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William Sowden Sims wrote a paper about future naval tactics for an entire fleet of ships and shares his conclusions with Theodore Roosevelt, as well as enclosing the paper. Sims believes many modifications will be needed for future naval actions, listing them for Roosevelt, whom he thinks they will interest.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-05
Admiral Dewey writes to President Roosevelt about the ineffectiveness of armored cruisers. Dewey says that while there are some specific uses for armored cruisers, generally either an unarmored cruiser or a battleship is a preferable choice. The General Board does not recommend building any armored cruisers.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-15
Theodore Roosevelt addresses the Naval War College of Newport, Rhode Island, discussing the need for a strong and growing Navy in order for the United States to be prepared for the future.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1897-06-02
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt writes about possibly visiting his sister Corinne Roosevelt Robinson after he speaks at the Naval War College, though he questions whether or not he will have time to do so.
1897-05-10
President Roosevelt asks Acting Secretary of the Navy Newberry when the report of the conference at the Naval War College will be ready.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-06
President Roosevelt asks William H. Taft to join him in taking the Mayflower from Newport to New York. He is pleased with Taft’s speech, but would like to discuss a few small edits with him in person, and would like Secretary of State Elihu Root to look it over as well.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-21
William Loeb writes to Admiral Merrell, president of the Naval War College, about upcoming plans for President Roosevelt to speak there. Loeb asks Merrell to send invitations for the speech and reception to connections of Roosevelt’s family. He also asks advice about the geography of Rhode Island and whether secret service agents should meet Roosevelt at the War College.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-15
President Roosevelt has received Admiral Merrell’s letter, and would be glad to come. Roosevelt says he could only give a brief address, because as a layman he can only speak about general principles. He would like to see both the War College and General Board to discuss the battleship plans, and asks when the General Board will be at the college.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-06
President Roosevelt says that Assistant Secretary of the Navy Newberry should send the plans for the North Dakota type ships to the fleet officers to consider. Roosevelt approves of Newberry’s suggestion of sending officers who have had battleship experience for temporary duty at the War College, as they can then be consulted with more easily. Roosevelt would particularly like to gain the benefit of Cameron McRae Winslow’s experience.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-03
President Roosevelt tells Acting Secretary of the Navy Newberry that Admiral John P. Merrell has invited him to come to the Naval War College at Newport. Roosevelt would like to go before the end of the month, and asks when the General Board will be there to discuss the plans of the battleship North Dakota. Roosevelt would like to spend a day there to discuss the battleship question.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-06
President Roosevelt asks Secretary of the Navy Metcalf to submit a letter from Albert L. Key to the General Board and the Naval War College, and order the two bodies to make a joint report on the contents of the letter. Key had previously written addressing what he saw as defects in the design of the North Dakota class battleships, and Roosevelt requests an opinion about these comments, as well as whether they can be fixed. Roosevelt particularly requests input regarding the battleship’s armor, main guns, torpedo-defense guns, and torpedo tubes. Roosevelt also requests that Metcalf ask whether it would be good to have the commanding officer of each ship appoint a board to determine the draft of the ships at various stages of being loaded.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-30
Wilbur S. Hinman sends Lester Rockwell a copy of the Secretary of the Navy’s annual report, a pamphlet on the Navy’s ships, and Assistant Secretary of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt’s speech at the Naval War College.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-10-09
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt sends Horatio L. Wait a statement from Caspar F. Goodrich, Superintendent of the Naval War College.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-09-23
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt thanks Caspar F. Goodrich for the memorandum and plans to use it to “convert” Secretary of the Navy John Davis Long. He wants to meet with Goodrich and Captain H. C. Taylor to discuss maneuvers for the North Atlantic Squadron. Roosevelt suggests that the Naval War College prepare a problem and that the squadron execute it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-09-11
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt enjoyed hearing from George F. Spinney, especially his adventures as “an embryonic pirate.” The requested pamphlet has been sent and Roosevelt sends Spinney a copy of his address at the Naval War College.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-09-10
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt asks Captain Caspar F. Goodrich to invite Captain William W. Wotherspoon to attend Roosevelt’s address at the Naval War College.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-05-29
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt will be out of town visiting the Boston Navy Yard and the Naval War College, but would like to schedule a meeting with Rounsevelle Wildman when he returns to Washington D.C.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-05-28
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt informs Grace Sanderson Thacher Putnam he should be able to figure out the “chart business” without her traveling to the Naval War College to meet in person. Roosevelt is unsure when he will have free time to meet with her that day and does not want her to waste her time waiting for him to be free.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-05-28
At the request of Captain Goodrich, Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt encloses a special problem for the staff and students at the Naval War College.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-05-28
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt asks Lieutenant Gleaves to arrive in Oyster Bay, Long Island by June 1st, and informs Gleaves of how to find his house. Roosevelt would like to breakfast with the officers before they head to Newport where he is to give a speech at the Naval War College the following day.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-05-28