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Theodore Roosevelt notes the importance the Panama Canal holds for South American countries as well as the United States. He believes Colombia will benefit most by the connection of its Pacific and Atlantic ports, but also sees potential for Argentina and other countries.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915
Theodore Roosevelt describes the Colombian president’s attempt to “blackmail” the United States in 1903 to secure a high price for the rights to build the Panama Canal. Roosevelt credits himself with refusing to pay the Colombian government and for paying the French Company for the land. President Wilson’s administration is now proposing to pay the Colombian government for its rights in Panama, to which Roosevelt is opposed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-02
Film celebrating Theodore Roosevelt’s achievements as President of the United States. It was produced by the Roosevelt Memorial Association with Caroline Gentry, Director of Films, and Mae V. Manning, Film Editor. Contains a collection of still images and video footage following Theodore Roosevelt from his assumption of the presidency after the assassination of President McKinley through his 1905 inauguration. Includes sections on fighting the trusts, the anthracite coal strike of 1902, Roosevelt’s conservation efforts, the creation of the Roosevelt Dam, the handling of the Russo-Japanese War, and the creation of the Panama canal.
Library of Congress Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound
Unknown
Compilation film revealing the story of Panama Canal construction, which Theodore Roosevelt considered one of his most valuable contributions to foreign affairs. This portion of the film details the need for building the canal, and the early attempts to do so, and includes many still images and maps, in addition to the film clips.
Library of Congress Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound
1927
This score and lyrics celebrate President Roosevelt during his second term as president. Praises sung include his efforts to build the Panama Canal, railroad trust-busting, hunting, and his Russo-Japanese War peace negotiations. The final page contains a sheet music sample for “Little One Good Bye.”
Gregory A. Wynn Theodore Roosevelt Collection
1907
Theodore Roosevelt forwards to Secretary of War Stimson a letter from Joseph Bucklin Bishop. Roosevelt praises the work of both Bishop and Colonel George W. Goethals on the Panama Canal. Roosevelt says that he, Gifford Pinchot, and James Rudolph Garfield are all pleased that Stimson has accepted the appointment as Secretary of War, even though Pinchot and Garfield “are still inclined to be entirely off in matters political.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-05-31
Ray H. Mattison responds to Superintendent Hanks’s request for advice on the content of the address to be given at the dedication ceremony for Theodore Roosevelt National Memorial Park. Park Historian Mattison includes a number of Roosevelt quotations on a variety of topics and his opinion on the focus of the address.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1949-05-21
Set of 10 postcards with photographs of the Panama Canal during its construction. On the reverse side of each card is a short description of the photograph.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1977
A Native man stands on the shore of the Panama Canal with his burro loaded with local products, possibly sugarcane.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1913-07-09
Booklet with a two-page description of the historical effort to build a canal across the Isthmus of Panama and specific statistics about the construction and dimensions of the ongoing American effort. The booklet primarily consists of photographs of the construction.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1909-1911
First day issue envelope and three cent postage stamps celebrating the twenty-fifth anniversary of the opening of the Panama Canal. Stamp is purple with an illustration of a steam ship sailing through the canal in the middle. On the left of the ship is an illustration of Theodore Roosevelt and to the right an illustration of George W. Goethals. There are four stamps on the envelope cancelled with “First Day of Issue” and postmarked aboard USS Charleston, Canal Zone on August 15, 1939. On the left side of the envelope is a map of the waterways that make up the Canal Zone and an inset map of the Republic of Panama. Beneath the map is a brief description of the history of the canal from the beginning of the work by the French in 1880 to its completion in 1914. The envelope is addressed to Harry E. Cole of Tuolumne, California.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1939-08-15
Three cent postage stamp celebrating the twenty-fifth anniversary of the opening of the Panama Canal. Stamp is purple with an illustration of a steam ship sailing through the canal in the middle. On the left of the ship is an illustration of Theodore Roosevelt and to the right an illustration of George W. Goethals.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1939
Two, attached three-cent United States postage stamps that celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the opening of the Panama Canal. The stamps are purple with an illustration of a steam ship sailing through the canal in the middle. To the sides of the canal scene are illustrations of Theodore Roosevelt and George W. Goethals.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1939
Uncle Sam, holding the American flag raised in his right hand and with George W. “Goethals” sitting on his left shoulder, stands astride the “Panama Canal,” which he is presenting as the eighth wonder of the world to the other seven wonders (as recorded by Puck), “The Tomb of Mausolus, The Pharos of Alexandria, The Statue of Jupiter, The Pyramids of Egypt, The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, The Colossus of Rhodes, [and] The Temple of Diana.”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1913-01-22
The specter of Death sits with a scythe on its lap, on the construction site of the Panama Canal.
When President Roosevelt, or rather, the United States, assumed full control of Panama’s Canal Zone and the commencement of construction, in mid-1904 it really was two continuations. The first was to pick up, very generally, where the French efforts had failed decades earlier: some digs, some rail tracks and overgrown roads, many rusted earth-moving machines.
This cartoon satirizes the Panama Canal dispute. “The National Motto Gallery” shows a man holding a sign “We’ll Dig the Ditch or Bust”, Uncle Sam saying “One of the best in the bunch,” and a teddy bear, with tools, saying “You bet!”
Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site
1907-03-30
This multicolored photograph shows a central crane on railroad tracks and six workmen. From the book, The Panama Canal; illustrated by color photography from the original autochrome photographs. Published by Moffat, Yard, New York, 1913.
Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site
1913
President Roosevelt is shown running a steam shovel at Pedro Miguel, the Culebra Cut of the Panama Canal.
Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site
1906
Award give to E. N. Purvis for two years of continuous service on the Panama Canal. The award consists of a hinged pin with a medallion hanging from a bar. The obverse of the medallion bears the likeness of President Roosevelt and on the reverse is a canal scene with ships traveling through the canal.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1906
Theodore Roosevelt reflects on the importance of leadership and service in a democracy. He argues that great leaders should be recognized and compensated adequately for their service, whether in government or industry. Among farmers’ cooperatives and laborers’ unions, unless leadership is encouraged and compensated, the organizations will attract leaders that are second-rate. Great leaders are needed in the arts and sciences as much as in other fields of endeavor.
1917-05