Your TR Source
President Roosevelt thanks William Sturgis Bigelow for the book by the naturalist C.G. Schillings. Roosevelt tells Bigelow that he will look at the pamphlet about starting trouble with Japan, but that he has his doubts. Roosevelt is glad that all is well in Nahant, but hopes that Bigelow gets better soon.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-26
Theodore Roosevelt explains to Joseph Bucklin Bishop that he did not betray what he said in confidence, but that he did not expect Senator Thomas Collier Platt to publish the explanation he gave him of the issue, and that Francis E. Leupp, “simply put two and two together.” He encourages Bishop’s plan to purchase the newspaper he is interested in, as although it would not influence New York much, it would have a national impact.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-10-09
Ernest Harvier tells Theodore Roosevelt that Roosevelt’s “insurgent friends” saw wins in a recent California election and encloses a newspaper clipping from a Los Angeles newspaper that recognizes the Theodore Roosevelt Dam. He hopes Roosevelt does not get involved with a local canvass, which Harvier disagrees with.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-14
Charles C. Bull writes to Theodore Roosevelt about progress on the Panama Canal construction, which he says is going well. He states his opinion that though he opposes “white slaves traffic,” as by law women cannot be brought across country lines for “immoral” purposes, he says there is a problem in Panama where there are too many canal workers and too few prostitutes, and the prostitutes that are there have venereal diseases. Bull thinks there needs to be a way to bring (specifically white) prostitutes who have freely chosen the vocation to Panama and to have better health monitoring. He discusses San Francisco politics and greater U.S. politics, stating he will not support William H. Taft and he does not think the Republican Party will do well the next couple of terms, so he hopes the Democratic Party runs a presidential candidate he does not dislike too much so he does not have to vote Socialist. Lastly, he believes part of the Panama Canal construction area is not well fortified and is vulnerable to potential attack.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-14
Garrett J. Benson tells Theodore Roosevelt he discussed the matter Roosevelt last wrote him about with Mr. McCabe, who tells him he heard the information from “some busy-body,” which is likely how it spread to the newspaper, and there is no truth to the matter. Benson says he will explain the situation to Robert H. Fuller.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-14
Charles S. Clark sends Theodore Roosevelt a copy of the St. Johns News highlighting an article about a family with thirteen children since he knows Roosevelt prefers large families to avoid “race suicide.”
Race suicide was a 20th century fear that professed preferable races or ethnic groups would see their death rate outpace their birthrate. In response to lowering birthrates in the United States, Theodore Roosevelt was outspoken in his views that families should have many children.
Garrett J. Benson encloses newspaper clippings about the Bayne Committee and promises to keep Theodore Roosevelt daily on what is going on.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-09
Cameron McRae Winslow read about Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt’s accident in the newspapers and hopes that the damage was not serious.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-06
Roeliff Brinkerhoff expresses admiration for how Theodore Roosevelt handled the Panama Canal incident and tells Roosevelt not to worry about other people’s opinions.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-06
Andrew Carnegie sends President Roosevelt clippings from the London Times and Scotsman that “show how the crisis develops.” Carnegie believes that Great Britain is “helpless to meet the question” because it has to deal with India as well as Japan and thinks the United States can do better with the Japanese than Great Britain.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-11
Isthmian Canal Commission Secretary Bishop updates President Roosevelt on his family. Chairman and Chief Engineer of the Isthmian Canal Commission Colonel George W. Goethals requested Bishop’s presence on the Isthmus to have a channel of communication to Roosevelt, and Roosevelt’s recent letter pleased him. Bishop says the only major issue is the arrogant behavior of Jackson Smith, the Head of the Department of Labor, Quarters, and Subsistence on the Panama Canal Commission. Additionally, the engineer Joseph Ripley created incorrect blueprints and has been proven to be no expert on locks, but Major William L. Sibert is excellent. Bishop thinks the Republican Club of New York’s motives for disparaging Roosevelt’s canal policy are political. In response to Roosevelt’s suggestion to include local events in the new paper, Bishop explains that it may be hard to keep current, but he will try his best.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-03
James Sullivan Clarkson, Surveyor of Customs for the Port of New York, sends Acting Secretary of Commerce and Labor Herbert Knox Smith’s letters about children’s rights to life preservers to William Loeb. He also sends a report of the violations of the navigation laws in the Port of New York. To prevent future occurrences, Clarkson believes all violators need to be “properly disciplined” and not treated with leniency, as has hitherto been the case.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-30
Joseph Bucklin Bishop, secretary of the Isthmian Canal Commission, reports to President Roosevelt that matters on the Isthmus are in good condition thanks to Chief Engineer and Commission Chairman George W. Goethals’s systematic military organization. Goethals is an effective leader and greatly appreciates Bishop’s help, especially in handling complaints. Bishop compliments Roosevelt’s Provincetown speech and gives an update on his family.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-29
Vice President Fairbanks comments to President Roosevelt on the racket currently happening in newspapers, and writes about the present commercial conditions. Fairbanks says that conditions are good, and that he believes that the public is satisfied with the Roosevelt administration, and that even though there may be some vocal critics, people have work and wages, and the population in general is doing well.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-04-08
Cartoon depicts how President Roosevelt would “tackle” the Panic of 1907.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-28
Milton A. McRae sends President Roosevelt a newspaper clipping that reflects “the sentiment of a vast majority” of Americans in the Midwest. McRae also notifies Roosevelt that The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, which had previously maligned Roosevelt, is now “strenuously and unfairly booming” Senator Joseph B. Foraker.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-29
Ambassador Meyer sends a message to Secretary of State Hay concerning a published interview which was taken from the Petit Parisien newspaper. Meyer suggests that a reporter made up the interview.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-17
Frank Irving Cobb and Charles G. Bush congratulate President Roosevelt on his recent political victory. The two write, “it is unnecessary to wish you a brilliant administration. it cannot be otherwise.” Accompanying the text of their letter is a small cartoon of themselves with bodies shaped like giant hearts, and the caption “They were always with you.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-08
A bandaged bear holds up a newspaper with the following heading: “Good News Convention—President’s Departure from Colorado—The end of the hunt—Peace in the mountains again—Animals are notified that the enemy has gone.” Several bandaged animals, including a snake, look on.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-05-21
President Roosevelt sits at a table with members of his cabinet. He gestures at Secretary of the Navy Paul Morton. Beside Morton is a newspaper with the headline: “A.T. & S.F. R.R.’s Secret Rebates—Paul Morton Traffic Mangr.” There is also a “suit of armor formerly worn by Sec’y Morton” with a locomotive engine for a helmet.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-03