Your TR Source
President Roosevelt has gone over “that matter of young Ludlow” with Secretary of the Navy Charles J. Bonaparte, and it is not in his power to do what Senator Spooner requests. He cannot interfere in such cases.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-02-24
President Roosevelt sends Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte an excerpt of a speech from Japanese admiral Heihachirō Tōgō, which he would like inserted in a general order. The speech discusses the importance of maintaining military readiness and keeping soldiers trained and ready for combat at all times.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-02-21
President Roosevelt sends Secretary of the War Taft an excerpt of a speech from Japanese admiral Heihachirō Tōgō, which he would like inserted in a general order. The speech discusses the importance of maintaining military readiness and keeping soldiers trained and ready for combat at all times.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-02-21
President Roosevelt offers Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte revisions to the General Order regarding the Navy’s medical department.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-01-31
President Roosevelt believes that the Navy should follow the War Department’s model of issuing general orders to amend regulations. In particular, Roosevelt instructs Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte to prepare a general order regarding the organization of the Navy’s medical department. He also asks after the Navy’s work with Congress, especially with regards to the “building program.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-01-26
President Roosevelt agrees with General Wood’s assessment that it is necessary for the United States to have a navy superior to every other navy in the world if it wants to retain the Philippines. However, it is difficult to get Congress to agree on such matters. Roosevelt believes that Japan will not be a threat to the Philippines at present given the current international politics. Roosevelt also states he would never approve legislation allowing Chinese labor into the United States. Wood’s assessment about legislation for the Philippines amused Roosevelt, because shipping laws of the United States do not apply to the islands.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-01-22
President Roosevelt tells Commander Key that he will do everything he can to push the bill in question. Roosevelt believes in the principle of retirement on a basis of “rank for age,” though it must be accompanied by “some principle of selection.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-12-30
President Roosevelt tells Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte that the Chinese “are not showing a good spirit.” Roosevelt believes that the United States should quickly concentrate as strong a naval force as possible on China’s shore. He asks Bonaparte to go over the matter with Secretary of State Elihu Root and to find out how many vessels can be sent and how soon from Admiral George Albert Converse.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-15
President Roosevelt tells Representative Williams that he will look into “the army matter” at once. He believes that there are already “a good many” southern men at naval stations. Currently there is a “very unusually fine” class of men in the Navy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-11
President Roosevelt asks Representative Bartholdt for a draft of what he should say about the Hague Conference in his message. He also expresses his “pretty moderate” views on what should be done about the navy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-09-25
President Roosevelt asks Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte to inform various people that he is not able to grant their requests. He laments the “awful curse” of paperwork in both the army and the navy, and the tendency bureaucrats have to increase it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-09-25
President Roosevelt agreed with almost everything in Arthur Hamilton Lee’s recent letter. He is especially pleased with the treaty of Portsmouth between Russia and Japan and the Anglo-Japanese treaty. He also tells Lee that he believes that the American navy is steadily becoming more efficient.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-09-21
President Roosevelt does not want Elbert F. Baldwin to quote him about the navy because he has plans to elaborate the point in his Annual Message this year. Roosevelt also writes Baldwin about a “very interesting” French volume about The Odyssey and the Phoenicians.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-09-13
If Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte agrees, President Roosevelt will direct that the British squadron’s visit be postponed until November, and that they visit Annapolis first before going to New York. Roosevelt further instructs Bonaparte to contact British Ambassador H. Mortimer Durand accordingly.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-09-04
President Roosevelt believes that “even such a rabbit” as New York City mayor George B. McClellan will be able to “do the decent and courteous thing” following the election regarding the British squadron. In a postscript, he instructs Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte to tell Admiral R. B. Bradford to stop any revolution on Santo Domingo. He also discusses the problem of “the submarine business,” and endorses Bonaparte’s disagreeing with his superior and expert subordinate. However, Roosevelt is concerned that pay discrepancies may cause qualified and desirable men to leave their positions.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-09-04
President Roosevelt directs Secretary of War Taft to alert Congress to the need to fortify Subic Bay. He feels the United States must decide whether to keep holding the Philippines and Hawaii. If the country cannot prepare a proper navy, it is best to give up the Philippines.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-05-31
President Roosevelt congratulates Baron Kentarō Kaneko on Japan’s naval success.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-05-31
President Roosevelt asks Ambassador Sternburg to thank Emperor William II for agreeing to send an expert to the Isthmian Canal Commission. Roosevelt was impressed by Russian Admiral Zinoviĭ Petrovich Rozhestvenskiĭ’s ability to get part of his fleet near Japanese waters in relatively good condition. He tells Sternburg that his wolf hunt has been very enjoyable.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-04-14
President Roosevelt agrees with John Callan O’Laughlin that Russian Admiral Zinoviĭ Petrovich Rozhestvenskiĭ deserves praise for his naval feats. Roosevelt believes that at present nothing can be done to bring about peace.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-04-14
President Roosevelt believes any proposition stopping the building up of the navy comes “at the expense of far-seeing patriotism” and finds no justification for it. He directs Representative Foss, chairman of the Committee on Naval Affairs, to ensure this does not occur.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-13