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Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit to say Mother is doing well and enjoying her trip to Panama. Alice Roosevelt Longworth has been visiting as she is worried about Roosevelt’s spirits since he has few supporters at the moment. He is serving on a jury right now and informs Kermit that Aunt Corinne’s son Teddy Robinson lost his new baby.
1912-03-09
The writer of an editorial expresses support for a speech in which Isthmian Canal Commission Chairman Theodore P. Shonts suggested naming the completed interoceanic canal in Panama the Roosevelt Canal. President Roosevelt has been a champion of the canal as vital to the carrying out of the Monroe Doctrine since he was governor of New York, and as President he is its most powerful supporter. Other editorials on the page discuss the political situation in Chicago and William Randolph Hearst’s attempts to settle the disputed New York City mayoral election.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-13
Theodore Roosevelt writes to his son Kermit, concerned about Belle’s condition as he thought she was getting better. Roosevelt says he would come to them in Panama were it not for the Republican Convention in three weeks’ time. He also says he is sending Kermit another copy of his new book A Book-Lover’s Holidays in the Open. Roosevelt criticizes President Wilson and worries about Wilson’s actions should the country drift into war with Mexico.
1916-05-14
President Roosevelt is glad Joseph Bucklin Bishop liked his message about Panama. He writes that he hopes his message will counter Senator George Frisbie Hoar’s resolution and comments on the press coverage of Bishop’s editorial regarding Hoar.
1904-01-06
President Roosevelt writes to Joseph Bucklin Bishop about the establishment of General Hubbard’s Thomas H. business in Panama.
1904-01-17
President Roosevelt asks Joseph Bucklin Bishop to ask General Thomas H. Hubbard about his plans for a financial agency in Panama.
1904-01-20
President Roosevelt thanks Joseph Bucklin Bishop for his letter explaining General Thomas H. Hubbard’s desire to have his international bank appointed as the fiscal agent for the Government of Panama. Roosevelt asks Bishop to tell Hubbard that he will discuss the matter with Secretary of the Treasury Leslie M. Shaw.
1904-01-22
President Roosevelt writes to his son Kermit to let him know that he found his missing guns at Sagamore Hill. Roosevelt talks of spending time with Edith and how much they love the White House, but look forward to returning to Sagamore Hill after his presidency ends. He closes by talking about Archie and Quentin, what he has been reading, and work on his message. Roosevelt hopes to visit Panama after the election.
1906-10-14
President Roosevelt writes to his son Kermit about Archie playing with Skip the dog and spending time with Edith. William H. Taft and Robert Bacon have returned from a successful trip to Cuba, and Roosevelt and Edith will be going to Panama. Roosevelt closes with his opinion of whether or not Ted will get into Harvard’s Dickie Club.
1906-10-23
President Roosevelt writes his son Kermit to report on victories for the Republican Party in the last elections, especially beating William Randolph Hearst in New York State. Roosevelt and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt are traveling to Panama, and Ted has come home from Harvard due to abscesses on his leg.
1906-11-07
President Roosevelt writes his son Kermit to tell him about his experiences aboard the USS Louisiana (BB-19) while he and Edith sail to Panama.
1906-11-11
President Roosevelt writes to his son Kermit to tell him about his trip to Panama with Edith. He includes the history of the area, the Panama Canal work site, and the scenery.
1906-11-20
On the occasion of his inauguration, the New York Times re-examines President Roosevelt’s record of the past three years, and asks, can the nation expect an even bolder Roosevelt in the years to come? Roosevelt’s policies and actions of the past three years are subjected to a critical analysis.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-03-04
Transcription of a manuscript written by Theodore Roosevelt where he defends American involvement in the affairs of Central and South America. He mentions Panama, Cuba and San Domingo. A number of words are left out of the transcription. The exact date of this item is not known except that he wrote it after his presidency, possibly right before his trip to South America.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1913
Acting Secretary of the Navy Converse forwards a copy of a cablegram to President Roosevelt. Rear Admiral Goodrich has wired from Panama.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-17
The Central American Telegraph Company is requesting government intervention on the company’s behalf in a dispute with Panama. Senator Lodge disagrees with President Roosevelt’s position on the matter and suggests that the government give their business to an American company instead of the English telegraph company operating in the area.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-06-25
Theodore P. Shonts milks a cow labeled “Canal Commission” that is feeding on a mixture of hay and money labeled “Appropriation.” Shonts has a bucket labeled “Progress” between his knees. Secretary of State William H. Taft stands in the background holding a pitchfork. Up a hill on the right is an outbuilding labeled “U.S. Treasury” full of hay.
J. S. Pughe’s cover cartoon in Puck is a virtual lesson in cartoon iconography — hay-barn, fodder, milk, funds. The actual context is the figures and the dialog-caption, addressing a rather continuing challenge in the construction of the Panama Canal, centered in the Culebra Cut.
A variety of boats and ships, as balloon aircraft loaded with tourists and travelers, float above the Panama Canal. It is suggested that the age of aviation will render the canal obsolete. Caption: At which distant day ocean navigation will be a trifle out of date.
A bloated businessman labeled “Railroad Interests,” smoking a cigar and wearing a gold necklace of railroad passenger cars, sits on the hillside at the Culebra Cut in Panama. He is speaking to Uncle Sam, who is standing on the edge of the Cut, his coat over one arm and holding a pick-axe with the other. Stuffed head-first, in the businessman’s pocket, is John F. Wallace, chief engineer of the canal construction until his resignation in 1905. Caption: Gentleman in the Background — Sam, here’s an engineering problem for you. If it’ll take ten years to cut through Culebra, how many years will it take to cut through me?
It was in June of 1905, weeks before Puck published this centerspread cartoon by Joseph Keppler, Junior, that John F. Wallace, the Chief Engineer of the Panama Canal project, abruptly resigned his position. He was succeeded by John F. Stevens. Both men were railroad designers and engineers in the United States before and after their work on the Canal.
President Roosevelt, as a trainer in a circus, holds a whip and is getting tangled in ropes attached to a hippopotamus labeled “The Trusts,” an elephant labeled “G.O.P.”, a donkey labeled “Panama,” and two natives labeled “San Domingo” and “Philippines.”
J. S. Pughe was Puck Magazine’s go-to animal cartoonist, and this week’s center-spread cartoon — one week into the new administration — enabled a flexing of his skills to set a scene in a circus’s center ring.