Philippines

Presidential Snapshot (#40): Excerpt of a letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

In a letter to Governor General Taft, President Roosevelt expresses his admiration for certain members of the Senate with whom he has been able to work to pass legislation through Congress, but he also makes clear his frustration with others, including those from his home state of New York. Roosevelt concedes that the administration failed to pass tariff relief for the Philippines, and he hopes that Taft will take up the post of Secretary of War when Elihu Root leaves the position.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1903-03-19

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Luke E. Wright

Theodore Roosevelt asks Luke E. Wright to write frankly about W. Morgan Shuster. Roosevelt believes Wright’s knowledge will help The Outlook, which will help people make up their minds about the matter involving Shuster.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-16

Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Taft returns Eugene A. Philbin’s letter to President Roosevelt. Philbin had written to Roosevelt to recommend John Hefferman as a judge. Taft thinks he is too young for a judgeship but would like to see him in the Attorney General’s office.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-17

Invitation from the Governor General and Mrs. Roosevelt to Commander and Mrs. R. F. Lure

Invitation to a reception held at Malacanan Palace in honor of Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt and given by her son Theodore, the Governor-General of the Philippines, and his wife Eleanor. Invitation has a crest of the Philippine Islands.

Collection

Sagamore Hill National Historic Site

Creation Date

1933-01-24

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles Henry Brent

President Roosevelt thanks Bishop Charles Henry Brent for sending the book. Roosevelt enjoyed entertaining Brent at Sagamore Hill, and although Roosevelt is glad Brent will be in the Philippines, he will miss seeing him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-03

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Manuel Luis Quezon

President Roosevelt explains to Manuel Luis Quezon, Representative in the Philippine Assembly, that although he would like to visit the Philippines, he can not commit to a plan at present.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-17

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to David Decamp Thompson

President Roosevelt introduces David Decamp Thompson, assistant editor of The Western Christian Advocate, to his friend Eleanor Franklin Egan. Having spent time in the Philippines, Egan and her husband Martin Egan want to show “the truth of conditions…and the need of the continuance of the present policy” there. Roosevelt feels that publishing Egan’s collection of articles will help the nation understand “what its duty in the Philippines is, and the vital necessity of performing that duty.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-09

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Brown McKinley

President Roosevelt agrees with Representative McKinley’s comments on the amount of constructive, beneficial legislation accomplished by Congress in the past seven years. He lists specific pieces of legislation that he feels “form a record of substantial legislative achievement in harmony with the best and most progressive thought of our people.” Roosevelt argues that electing William H. Taft will ensure such progress continues.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-09

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Silas McBee

President Roosevelt introduces Silas McBee, editor of The Churchman, to his friend Eleanor Franklin Egan. Having spent time in the Philippines, Egan and her husband Martin Egan want to show “the truth of conditions . . . and the need of the continuance of the present policy” there. Roosevelt feels that publishing Egan’s collection of articles will help the nation understand “what its duty in the Philippines is, and the vital necessity of performing that duty.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-09

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Howard Allen Bridgman

President Roosevelt introduces editor Howard Allen Bridgman to his friend Eleanor Franklin Egan. Having spent time in the Philippines, Egan and her husband Martin Egan want to show “the truth of conditions…and the need of the continuance of the present policy” there. Roosevelt feels that publishing Egan’s collection of articles will help the nation understand “what its duty in the Philippines is, and the vital necessity of performing that duty.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-09

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Lyman Abbott

President Roosevelt received Lyman Abbott’s letter about his interview with journalist Eleanor Franklin Egan. He has reviewed the articles in Egan’s collection and hopes they will be widely circulated as they provide a comprehensive account of the situation in the Philippines. He lists various articles and their titles and hopes they will “convert indifference to the Philippines into active interest.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-09

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Whitelaw Reid

President Roosevelt thanks Ambassador Reid for the interesting letter, especially for the insight on Newfoundland. He is interested in what Secretary of State of India John Morley says about India, and discusses the intricacies surrounding “the control of thickly peopled tropical regions by self-governing northern democracies.” Roosevelt hopes to speak with Morley after presenting the Romanes lecture at Oxford. He asks Reid to inquire of the British statesman, Robert Offley Ashburton Crewe-Milnes, about conditional hunting on the reserves. The Vermont elections went well.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-03

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Luke E. Wright

President Roosevelt encloses a letter to Secretary of War Wright on behalf of Governor George Curry for a position in the Philippines if there is a vacancy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-22

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Eugene A. Philbin

President Roosevelt endorses Governor George Curry as an ideal candidate for a position in the Philippines if one is available. Roosevelt draws Eugene A. Philbin’s attention to The Independent’s campaign against William H. Taft for supporting the church in the Philippines.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-22

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Newton W. Gilbert

President Roosevelt assures Newton W. Gilbert that he appointed him to the Philippine Commission because of his public service.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-14

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Representatives in Alaska, Hawaii, and the Philippines

President Roosevelt introduces Albert Bushnell Hart of Harvard University to the representatives in Alaska, Hawaii, and the Philippines.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-23

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles E. Magoon

President Roosevelt appeals to Charles E. Magoon, Provisional Governor of Cuba, on behalf of Granville Fortescue and encloses a letter from him. He asks Magoon if Major Herbert J. Slocum might be convinced to give Fortescue a trial on his merits. Fortescue served alongside Roosevelt in the Spanish-American War, and also served with distinction in the Philippines. The President believes he is a good man who has learned from his mistakes and will not repeat them.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-20

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Robert Shaw Oliver

President Roosevelt instructs Acting Secretary of War Oliver how to respond to letters he has received regarding official travel expenditures. Roosevelt tells Oliver to ask Baldwin to come to Washington, D.C., to meet with the president. He also informs Oliver that Secretary of War William H. Taft is visiting the Philippines on duty and therefore his expenses are covered while in official capacity. Roosevelt promises to carefully review the circumstances before any vouchers are approved.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt sends Secretary of War Taft a marked editorial and notes that he still has a “patent on certain social, artistic, scientific, literary and other issues.” He also observes in a postscript that there is a campaign prepared against Taft due to the government covering the majority of his travel expenses. Roosevelt believes that they do not have a leg to stand on regarding Taft’s visits to the Philippines or Panama but encourages Taft to pay careful attention to all of his expenses as such accusations could be very detrimental to his campaign.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-12

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt and William Loeb both think Secretary of War Taft’s chances of being elected are improving. Removing Kentucky Collector of Internal Revenue Edward T. Franks is delicate, and Roosevelt will consult with Commissioner of Internal Revenue John G. Capers. Roosevelt will echo Taft’s statement on the Philippines. The financiers are now attacking the Great White Fleet’s trip to the Pacific. Roosevelt sends an enclosure exemplifying Lucius Nathan Littauer’s behavior, and he has heard there will be support for Governor Charles Evans Hughes.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-05