Your TR Source
President Roosevelt introduces Representative Sherman to Henry Beach Needham, a man who is loyal to William H. Taft and knowledgeable about labor. Roosevelt hopes the National Committee will help in Maryland, where the state committee is not impressive.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-29
President Roosevelt encloses speech-making notes from Henry Beach Needham for William H. Taft. Roosevelt suggests Taft attack William Jennings Bryan for his record, smile generously, and fully display his fighting spirit.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-11
President Roosevelt is amused at some of the political attacks against him. He agrees to Senator Lodge’s suggestions for personnel changes in the Spanish Treaty Claims Commission, but is unsure how to handle the “whisky business” regarding the Pure Food and Drug Act. Roosevelt is facing a number of requests that he run for reelection, but is not concerned with what most people think.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-21
Senator Lodge brings several small matters to President Roosevelt’s attention about Senator William E. Chandler resigning from the Spanish Treaty Claims Commission, interviews that Lodge has had with blenders of whiskey who feel they have been misrepresented by the journalist, Henry Beach Needham, and that Philip Hildreth Reade ought to be promoted to Brigadier General in the United States Army. Lodge also mentions that he gave an off-hand speech encouraging people to support the Republican ticket, but it had been misrepresented in the papers. The senator closes by including a quotation from a man who believed that Roosevelt was a drunkard and addicted to morphine and that his family constantly stays with him to prevent others from discovering his condition.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-19
Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary encloses a letter from Henry Beach Needham that will provide information on Mr. Haywood. He suggests that George W. Perkins contact Haywood.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-06-27
Theodore Roosevelt is greatly concerned by the contents of Mabel Alexander Needham’s letter, just as he was “shocked and distressed” to learn of her marital problems on his return from Africa. Roosevelt informs Needham that it would be difficult for him to refuse to work professionally with a man based solely on accusations made concerning that man’s private affairs unless Roosevelt took it upon himself to investigate those affairs personally. Roosevelt assures Needham that he will carefully consider what she has written.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-05-05
President Roosevelt has heard from Henry Beach Needham. He concludes that Caspar Whitney’s note about the statement’s origins provides sufficient context for both Needham’s and his own purposes.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-05
At Caspar Whitney’s request, President Roosevelt has rewritten his letter to Needham as a statement, focusing on the portions about “vigor of body.” Roosevelt wants the published version to include the original letter’s date and an introductory statement explaining its provenance. He has turned down lucrative offers to write for many other publications after leaving office, and does not wish to appear to favor Collier’s.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-31
President Roosevelt has received Collier’s Weekly journalist Mark Sullivan’s letter and encloses a copy of his letter responding to Henry T. Rodman and his article about Roosevelt. Roosevelt says that the value of an article like Rodman’s comes from people understanding that he took no part in writing it. To publish the article alongside Roosevelt’s letter would create the impression that Roosevelt had a role in the creation of the article. He does like the idea of Henry Beach Needham’s article and looks forward to seeing Sullivan and his wife, Marie McMechen Buchanan Sullivan, at the Army and Navy reception.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-12-05
President Roosevelt has received the letter from Isaac Newton Seligman. He approves of the work done by the People’s Lobby and Henry Beach Needham.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-04-29
President Roosevelt sends Robert Fulton Cutting a letter of introduction for his acquaintance Henry Beach Needham. Roosevelt speaks highly of Needham’s qualifications and what he has accomplished.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-16
President Roosevelt has heard that S. S. McClure and Henry Beach Needham are discussing Needham joining McClure’s Magazine as an editor, and offers his own opinion that Needham would render excellent service. Roosevelt has interacted with Needham frequently during the present session of Congress, and attests to his work ethic and character.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-18
President Roosevelt sends Senator Lodge a history of the Chandler-Bailey-Tillman matter regarding the passage of the Hepburn Act.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-05-19
Gifford Pinchot sends Theodore Roosevelt correspondence from Henry Beach Needham about the appointment of a successor to John D. Archbold. Pinchot will look more into pardons made as part of a Nebraska land fraud case.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1913-05-03
Gifford Pinchot offers three suggestions for the presidential campaign. He suggests that The North American be sent to all country newspapers east of the Mississippi River. He would also like Theodore Roosevelt to agree to an interview with Henry Beach Needham and appear at the National Conservation Congress.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-08-24
Mabel Alexander Needham has recently separated from her husband, Henry Beach Needham. Her husband has claimed friendship with Theodore Roosevelt, and Needham writes to Roosevelt to reveal the truth of their separation and her ex-husband’s character. Henry Beach Needham has, in Mabel Alexander Needham’s view, neglected their young daughter. She hopes Theodore Roosevelt will sympathize with her situation and help to secure her a position as a private secretary so as to support her child now as a single mother.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-05-23
George G. Hill heard from Maurice Francis Egan about a letter Theodore Roosevelt wrote to Charles Dwight Willard on the referendum. He would like to read a copy if possible. He read Roosevelt’s interview with Henry Beech Needham and reprinted extracts of it in the New York Tribune, and asks whether he saw the testimonial to William Loeb in yesterday’s issue of the New York Evening Post. He wishes Taft had more “Roosevelt men” in his administration. In a handwritten postscript, Hill expresses disappointment at not being able to visit with Roosevelt when he passed through in March.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-05-05
Hill, George G. (George Griswold)
Mabel Alexander Needham describes how her former husband, Henry Beach Needham, has not paid to provide for her and her daughter. Since Theodore Roosevelt is a man of integrity, she wants him to know of her husband’s dishonesty as he uses his association with Roosevelt as a public testament of his character.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-04-29
Maurice Francis Egan updates Theodore Roosevelt on his trip. He enjoyed Henry Beach Needham’s article about Roosevelt and has been busy expressing his opinion on “the Vatican incident.” Travel plans prevent him from visiting Oyster Bay, but hopes to see Roosevelt at his office.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-04-24
Eugene P. Merrill wants Theodore Roosevelt to thank Henry Beach Needham for his article.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-04-23