Panama--Panama Canal

Albert Kimsey Owen discusses the importance of a national highway system.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-01-12

James J. Conway sends Theodore Roosevelt a letter he originally posted in 1908. He reminds Roosevelt that he wrote lyrics about President William Taft and has since received letters from Taft’s family and even Representative Nicholas Longworth and Alice Roosevelt Longworth. Recently he applied to be a steward on the Panama Canal, but despite qualifications, the question of age was raised. Taft has taken the matter up with Secretary of War J. M. Dickinson. Conway lists several prominent citizens as references and asks Roosevelt to talk to William A. Prendergast about him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-01-13

Joseph Bucklin Bishop thanks Theodore Roosevelt for the “grateful and sustaining words” given at Harvard. Colonel George W. Goethals is also pleased with Roosevelt’s tribute to Bishop and wishes he could appoint him as his executive officer. However, President William H. Taft thought it unwise but assured Bishop of a worthy position once he ensured the bill abolishing the Isthmian Canal Commission passed. Yet, like with most of his promises, Taft changed his mind, and the bill will not be passed. Bishop discusses the disturbing reports of political scheming regarding appointing a new commissioner and governor of the Canal Zone. Goethals declared such things would not happen if Roosevelt were president.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-01-02

 Olivia Worden Hammond reminds Theodore Roosevelt that he once advised her not to pursue a position in the Navy Department following the death of her father, Admiral John Lorimer Worden. She now asks Roosevelt to write President William H. Taft a letter recommending her son, Daniel W. Busbee, for work on the Panama Canal.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-12-28

Fred L. Hartigan requests a meeting with Theodore Roosevelt. He discusses his employment on the Panama Canal and subsequent resignation due to a misunderstanding.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-12-31

Thomas B. MacSweeney congratulates Theodore Roosevelt for his noble fight in the recent elections. He agrees with Roosevelt on fortifying the Panama Canal. MacSweeney requests a signed photograph and for advice on joining a political club in New York City.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-12-17

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-11-30

Creator(s)

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

Recipient

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

William Crawford Gorgas sends Theodore Roosevelt his paper on the expense of sanitation on the Isthmus as a response to a newspaper correspondent’s accusations of the Sanitary Department’s undue extravagance. He hopes the work in Panama will help establish a pattern of sanitation in tropical countries, but concern over cost will hinder this.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-11-12

Joseph Bucklin Bishop reports widespread pleasure at Theodore Roosevelt’s remarks in his Omaha speech about the canal. Colonel George W. Goethals hopes Roosevelt will visit Panama and renew the public’s interest in the canal.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-09-26

Joseph Bucklin Bishop hopes Theodore Roosevelt will visit Colonel George W. Goethals while he is in the United States. He shares an amusing telegram from President William H. Taft to Minister Thomas Cleland Dawson, saying he wants to visit Panama since the canal is “the great work of my administration.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-09-28

Bernard Nadal Baker sends Theodore Roosevelt a brief summary of the matter about which he had recently hoped to speak with him. The Pacific Mail Steamship Company, which is controlled by trans-continental railway interests, is seeking to crowd out any competition sailing from San Francisco to Panama. Baker feels that the question of developing commerce via Panama is of substantial national importance, and hopes eventually to be able to discuss the matter with him in person

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-09-29

James Bryce, British ambassador to the United States, praises President Roosevelt for his many accomplishments during his seven years in office. Bryce believes that Roosevelt has done more for good causes in America, Europe, and the world than anyone in a century other than President Abraham Lincoln. Bryce emphasizes peace between Russia and Japan, the Panama Canal, and the conservation movement.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-03-05

Acting Secretary of War Oliver sends Theodore Roosevelt a Panama Canal medal for a keepsake.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-04-26

Lawrence F. Abbott encloses a proof of President Roosevelt’s editorial article on Leo Tolstoy. The Outlook will print Roosevelt’s lectures at Sorbonne University, the University of Oxford, and Humboldt University of Berlin unless they hear from him otherwise. While Abbott originally had no qualms about printing Philippe Bunau-Varilla’s article on the Panama Canal, he would rather suppress it now than to print something that would be personally offensive to Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-15

The Outlook will publish the Panama article, along with a second article in support of a lock canal. The two articles will be accompanied by an editorial statement. Lawrence F. Abbott hopes that President Roosevelt will give them a possible article about the “Japanese question.” He asks if Roosevelt has a preference as to which of his finished articles he would like to appear in the March 13 issue.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-17

Harry Johnston thanks President Roosevelt for facilitating a warm reception when he visited the Panama Canal construction site, where he met president-elect William H. Taft. Johnston then wrote a letter to Taft on his return to Colòn about the city’s appalling hotel and infrastructure. He now worries that this was inappropriate. If Taft is angry, he asks Roosevelt to “placate his wrath.” Johnston also wonders why Roosevelt is going hunting in Africa instead of somewhere in South America, Central America, or the Antilles. He shares his address in England, and hopes that United States Minister to Haiti H. W. Furniss will retain his position in the new administration.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-03

President-elect Taft advises President Obaldia of Panama that going forward with his country’s proposed government timber contract would be a critical mistake. If the deal proved to be good for the government and bad for the company that received the contract, there are insufficient safeguards in place to ensure the work is completed. If the timber is extremely profitable, the Panamanian government could find itself controlled by a private company. The United States would also be displeased to see another entity gain so much power in Panama. Taft shares this advice confidentially, and in an unofficial capacity. In a postscript, he assures Obaldia that he was not influenced by the “malignantly slanderous reports” on this topic in the American press, and he thanks Obaldia for the previous night’s “beautiful and magnificent entertainment.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-05

Lawrence F. Abbott, president and publisher of The Outlook, asks President Roosevelt if he would write an editorial in support of the lock canal plan used at the Panama Canal to be run alongside an article by Philippe Bunau-Varilla criticizing the lock type. Abbott argues that no one but Roosevelt will have greater influence in persuading people not to worry about the canal. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-09

President-elect Taft describes his pleasant journey to Colón to inspect the construction of the Panama Canal. He informs President Roosevelt that changes among the engineering staff have resulted in clear improvements. The committee is not inclined to change the plans for the canal’s locks and dams. They worry that too much money is being spent on safety precautions, but Taft disagrees. He approves of Roosevelt’s decision to widen the canal, and is optimistic that it will be finished before the projected completion date. Additionally, Taft discusses cabinet and diplomatic appointments he is considering.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-01

Harry Johnston enjoyed meeting President-elect Taft and his wife, Helen Herron Taft, during their Panama Canal inspection. Johnson is optimistic about Taft’s plan for a dam at Gatun, but advises that the city of Colón poses another significant threat to the Canal. He offers suggestions for improving Colón’s dated and unsafe infrastructure.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-02