Your TR Source
President Roosevelt would like to provide a tangible reward for gun-pointers who do good service. He is thinking about raising their pay to at least the level of a third class petty officer. He asks Secretary of the Navy Moody to discuss the matter with Admiral Henry Glass.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-05-13
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt discusses various national and international reasons why the Navy Department should steadily, yet rapidly, build up the Navy. He reasons that “a great navy does not make for war, but for peace.” Roosevelt lists actionable steps Congress and the Department can take.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-09-30
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt does not disagree with Senator Lodge or Secretary of the Navy John Davis Long about the docks. He does not think Wilson can return to his old position just yet. Roosevelt updates Lodge on his difficulties with “the patronage” and some of the men from Pennsylvania, who complain about the wage increases for clerks. He discusses the “muss” of New York politics. In a postscript, Roosevelt shares that he heard that Winfield Scott Edgerly cannot be promoted to foreman except through a competitive examination. He recently spoke to Long about increasing the Navy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-09-29
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt gave William E. Chandler’s letter to Secretary of the Navy John Davis Long. He strongly advises against putting the commodore in command of a squadron. Roosevelt has been trying to get George Dewey the command of the Asiatic Squadron. He has given considerable thought to building up the navy and can write a memorandum to Chandler on the matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-09-29
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-09-28
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt instructs William Wirt Kimball on how to interact with the representatives from various newspapers. He directs Kimball to write to Paul Dana, the editor of the Sun, about taking a representative out on a boat. Roosevelt is working on assembling the flotilla to be ready by October 1.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-09-22
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt shares with Charles A. Boutelle that he spent “delightful” days with the squadron. He believes people ignorant about the Navy would change their minds if they saw the battleships up close. The torpedo boat flotilla will be ready on October 1. Roosevelt cannot express the numerous things he wants to discuss with Boutelle.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-09-16
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt cannot tell French Ensor Chadwick about Spain. While things look “very ominous,” he doubts anything will happen. Roosevelt assures Chadwick that he will do what he can to ensure Chadwick, Willard H. Brownson, and C. H. Davis get ships should war happen. He thinks it a good thing to get the editor of the Engineering News before the board.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-09-17
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt explains to William S. Cowles that he is not involved in those matters. Still, he will forward the application to the Bureau of Navigation with his endorsement. He enjoyed being with the fleet and learned a lot. Cowles is correct about the fleet moving compactly and swiftly. Therefore, Roosevelt will do what he can to keep it together. He agrees about the torpedo boats, but members of the Herreshoff family are difficult to work with, and the ships they build are undependable.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-09-17
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-09-15
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt shares with Senator Lodge that Murray Crane recently visited and says that Lodge’s senatorship is under no danger. He recently met with President William McKinley, who is pleased with Lodge’s letter. McKinley also said Roosevelt was right in his speech to the Naval Militia. While trouble with Spain is uncertain, Roosevelt is sure that McKinley would deal with it thoroughly. Roosevelt told McKinley that he will ensure the Department is ready in case of war, and that he will personally go to war.
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt believes a war with Spain is always possible. The cool weather means that an expeditionary force, in addition to the navy, would likely be needed. He supposes F. V. Greene would participate and will certainly do so himself in some capacity. Roosevelt wants to go with Greene and proposes raising a regiment with Greene as Colonel and himself as Lieutenant-Colonel, since his military experience is limited to service in the National Guard. He does not see the need for such a plan but wants to plan in advance so he can act quickly should the need arise.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-09-15
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt was pleased with Winthrop L. Marvin’s message and knew he could count on the Boston Journal to build up the Navy. Senator Henry Cabot Lodge sent Roosevelt a clipping of an editorial from the Journal, which he appreciated.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-09-11
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt likes seeing former Secretary of the Navy McAdoo’s portrait hanging on the wall. He sends a pamphlet with presidential messages, which McAdoo inspired. Roosevelt had an interesting three days with the squadron and learned much, although not as much as McAdoo did on his trip.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-09-11
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt enjoyed James E. Montgomery’s letter and is glad he liked the quotations. As an American, Roosevelt feels he should do what he can to build the Navy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-09-10
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt enjoyed hearing from T. S. Rodgers. He will not comment on Rodgers’s Alaska plan yet but believes it is a good one and he will do his best to push it through. Roosevelt recently spent three days with the squadron of iron-clad ships and wishes everyone who doubts the Navy could see the squadron.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-09-10
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt agrees with Captain Mahan about both Hawaii and foreign policy generally. Roosevelt worries about Japan, and feels that the United States should increase its military presence in the Pacific Ocean. Senator Henry Cabot Lodge has spoken with President William McKinley on this topic and “pressed his views upon him with all his strength.” Roosevelt additionally mentions his worries about the international situation in the West Indies. He believes the United States should increase its presence and make sure that no strong European power is allowed to gain a foothold there. The institutional resistance to the build-up of the Navy annoys Roosevelt. He comments to Mahan, however, that Secretary of the Navy John Davis Long agrees with the two of them about Hawaii, and that he hopes for positive action on that front.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-05-03
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt sends Henry John Elwes copies of Science with his article on scientific terminology. He will look for the extra copy of the game report during his next visit to Sagamore Hill. Roosevelt feels he did all he could at the New York Police Department, especially since “the law under which we worked was utterly absurd in character.” He believes strongly in the American and British Navies and is glad to do such “thoroughly congenial” work. On a recent trip to his ranch, Roosevelt shot several antelope with his new Winchester rifle.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-05-01
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt apologizes to Edgar Stanton Maclay for his delay in replying and sincerely thanks Maclay for his kind words. He hopes to be instrumental in implementing any needed reforms in the navy and asks Maclay for the results of his study on the matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-04-19
J. L. Thormann believes that Germany should be allowed to maintain a large navy to protect its national honor and prevent humiliation from France and England. Thromann asks Theodore Roosevelt to use his influence to prevent President William H. Taft from allying with countries that are opposed to German progress.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-01-06