Ormsby McHarg and the conference of attorneys general.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-26