Monroe doctrine

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles J. Bonaparte

Theodore Roosevelt compliments Charles J. Bonaparte for the articles he has written on the Monroe Doctrine and the European war. However, Roosevelt believes that the United States should “act under the Hague Treaties in connection with Belgium.” The treaties were signed and must be acted upon. The Progressive Party was too advanced for the average man and attracted too many cranks. America’s two party system has become too entrenched to overcome. In 1912 the economy was the major issue; a workingman “was not interested in social and industrial justice.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-11-07

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Olive Grace Kerr

President Roosevelt offers his condolences to Olive Grace Kerr for the death of her husband, Henry Scanlan Kerr. However, Roosevelt feels he must object to Olive Kerr publishing the article she encloses, since he feels that Henry Kerr would not have recalled Roosevelt’s statements accurately or may have misunderstood what he meant. Roosevelt also feels that it would be inappropriate to publicly recount details Henry Kerr might have overheard at a private luncheon.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10-24

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Arthur Hamilton Lee

President Roosevelt believes Arthur Hamilton Lee handled the “Swettenham matter” efficiently, calling the matter itself a “cosmic incident” and citing others like Swettenham in American Government, most notably General James Harrison Wilson. He was amused by the opinions of John William Burgess, who was awarded the Theodore Roosevelt professorship in at the University of Berlin. While Roosevelt admires some of Burgess’s scholarly accomplishments, he considers Burgess “hopefully wrong-headed” and criticizes his first lecture denouncing the Monroe Doctrine.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-08

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John William Burgess

President Roosevelt thanks John William Burgess for the letters and copy of a speech he sent while Roosevelt was in Panama. Roosevelt tells Burgess that his letter said the Monroe Doctrine was not being abandoned by the United States when the opposite was conveyed in the speech’s summary.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-11-27

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Elihu Root

President Roosevelt requests Secretary of State Root speak at a reception in his honor immediately after he returns. A “rousing speech” would help the Republican party and the administration, especially with the current struggle for control of Congress and the New York governorship.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-17

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Cecil Spring Rice

President Roosevelt discusses various aspects of his efforts to make peace between Japan and Russia at length with Cecil Spring Rice. He also discusses the current strained relations between England and Germany, and informs Rice that he does not intend to take on the role of regular peacemaker between other countries. It is necessary for him to focus on the affairs of the United States, rather than trying to keep peace in Europe.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Cecil Spring Rice

President Roosevelt asks that Cecil Spring Rice give his regards to Lord Henry Charles Keith Petty-FitzMaurice Lansdowne. Roosevelt writes at length about the current state of international affairs and of relationships between different nations. He feels that it is not in Japan’s interest to extend the Russo-Japanese War for another year and explains his actions in pressing for peace negotiations between the two powers. Roosevelt also discusses his efforts urging the United States to interpret the Monroe Doctrine in an active way and remarks upon the recent death of Secretary of State John Hay.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-24

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Joseph Gurney Cannon

President Roosevelt is concerned about what he is reading in the papers about cutting funding for the United States Navy, which he believes is a bad idea. Roosevelt does not believe he is an “alarmist, or an imperialist, or an amateur war lord” when he tells Speaker of the House Cannon he believes cutting funding for the Navy would be worse than any other cut in funding the government could make. Roosevelt wants to build up the Navy, not for the sake of building it up, but for the sake of letting other nations know the United States is able to back up its policy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-27

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Joseph Gurney Cannon

President Roosevelt writes to Joseph Gurney Cannon, Chairman of the Notification Committee, to formally accept his nomination as the Republican presidential candidate and to approve the platform adopted by the Republican National Convention. In the letter, Roosevelt provides a comprehensive defense of his foreign and domestic policies and outlines what he believes are the major differences between the Republican and Democratic parties in the upcoming election. Roosevelt discusses, among other topics, his position on international relations, antitrust legislation, tariffs, the gold standard, pensions for Civil War veterans, the military, civil service, commerce, agriculture, taxation, and self-government in the Philippines.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-12

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Theodore E. Burton

President Roosevelt was distressed at Representative Burton’s speech regarding the navy. He argues that a strong navy, including naval fortifications, is required for the United States to maintain its position across the globe.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-02-23

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Whitelaw Reid

President Roosevelt would like to meet with Whitelaw Reid after Reid returns from the Adirondacks. He notes that they share similar views regarding the Monroe Doctrine.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-07-24

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Hay

Ambassador Sternburg has suggested that the Great Powers form a “syndicate” to take possession of Venezuelan finances and prevent future European expeditions to collect debts. President Roosevelt did not provide a full answer but expressed his doubts that the American people would support such a system, especially since it would seem to conflict with the general interpretation of the Monroe Doctrine.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-03-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George Wheeler Hinman

With the ongoing Venezuelan crisis in mind, President Roosevelt would like to discuss the Monroe Doctrine with George Wheeler Hinman. Roosevelt’s goals in working towards a solution are allowing the collection of an honest debt and preventing European nations from using debt collection to gain a territorial foothold.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-12-29

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick William Holls

President Roosevelt is pleased that the concerned powers accepted the Hague tribunal for arbitration. Roosevelt would have served as arbitrator if he believed the Monroe Doctrine would be threatened.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-12-29

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to St. Clair McKelway

President Roosevelt is pleased that the Venezuelan crisis will be handled by the Hague tribunal and that no European nation was able to gain a territorial foothold on the pretext of debt collection.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-12-29

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Grover Cleveland

President Roosevelt compares his actions defending the Monroe Doctrine and attempting to solve the Venezuelan crisis to the actions Grover Cleveland took towards Venezuela while President. Roosevelt hopes that Cleveland will be satisfied that Great Britain and Germany have recognized the Monroe Doctrine.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-12-26

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Albert Shaw

The various governments involved in the Venezuelan crisis have accepted arbitration by the Hague court. President Roosevelt was willing to arbitrate, primarily due to concerns over the Monroe Doctrine, but believes the acceptance of arbitration at the Hague to be a great triumph.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-12-26

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Lyman Abbott

President Roosevelt thanks Dr. Abbott for the copy of the act and would like to speak to him regarding the Venezuelan crisis, the Hague tribunal, and the Monroe Doctrine.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-12-27

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Davis Long

Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt discusses various national and international reasons why the Navy Department should steadily, yet rapidly, build up the Navy. He reasons that “a great navy does not make for war, but for peace.” Roosevelt lists actionable steps Congress and the Department can take. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1897-09-30

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Lodge’s amendment to the arbitration treaties will allow the United States to ignore any question it does not want to arbitrate as if the treaty did not exist. It is predicated upon the assumption that the president and Senate would never submit certain issues to arbitration, such as the Monroe Doctrine.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-01-13