Your TR Source
President Roosevelt writes to New York City Police Commissioner Greene regarding the promotion of Officer Maximilian F. Schmittberger. Roosevelt describes his own experiences with Schmittberger when he was Police Commissioner, but writes that he does not know of his current situation.
1903-01-21
Extracts from two letters in which Police Commissioner Roosevelt describes the reorganization of the New York City Police Department and how difficult it is to keep on good terms with everyone.
1896-02-16; 1896-02-25
President Roosevelt tells William McAdoo he will not only read McAdoo’s book because he is interested in the subject matter but because McAdoo is the author. Roosevelt says that during McAdoo’s term of service as New York City Police Commissioner, he thought of him “not merely with regard but with sympathy” because he personally knew of many of the difficulties McAdoo encountered, having faced them himself.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-05-22
President Roosevelt is pleased to hear Edward J. Bourke is the acting captain for the Mercer Street Police Station and is sure he will do well. He hopes Bourke will be able to win the position of permanent captain.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-28
President Roosevelt congratulates Colonel Partridge on his appointment to the head of the police department and writes in support of Roundsman Burke and Sergeant Frank Rathgeber.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-12-05
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt prefers policeman William M. Ferdon to contact Police Commissioner Avery De Lano Andrews personally concerning his case. He has been trying not to interfere with the New York Police Department since leaving. Roosevelt thinks well of Ferdon and doubts he did anything dishonorable.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-09-25
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt suggests Police Commissioner Moss meet with ex-detective Sergeant McCauley and Roundsman Jeremiah D. Sullivan. He congratulates Moss for handling matters admirably.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-09-22
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt was glad to receive Jacob A. Riis’s letter but has a Navy yard inspection on May 17 and cannot come. He will ask Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, but doubts he can attend either. Roosevelt wishes Riis’s family well and asks what Riis thinks Police Commissioner Frank Moss will do.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-05-07
John A. Chamberlain has read that as New York City Police Commissioner, Theodore Roosevelt “endeavored to enforce all laws according to their clearly expressed intent and purpose.” He asks if this is accurate and assures that he will not quote him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-09
Kazuo Matsubara, a Japanese consul, asks the San Francisco Board of Police Commissioners why two men, Oda and Furuya, were not granted Intelligence Office licenses by this board. In an earlier letter, the Board of Police Commissioners stated that Oda and Furuya did not appear before the Board to receive these licenses. However, Matsubara believes that the true reason might be that they were not born in the United States.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-05-17
Police Commissioner Roosevelt tenders his resignation to New York Mayor Strong to take effect in two days time. He thanks Strong for appointing him as President of the Board of Police Commissioners, and for the support he gave efforts to reform the police service. Roosevelt is proud of the police force that he has helped shape, and lists his accomplishments in reducing corruption, ensuring the fair enforcement of laws, and improving the force of patrolmen and officers. He regrets that not as much progress was made as he believes would have been possible under a single, unified Commissioner.
The back of the last page of the letter has a short accounting of receipts written in Roosevelt’s hand.
1897-04-17
Commissioner Roosevelt has been working hard as police commissioner and also delivering speeches for the Republican National Committee. He feels that he needs to do everything he can to help defeat William Jennings Bryan. Roosevelt is glad to have work as he worries that he will someday be idle since he has no regular business.
1896-10-11
Commissioner Roosevelt is very busy and describes his reform work with the New York Police Department. Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt does not enjoy living in New York City and one of the Roosevelt children is ill with diphtheria.
1896-03-15
Commissioner Roosevelt has asked Patty Selmes to return Robert Harry Munro Ferguson’s lecture. Roosevelt has just taken office at the New York City Police Department and is writing in great haste.
1895-05-06
Commissioner Roosevelt regrets that he cannot go bear hunting in the spring as he has just accepted the position of police commissioner in New York City. Roosevelt wants to read Robert Harry Munro Ferguson’s article and offers some writing advice. The health of Tilden Selmes is failing.
1895-04-25
Scrapbook of clippings from various periodicals related to Theodore Roosevelt’s service as New York Police Commissioner, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, and Colonel of the 1st Volunteer Cavalry.
1895-1898
Cartoon depicting the often contentious relationship between the New York City police force and Theodore Roosevelt as Superintendent of the Board of Police Commissioners. Script at bottom: “No 1 The policemen pay a boy to watch for Com. Roosevelt while they play cards. No. 2 The alarm No. 3 But it was only some boys with a Jack O’Lantern.”
Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site
1895-1897
The Board of Police Commissioners no longer has the power to make promotions to the first grade. Commissioner Roosevelt regrets that they can no longer take care of “decent men in the ranks.”
1896-10-06
Commissioner Roosevelt thanks F. M. Ives for the Barras quote and agrees that a free hand is needed to reorganize the New York City Police Department.
1895-09-28
Commissioner Roosevelt reflects on the 1896 presidential election which he found to be the most exciting and important since 1860. The Republicans were victorious but Roosevelt was disappointed that their opponents received such significant support. The Democratic divisions over free silver helped the Republicans. He denies a quote attributed to him calling farmers “the basest class” and is enjoying his work on the Board of Police Commissioners.
1896-11-19