Police--Legal status, laws, etc.

A politician agrees with a woman labeled “W.C.T.U.” and a man holding a Bible, who are standing on the right. Behind them are the locked and barricaded doors to a cafe on which is a sign “Closed Sunday.” On the left, behind the politician, is an open door labeled “Family Entrance” from which the cafe owner is placing a bribe in the politician’s right hand. Further to the left is a police officer leaning against the building, pretending not to notice the illegal transaction. Caption: Politician (to Temperance Element) — You’re right! The sanctity of the American Sabbath must be preserved!

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1902-02-12

Illustration showing two concerned citizens and Joseph Pulitzer imploring Uncle Sam, dressed as a U.S. policeman, to break up a fight taking place in the background labeled “South Africa” between John Bull and Paul Kruger.

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1900-03-07

Cartoon depicting President Roosevelt riding an elephant labeled “1904 Trust busting” and “Cop.” Behind the elephant are two men left behind in the dust.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-02-19

Creator(s)

Bush, Charles Green, 1842-1909

George B. Cortelyou recently gathered a number of people involved with the protection of President Roosevelt to discuss and coordinate precautionary efforts to guard Roosevelt. These measures include detailing an officer to follow Roosevelt on horseback rides, screening mail sent to Roosevelt, and seeking to increase the funding and manpower of the various agencies. All parties agreed to act together and support one another in protecting the president.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-10-04

Creator(s)

Cortelyou, George B. (George Bruce), 1862-1940; Barnes, Benjamin F., 1868-1909

Theodore Roosevelt always votes for firemen and police salary increases and commends them to William A. Prendergast. Roosevelt hopes that he and Mrs. Prendergast are well.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-06-05

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt introduces Fred Kohler, Chief of Police of Cleveland, Ohio, to an American Ambassador, and explains his purpose for being in Europe.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06-06

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt explains to J. Blitz that Theodore Roosevelt stated thirty policemen at the mentioned banquet and the incident happened during his time as police commissioner.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-01-26

Creator(s)

Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt wishes he could write an article on police needs, but must turn to two others (illegible) for instruction.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-02-26

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt appreciate his copy of Cornelius Cahalane’s Police Practice and Procedure. Roosevelt especially liked what Cahalane wrote about the failure of parents to properly supervise their children, as well as the trouble of “too much misdirected supervision.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-01-27

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt is touched by the enclosed letters, as “anything like the loss of a child” stirs a parent’s empathy. He wonders if the police could take an active role in the matter. He is unsure what to do other than write to Governor Fort.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-04

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt writes to Chief Regan of the Buffalo Police Department in New York regarding Anthony J. Gavin, a former Rough Rider. Roosevelt asks if there is any way in which Gavin’s work could be made easier, or if he could be given any favor. Gavin is getting on in years and Roosevelt feels an attachment to his old comrade-in-arms. Roosevelt hopes Regan will not misunderstand his action in writing to him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-09

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt tells Elliot C. Cowdin that a certain matter does not come under Roosevelt’s jurisdiction. Roosevelt would have no more right to interfere with it than he would with any other action by the police in New York.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-18

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt tells Nevada Governor Sparks that he believes it is unnecessary to delay sixty days, and that the police force should be able to be organized and equipped faster than that. Roosevelt would like to hear if there are any reasons why troops should remain in Nevada later than February 15.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-04

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Governor Sparks sent President Roosevelt a telegram containing a resolution from the state legislature requesting that federal troops remain in Nevada. Roosevelt will grant the request, but only for a “reasonable length of time” to allow the legislature to organize a police force.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-01-17

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt tells Sam P. Davis that the trouble Davis mentioned is fundamental, and that Nevada has to make an effort to do its own policing. Roosevelt trusts that the legislature will provide a state constabulary or police force immediately.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-01-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt appreciates that Captain Killilea remembered him and that the New York City police force felt sympathy for Archibald B. Roosevelt’s illness.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-12

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt shares his anger with Frances Reginald Bangs about Boston Police Commissioner Stephen O’Meara’s “seeming indifference” to an attack by police on Roosevelt’s son, Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt also thanks Bangs for the kindness shown to Roosevelt’s son. He believes that an appearance in the newspapers will do his son harm among his classmates. Roosevelt says that even though his son was “acquitted,” he cannot expect much clear-headedness from college boys.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-17

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt informs Police Commissioner O’Meara he believes the Boston police mishandled the arrest of his son Ted. Despite support of O’Meara, Roosevelt believes “under the best conditions it is impossible to prevent a brute or an occasional fool in uniform from acting badly.” Roosevelt believes Ted has been misrepresented in the press, and that he did not assault anyone.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-02

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt thanks Sergeant Corcoran for the letter, and tells him he appreciates the campaign support from his “old friends” in the Police Department.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-21

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt sends to Maurice Francis Egan a copy of a letter that he wrote as Police Commissioner of New York. In the letter, Roosevelt rejects the suggestion that he practiced religious discrimination in organizing the police force. Roosevelt also sends to Egan a copy of an article about the “ethnic side” of the New York police force.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-03

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919