Your TR Source
President Roosevelt asks Acting Secretary of the Navy Newberry to refer to the telegram regarding coal sent by Acting Secretary of War Robert Shaw Oliver and to report back on how much of a delay would be caused by loading coal for Panama.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-31
William Loeb explains to Mrs. E. A. Mower that she did not receive an invitation because she did not reply to the War Department’s inquiry and was, therefore, omitted from the list. However, he will ensure invitations are sent to her and her daughter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-12
This memorandum details the poor conduct and inefficiency of Colonel William F. Stewart of the Coast Artillery Corps in the United States Army using the testimony of a variety of witnesses. Brigadier General Murray recommends relief from command or retirement upon Stewart’s own application.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-16
Theodore Roosevelt is concerned to learn of Marion L. Oliver’s accident and hopes that she is now feeling better. He has enjoyed her article about the Snake Dance and he would like to take Archibald Roosevelt to see it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-04-21
President Roosevelt encloses a letter for Grenville M. Dodge. Roosevelt is hesitant to move forward with the destruction of trees until he is certain that the Park Commission has performed their due diligence and can accomplish the entire plan. Roosevelt asks Dodge to come to Washington and coordinate with Acting Secretary of War Robert Shaw Oliver on the matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-10-24
President Roosevelt forwards James Creelman copies of letters from Generals Robert Shaw Oliver and James Franklin Bell that explain why he cannot grant Captain James H. McClintock’s request.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-02
President Roosevelt thanks Marion L. Oliver for remembering his birthday and sending him flowers. Her father, Assistant Secretary of War Robert Shaw Oliver, came to see him this morning.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-27
President Roosevelt has read the letter from Assistant Secretary of War Robert Shaw Oliver, as well as the letter from Judge Advocate General of the Army George B. Davis. In Roosevelt’s opinion, the court-martials of Lieutenants John J. Moller and Claire R. Bennett were “an outrageous miscarriage of justice.” Roosevelt wishes he had the legal power to change the action of the court-martial and, barring that, informs Secretary of War Wright that he would like to punish them in any way that he can for as long as he is president for the damage they have done to the reputation of the army. (Moller and Bennett were tried on charges of allowing torture of Filipino prisoners to try to extort information from them)
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-06
President Roosevelt forwards Secretary of War Wright a letter from William H. Taft regarding a proposition made by Assistant Secretary of War Robert Shaw Oliver and General Leonard Wood. Roosevelt is sure that what Shaw and Wood recommend would be a sound business decision, but thinks that it is not wise to do at present because Congress would be against it. He asks Wright if it is possible to alter things along the lines that Taft suggests in his letter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-01
President Roosevelt congratulates Mr. and Mrs. Daniel T. Kinary on the birth of their son, who is named after Assistant Secretary of War Robert Shaw Oliver. The Kinarys have fourteen children, and Roosevelt notes that “the mother of fourteen children is a very good citizen indeed.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-02
President Roosevelt agrees with General Bell that the proposed law would not currently be in the best interest of the service. However, as General Robert Shaw Oliver suggested, he believes a list should be published that shows the amount of time officers have spent in various classes and areas of duty. He asks Bell to go over the list with Secretary of War William H. Taft.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-13
President Roosevelt suggests to Secretary of War Taft that the current examinations for army chaplains may be too difficult. Roosevelt appreciates the need to be careful and get the right kind of chaplain, but thinks the academic portion of the exam may be too difficult, as many pastors and priests he knows outside the army neither have nor need knowledge of mathematics. He realizes that Taft is very busy, and asks him to have Assistant Secretary of War Robert Shaw Oliver or someone else take up the matter and bring him the examination papers.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-04
President Roosevelt informs Senator Warren about Colonel Frank Heath’s reports concerning the presence of antimony in bullets manufactured by the Union Metallic Cartridge company and those recovered from the Brownsville Affair. It is possible all of the company’s bullets used by the army at the time of the shooting may have antimony present. These findings invalidate Senator Joseph Benson Foraker’s argument.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-12-15
President Roosevelt informs Secretary of State Root that in accordance with the request of the Nevada Governor John Sparks, the Nevada senators and representative, and the War Department, he is sending troops to Nevada on standby. Root should obtain the War Department papers on the subject and speak with Sparks about any steps he needs to take for further action on the part of the federal government.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-12-13
President Roosevelt informs Secretary of War Taft that he received information about Manning’s case and cannot show any consideration without reviewing other cases. He understands that the matter may cause political embarrassment for Taft in Ohio. Therefore, Roosevelt suggests that Taft allow him and Assistant Secretary of War Robert Shaw Oliver to decide.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-04-20
President Roosevelt informs Representative Hull that if the House can only appropriate $700,000 to army instruction and training, it should be given to training regulars in service marches. Roosevelt also discusses changes to the rank of Lieutenant General. He wants the chief of staff to hold that rank only so long as he serves in that position, but Secretary of War William H. Taft feels differently.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-02-16
President Roosevelt informs Princeton University President Wilson that his party has gotten smaller, and there will be fewer people coming for lunch.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-24
President Roosevelt tells Massachusetts Institute of Technology President Henry S. Pritchett that he would feel fortunate to have Pritchett’s son, Harry H. Pritchett, as an officer in the Army. He has written to Acting Secretary of War Robert Shaw Oliver on the matter, and encloses a copy of the letter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-07-15
President Roosevelt will ask Secretary of War William H. Taft to review Assistant Secretary of War Robert Shaw Oliver’s decision before having Governor Cummins come on. He remembers a similar case concerning General William Farrar Smith.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-02-11
Secretary of War Root is in London with the Alaska Boundary Tribunal and President Roosevelt provides updates on various events and political issues in the United States including the post office scandal, State Senator Greene, and political candidates.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-10-03