Navies

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Victor Howard Metcalf

Given that Captain Royal Rodney Ingersoll’s opinion contradicts Captain Richard Wainwright’s, President Roosevelt asks Secretary of the Navy Metcalf to submit any statement of Ingersoll’s to him before it goes to the Senate Committee. Roosevelt has “certain very interesting information” regarding the views of the Japanese military and naval authorities, which he will submit to Metcalf and the General Board confidentially after Secretary of State Elihu Root goes through it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-17

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Victor Howard Metcalf

President Roosevelt has heard reports that recruiting men for the engine room is difficult and that members of that post desert “at the earliest opportunity.” He believes that either a pay raise or a different arrangement would improve retention and recruitment, and asks Secretary of the Navy Victor Howard Metcalf for a report on this issue.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-09

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Victor Howard Metcalf

President Roosevelt tells Secretary of the Navy Metcalf that he is currently dissatisfied with the present organization of the Navy Department, as he feels that the people responsible for directing the building of ships are not doing their job. The Japanese navy has more and better battleships and armored cruisers than the United States does.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-09

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edward VII, King of Great Britain

President Roosevelt thanks King Edward VII for sending him a book on Sèvres porcelain. Roosevelt comments on the progress of the United States Naval Fleet’s trip to the Pacific, and says that he believes that the interests of English-speaking peoples are the same in both the Atlantic and Pacific. While they should be careful to not unduly insult anyone, they should show that they are able to defend themselves. Roosevelt believes that immigration is a tricky subject, and thinks that large-scale mixing of wage workers of two races can bring about trouble. For the moment, however, Roosevelt believes that internal problems are more pressing than external, and is concerned with making wealthy people realize that they have responsibilities to society.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-12

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Joaquim Nabuco

As Ambassador Joaquim Nabuco of Brazil said in his letter, now the harbor in Brazil will contain a fleet that is worthy of it. President Roosevelt is glad for Nabuco’s consideration.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-01-12

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Afsonso Augusto Moreira Pena

President Roosevelt thanks President Pena of Brazil for his kind message and hospitality regarding the sailors and United States fleet in Rio de Janeiro.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-01-15

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Elihu Root

President Roosevelt discusses several topics with Secretary of State Root. Roosevelt had intended to appoint William Penn Duvall to Quartermaster General, but Secretary of War William H. Taft strongly recommended James Buchanan Aleshire instead. Roosevelt has called upon Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte to investigate the difficulties of Japanese immigrants in San Francisco. Roosevelt has been hearing “howls” over an agreement with Germany. Roosevelt feels Andrew Carnegie’s New York peace conference has weakened the United States’ chances at the International Peace Conference at the Hague, and so has not been following developments there.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-02

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James B. Connolly

President Roosevelt received James B. Connolly’s letter but is unsure what naval review he refers to. The main review connected to the Jamestown Exposition is tomorrow, but it is too late for Roosevelt to arrange Connolly’s attendance. However, if possible, he will try to help Connolly with his studies of the enlisted navy men.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-25

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edward Grey

President Roosevelt enjoyed his visit with Viscount James Bryce and reminisces about when Bryce stayed at the White House several years prior. Roosevelt believes the question of disarmament is “full of difficulties” and wants to avoid raising “high anticipation as will ensure disappointment” with the upcoming National Arbitration and Peace Congress. He wasn’t impressed with Jamaica Governor James Alexander Swettenham’s message and compares his dealings with him to that of Henry Wolcott Bowen, former Ambassador of Venezuela. Roosevelt is pleased that the Santo Domingo treaty was ratified by Congress and is overall satisfied with the number of other legislative measures he managed to pass.    

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-28

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

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

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Alston Gordon Dayton

President Roosevelt thanks Judge Dayton for the “first-class letter” and has sent it to Secretary of War William H. Taft. He is certain Dayton would have been proud of the fleet.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-15

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles J. Bonaparte

President Roosevelt concedes to Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte to continue the trial. He is primarily concerned that proceeding on anything less than ample grounds may result in captains becoming “timid” in managing their ships. In a postscript, Roosevelt agrees to appoint Rear Admiral Eustace Barron Rogers as Paymaster General. Additionally, he declares the men turned down due to “defective hearing” cannot be accepted to the Naval Academy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-08

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Louis Alexander Mountbatten

President Roosevelt thanks Prince Louis Mountbatten for the “remarkable” copies of the medals sculpted by Augustus Saint-Gaudens. He comments on his efforts to have Saint-Gaudens’s newly designed gold coins adopted. Roosevelt wishes Mountbatten could have attended the recent naval review. Although “not much of a fleet” compared to the British Royal Navy, every ship is modern and efficient.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-14

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Theodore Roosevelt

President Roosevelt is sorry, but not surprised, Theodore “Ted” Roosevelt did not find any bears given the weather. The naval review “was really a great sight,” especially for Archibald “Archie” B. Roosevelt, who is devoted to the water and the navy. Roosevelt wishes he was out in the wilderness.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-04

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Elihu Root

President Roosevelt thanks Secretary of State Root for the humorous translation of a Spanish newspaper. He provides updates on the successful naval review, recent state elections, and the boiling pot of New York politics. Roosevelt finds that William Jennings Bryan’s eagerness for popularity causes him to commit “to preposterous positions,” as revealed by his recent speech.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-04

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick W. Whitridge

President Roosevelt thanks Frederick W. Whitridge for the grouse. The naval review “was a mighty good sight for American eyes.” He is interested in Whitridge’s comments on the attitude of Germans in Brazil towards Germany.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-04

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Maurice Francis Egan

President Roosevelt is concerned that Maurice Francis Egan has been sick and reminds him of the humorous “pope” story. The naval review was “corking.” Among the unofficial guests were journalist Finley Peter Dunne and author James B. Connolly.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-05

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Rudolph Garfield

President Roosevelt received Commissioner of Corporations Garfield’s letter and will first send the report to Attorney General William H. Moody. In a post-script, Roosevelt states he does not want to be involved in the matter regarding Representative Theodore E. Burton. Roosevelt commends Secretary of War William H. Taft’s “bully speech,” believing it demonstrates possession of “all the qualities of a great national leader.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-05

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Paul Morton

President Roosevelt doubts he would replace Charles Holland Duell with a New Yorker. He chastises former Secretary of the Navy Paul Morton for not informing him of his attendance at the naval review. “With absolute exactness,” Roosevelt commends Morton for his service as secretary.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-05

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Whitelaw Reid

President Roosevelt was glad to hear Ambassador Reid’s news that the British Government is likely to take the same stance as the United States at the Hague Conference. Referencing a letter he received from Andrew Carnegie, Roosevelt remarks that he does not want the Liberal Government “to go to any maudlin extremes at the Hague Conference,” and that while it is good to minimize the chance of war, nations should not put themselves at a disadvantage compared to militaristic nations. Roosevelt comments on several United States politicians, particularly John Sharp Williams, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-07

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919