Your TR Source
Commissioner Roosevelt has asked Patty Selmes to return Robert Harry Munro Ferguson’s lecture. Roosevelt has just taken office at the New York City Police Department and is writing in great haste.
1895-05-06
Commissioner Roosevelt is very busy and describes his reform work with the New York Police Department. Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt does not enjoy living in New York City and one of the Roosevelt children is ill with diphtheria.
1896-03-15
Commissioner Roosevelt has been working hard as police commissioner and also delivering speeches for the Republican National Committee. He feels that he needs to do everything he can to help defeat William Jennings Bryan. Roosevelt is glad to have work as he worries that he will someday be idle since he has no regular business.
1896-10-11
Theodore Roosevelt says to be successful in the present, America must model herself after the leaders of the past such as Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. There are two ways to do this, he says, by embracing Americanism and military preparedness, which are also exemplified by the New York Police Force (for whom the speech was prepared). All American citizens, regardless of ethnicity or national origin, must give their undivided loyalty to America. The country will be better prepared in the future if it institutes a universal military draft. Note: This speech was not delivered due to illness.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1918-02-24
Scrapbook of clippings from various periodicals related to Theodore Roosevelt’s service as New York Police Commissioner, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, and Colonel of the 1st Volunteer Cavalry.
1895-1898
Commissioner Roosevelt offers to see Commissioner Frederick Dent Grant on behalf of James Russell Parsons.
1896-12-16
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt left the New York Police Department because there was nothing left for him to accomplish in the “preposterous system.” He has always been interested in the Navy and looks forward to applying some of his “pet theories.” Roosevelt would like to discuss naval and foreign policy with Edwin Lawrence Godkin. Original and copy.
1897-07-24
Cartoon depicting the often contentious relationship between the New York City police force and Theodore Roosevelt as Superintendent of the Board of Police Commissioners. Script at bottom: “No 1 The policemen pay a boy to watch for Com. Roosevelt while they play cards. No. 2 The alarm No. 3 But it was only some boys with a Jack O’Lantern.”
Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site
1895-1897
The Board of Police Commissioners no longer has the power to make promotions to the first grade. Commissioner Roosevelt regrets that they can no longer take care of “decent men in the ranks.”
1896-10-06
Commissioner Roosevelt thanks F. M. Ives for the Barras quote and agrees that a free hand is needed to reorganize the New York City Police Department.
1895-09-28
Commissioner Roosevelt appreciates George K. Lloyd’s efforts and has set the meeting for Wednesday, January 27. Roosevelt is particularly interested in learning about the general labor problem and would like to bring along several acquaintances.
1897-01-18
Commissioner Roosevelt is working hard to organize the New York Police Department as he might be “legislated out of office.” He believes that he has accomplished a great deal. Roosevelt agrees with Captain Cowles that if Great Britain accepts arbitration or peacefully settles with Venezuela then European nations will recognize the Monroe Doctrine. Corinne Roosevelt Robinson has been staying with Roosevelt. Her health is poor but everyone is enjoying her company.
1896-02-11
Commissioner Roosevelt is interested in a “properly vigorous foreign policy,” including seacoast defense and a “first class navy.” He would like American intervention in Cuba and a farsighted policy that would remove European powers from the western hemisphere. He asks how American warships are armed compared to European navies. Upcoming legislation will determine the influence Roosevelt can wield on the Board of Police Commissioners.
1896-04-05
Commissioner Roosevelt reflects on the 1896 presidential election which he found to be the most exciting and important since 1860. The Republicans were victorious but Roosevelt was disappointed that their opponents received such significant support. The Democratic divisions over free silver helped the Republicans. He denies a quote attributed to him calling farmers “the basest class” and is enjoying his work on the Board of Police Commissioners.
1896-11-19
Commissioner Roosevelt was pleased to receive letters from Captain Cowles and Anna Roosevelt Cowles. He believes that Anna’s marriage to Cowles was the “best and wisest thing she could do.” Roosevelt lunched with Speaker of the House Thomas B. Reed and is afraid that Reed will not stay on good terms with President McKinley. He would not mind being “legislated out of office” as the law hampers his work and he does not get along with his colleagues.
1896-12-06
Governor Roosevelt asks for advice about the nurses’ bill. Roosevelt states that he is taking care of the children while Edith Roosevelt is away, and describes them as being “really very cunning.” He also discusses the daily business of governing New York.
1900-03-14
Theodore Roosevelt says his letters to sister Anna Roosevelt Cowles must be dull because he is so absorbed in his work. He describes all the things he must balance as Police Commissioner. Wife Edith is totally consumed with taking care of the children. They do not go out very much and Edith misses Washington.
1896-02-16
Theodore Roosevelt writes about his work as Police Commissioner to his sister Anna Roosevelt Cowles. It has been a strenuous ten months and he feels Governor Morton isn’t strong enough to stand up to Republican boss Thomas Collier Platt and veto the bill that would eliminate Roosevelt’s job. Edith has been stressed with Mame’s operation and they worry over the children’s education while trying to split their time between the city and Oyster Bay. Roosevelt also recently made some excellent speeches in Chicago.
1896-02-25
Theodore Roosevelt thanks his sister Anna Roosevelt for writing Chamberlain about Roosevelt staying at his place in New York City. His work is very hard and time consuming as he has “the most corrupt” police department on his hands. He has stopped working on the fourth volume of Winning of the West.
1895-05-19
Theodore Roosevelt informs his sister Anna Roosevelt that wife Edith’s sister, Emily Tyler Carow, has arrived and they went to the country where Roosevelt will soon join them. He has attended a number of interesting political dinners. He is getting the police department under control after forcing out Chief Thomas Byrnes and Inspector “Clubber” Williams.
1895-06-02