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President Roosevelt asks Secretary of the Navy Metcalf to prepare new battleship plans to be discussed by a select group of officers in anticipation of presenting specific requests for appropriation to Congress.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-15
President Roosevelt is glad Rear Admiral Evans is writing on the navy. He praises Evans’s career as one of honor, and hopes his book will be widely read for, “it can not but tend in favor of a growing and lofty patriotism.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-17
President Roosevelt asks Representative Capron if there is anything he can do to help pass the bill regarding the pay of Navy officers.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-22
President Roosevelt watches naval officers rush forward, shouting, “Double Quick.” Beside him is a sign that reads, “To Promotion. Wanted–More Naval Officers–Get in Young and Get More Experience–Commander in Chief.” Secretary of the Navy Victor Howard Metcalf stands on a boat labeled “The U.S. Navy” and says, “Them’s My Sentiments.”
“A Probable Naval Order”? The Washington Herald’s cartoonist Jack H. Smith was prescient, because before President Roosevelt left office, he promulgated the Physical Readiness Training (PRT) program for naval officers. Roosevelt, since his days as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, was appalled at the indolence and general physical decrepitude of naval officers, desk and line both.
Theodore Roosevelt appreciates J. J. Peet’s letter, especially since he is a former naval officer.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-02-03
President Roosevelt tells Mrs. Evans that he will intervene in the court-martial of her son, Lieutenant Franck Taylor Evans. Roosevelt knows Lt. Evans to be a good person and good officer, and will therefore attempt to lighten his penalty. He advises that the Evanses should not proclaim innocence, for it weakens their case.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-06
President Roosevelt has been “unpleasantly struck” by the poor physical condition of some of their naval officers. He asks Assistant Secretary of the Navy Newberry to come discuss instituting a physical test for the navy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-17
In reference to Senator Frye’s letter, which enclosed letters from Helen S. Merriam and General Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, President Roosevelt encloses a report which explains itself. Merriam’s husband, Greenlief Augustus Merriam, died in September, and she believes he died of a broken heart after being removed from command of the Atlantic Fleet. It is clear to Roosevelt that Captain Merriam suffered no injustice, and that the Navy Department could not have taken any other action.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-16
President Roosevelt tells General King what a “genuine pleasure” it is to know that his son, Rufus King, owes his naval appointment to Roosevelt. He is pleased that Rufus has made good, as it frequently happens “that the sons of the men who ought to make good don’t.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-03
President Roosevelt will take up Captain Ransom’s case, but does not know who Secretary of the Navy Victor Howard Metcalf has in mind.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-05-27
President Roosevelt encloses a letter from Cardinal James Gibbons supporting Commander Robert S. Griffin, who would like to replace Rear Admiral Charles W. Rae as Chief Engineer of the Navy. While Roosevelt thinks well of Griffin, he does not appreciate his applying ecclesiastical pressure in an attempt to get the position.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-05-25
President Roosevelt asks Representative Cockran to tell Father James F. Mackin that he will carefully consider what he says and will take the matter up with Secretary of the Navy Victor Howard Metcalf. He has heard good things about Commander Robert S. Griffin, but has to consider other men as well. (Griffin has applied to be appointed engineer-in-chief of the Navy)
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-05-22
President Roosevelt informs Representative Foss, Chairman of the Committee on Naval Affairs, that he has sent Senator Thomas Collier Platt a bill that would create the grade of vice-admiral, with an aim to appoint Robley D. Evans to that position. He believes that the position should have been created before now, and hopes that it will be done.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-05-22
President Roosevelt thanks Senator Platt for his action regarding the bill providing for a vice admiral of the Navy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-05-22
President Roosevelt will give careful consideration to Commander Robert S. Griffin’s case, but notes that he will judge Griffin entirely on his standing compared to other candidates. (Griffin has applied to be engineer-in-chief of the Navy)
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-05-25
Per the request of Governor Gillett and others, President Roosevelt would like to make Robley D. Evans a Vice-Admiral, but a law would have to be passed for him to do so.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-05-10
President Roosevelt addresses Albert Gleaves’s request to go as a detached scout vessel. Roosevelt makes all of his decisions based on the good of the Navy, rather than on the requests of individual officers.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-05-06
President Roosevelt believes that Albert L. Key’s main objections to his plan for the administration of the Navy stems from the fact that officers eligible for positions are too old. Roosevelt would like to promote younger men to higher grades in the Navy, but his experience attempting this in the Army has made it clear that he cannot successfully do so.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-10
President Roosevelt relieves Rear Admiral Evans of command at his own request. He thanks Evans for his long service in the United States Navy and recaps his career, which has seen the country emerge as a first class naval power.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-23
Although it is possible that President Roosevelt should have taken the stand General Dodge suggested in his letter, he did not. This is for two reasons. First, during his service, General Willard H. Brownson performed admirably. Second, Brownson is retired, and the public views the conduct of retired officers differently than the conduct of active officers.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-01-08