Your TR Source
Chronology of the daily life of Theodore Roosevelt from January 1892 to December 1898. Notable events include the death of Elliott Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt is appointed New York City Police Commissioner, his tenure as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, the Spanish-American War, and Roosevelt’s gubernatorial campaign.
Theodore Roosevelt Association
1985
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt shares with Stoney that he just returned from a three-day visit with a squadron of iron-clad ships. He wishes every “Doubting Thomas” could see them; then, there would be no difficulty in building an adequate navy. Stoney’s current station is interesting, and Roosevelt asks to be kept informed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-09-10
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt apprises President McKinley of what ships are available to send to Hawaii, given Japan’s dispatch of their protected cruiser, Naniwa. He discusses each ship’s strengths, weaknesses, and firepower.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-04-22
President Roosevelt confides to George Otto Trevelyan that he believes his administration has compiled a good record of legislation in his five years as president. Roosevelt contends that he must continually navigate between those who believe he is a radical and has not done enough and reactionaries who believe he has stretched the powers of government too far. Roosevelt also writes that he would like to see measures enacted to support arbitration of international disputes and limit naval forces, but not if it means abandoning “free peoples” and weakening the British and American navies.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal
1906-08-18
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Chase Untermeyer examines the evolution of the office of Assistant Secretary of the Navy from the time it was held by Theodore Roosevelt until Untermeyer’s entry into the role in 1984. Untermeyer also provides a biography of Secretary of the Navy John F. Lehman and asserts that Roosevelt would have approved of his career and policies. Untermeyer praises the work of President Ronald Reagan and Lehman in enlarging the U.S. Navy, and he quotes Roosevelt to draw a parallel between the world of 1897 and that of 1979-1980.
A photograph of Untermeyer appears on the first page of the article.
The major article of this issue of the Pacific Marine Review deals with the Anglo-Arbitration Treaty, with editor Harold B. Jayne arguing that there is not a great reason to tie the United States to Great Britain through an arbitration treaty, as it would provide few benefits. Other articles deal briefly with the development of the Canadian navy, and the Mexican revolution.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-06
The article describes an early rotating gun battery invented by Theodore R. Timby and exhibited in 1843. It outlines the design and mechanics of the circular, steam-powered fort and argues for Timby’s recognition as the true inventor of the naval turret system.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-08
Gustav J. Karger reviews and praises President William H. Taft’s various achievements during the two years of his administration. By placing “the cause of the people above all other considers,” Karger finds Taft has reached the “heights of constructive statesmanship.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-03-30
Uncle Sam holds a “Democratic platform” sandbags: “reduction of Navy,” “smaller Army,” “elimination of gold plank,” “anti-expansion,” “trust deals,” “disfranchisement,” and “free trade.” “Sound money” sand comes out of the “elimination of gold plank” sandbag.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-06
President Roosevelt sits on a box in the “U.S. Navy Yard” as he holds a paper entitled, “new Navy plans.” He is surrounded by equipment like “steel” and an “armor plate” as well as two sides of the “Kansas” and “Vermont” battleships. There are a number of battleships in the distance. Caption: “More and more our people are waking up to the need of a navy, and, in view of events happening all over the world, I think we can count on Congress to build up our navy. It certainly will if I can persuade it.”—Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-24
President Roosevelt and Uncle Sam listen to a “public opinion” gramophone that projects, “relief from oppressive trusts—a square deal for all, both white and black—honesty and efficiency—no foreign entanglements—retrenchment—economy.” The side of the gramophone says, “Xmas present to Theodore Roosevelt and Uncle Sam from the people.” In the background a number of man dance around a Christmas tree with different ornaments, including “larger navy,” “plenty,” “full work,” “peace,” and “army.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-24
An illustration of President Roosevelt has images and captions in it, including “settlement of the coal strike,” “protection against foreign labor,” “gold standard,” and “U.S. Supreme Court.” Meanwhile, Alton B. Parker is surrounded by Democratic leaders and is tied down by “sugar trust,” “Standard Oil,” and “rail-road franchise” ropes. Caption: Why Parker “Because he is perfectly safe.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-06
President Roosevelt stands in front of several pictures of himself, the “trusts,” and the Republican elephant with the title, “in the same frame & same game.” A picture of “Fairy Bank” is below. Roosevelt stands on the “Constitution” and “Declaration of Independence” and wears a “big stick” saber and “Baron Littauer’s brand” gloves. Two ultimatums are in his belt. To his left is his “letter of acceptance” that includes a number of statements, “signed — ‘we’ per ‘I.'”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-24
Secretary of the Navy Metcalf does not endorse Senator Lodge’s recent statements regarding Democrat William Jennings Bryan’s platform on the navy. The article states that in particular, Metcalf took issue with Lodge’s declaration that were it not for the navy, Japan “would insult” the United States. A handwritten note in the margins from Lodge states that, “I did not say that or anything resembling it.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-12
The article contains text from a speech in which Senator Henry Cabot Lodge of Massachusetts argues in favor of the Republicans, whose policies he says will maintain the United States Navy’s status as the second-best navy in the world.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-12
Arthur Hamilton Lee and his wife, Ruth Moore Lee, are happy that President Roosevelt appreciates their gift of the painting “Seats of the Mighty.” After being president for seven years, Lee believes a year-long African safari is the best curative. He outlines “a plan… for you to visit England without annoyance,” inviting Roosevelt to stay at either his London house or the one in the Highlands. Roosevelt’s reaction to the Olympic controversies delights Lee, who feels international games cause more friction than good feelings. Lee discusses British naval preparation and questions the German policies.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-06
This French printing of Secretary of State Elihu Root’s presidential address before the second annual meeting of the American Society of International Law discusses the basis for international law. Like municipal law, international law is best enforced by the sanction of public opinion, as expressed in individual opinions in the nations. Root suggests that the best way to promote international law is to promote public support of international law in lieu of creating armies and navies.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07
The Navy Department is instructed to change regulations to permit naval medical officers to use the words “in command,” and to make it clear that they have military command of their corps.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-22
The report discusses the administrative organization of the Navy Department, noting that the chiefs of various bureaus all report the the Secretary of the Navy, who is a civilian. The writer advocates for streamlining the bureaucracy in the department to increase efficiency, and to place line officers and other men directly involved with battle and preparing the fleet for action in positions of greater authority.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-21
Commander Key responds to reports by Rear Admiral George Albert Converse and Chief Constructor of the Navy W. L. Capps about the construction of American battleships compared to Japanese and British battleships. Key points out errors and inconsistencies in the reports, and argues that the water line armor belts on American battleships are incorrectly placed and not thick enough. He believes the United States needs to be building ships based on the most up-to-date knowledge about battleship construction and design. He also takes issue with the lack of battle tactics practice in the Atlantic Fleet’s maneuvers.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-21