Political corruption

Theodore Roosevelt responds to a letter to The New York Times in which Robert M. Stevenson, president of Westminster College, quotes a passage from Pearson’s Magazine alleging that as President, Roosevelt made a bargain with the Mormon Church in exchange for electoral votes. The votes were allegedly given in exchange for an end to Republican agitation for an amendment allowing Congress to legislate regarding polygamy, the retention of Senator Reed Smoot, and patronage positions in accordance to the wish of the Mormon hierarchy. Roosevelt vehemently denies these allegations.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-04

Theodore Roosevelt is interested in supporting the progressive movement but does not want to appear as seeking political control of the party and feels that he should avoid active participation in politics. He would declare that he would not accept a presidential nomination but is opposed to such unqualified assertions. The bitter antagonism towards Roosevelt limits him as a political leader.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-01-24

Theodore Roosevelt congratulates Senator Beveridge on his minority report invalidating the election of William Lorimer to the Senate on the grounds of political bribery.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-01-17

Theodore Roosevelt thinks that there was “universal corruption” in the Lorimer case and believes “that things will turn out right in Massachusetts.” He has been reading Fraser’s first volume and has sent Senator Lodge one of his African trophies, a zebra skin.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-01-03

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-10-20

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Recipient

Bishop, Joseph Bucklin, 1847-1928

Theodore Roosevelt will not comment on the matter until he has thoroughly examined it and sought the counsel of men like Charles McCarthy. Roosevelt believes that to achieve national efficiency there should be a centralization of appropriations or an executive budget, but with this should also come accountability. Roosevelt is especially concerned about issues involving the Panama Canal, tariffs, and reclamation projects.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-10-22

Theodore Roosevelt used an extensive quotation from Charles J. Bonaparte in his recently published book, America and the World War. Roosevelt believes the president is responsible for his officials and relates his actions that forced Leslie M. Shaw out of the Treasury Department to avoid a scandal. He compares that situation to Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan’s letter to Mr. Vick, noting that the ultimate responsibility lies with President Wilson. Roosevelt believes the spoils system is a “capital crime” when dealing with non-American people as the honor of the United States is at stake. Bryan’s letter invites corruption and Roosevelt believes the Wilson administration is “debauching” overseas territories.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-01-22

During the libel suit, Theodore Roosevelt would like William Merriam Chadbourne to recall the circumstances of how Roosevelt entered the political fight with William Barnes. Roosevelt remembers meeting with Chadbourne who argued that the Barnes machine and Tammany Hall were working together to defeat Charles Evans Hughes. He recommended that Roosevelt side with Hughes and fight for the primary bill. They discussed general political corruption but not specific personal corruption by Barnes.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-01-22

Theodore Roosevelt congratulates James Rudolph Garfield on putting up a great fight, despite the fact that people are fed up with reformers, simultaneously welcoming corruption and all sorts of misdoing. However, no matter what happens, in the end they will succeed.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-11-09

Theodore Roosevelt comments on the 1912 election and his own political future. He bemoans the fact that his efforts to put the Republican Party back on “the Abraham Lincoln basis” had been undermined by the party being turned over to financiers and political bosses. Roosevelt also believes that the principles of the Progressive Party will triumph, but the party likely cannot succeed under him and he is simply waiting for an appropriate replacement. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-12-18

Theodore Roosevelt expresses his discontent with John O. Yeiser using his words to support the calls for a meeting between Progressive Republicans and Taft Republicans. Roosevelt argues that it would only be once the mainline Republican party embraced turning out corruption and embracing the Progressive Party’s platform that Roosevelt and the others in the Progressive Party would consider returning. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-12-07

Theodore Roosevelt comments on the difficulty of struggling against the power of money and dishonesty in the American political system. Roosevelt then expresses concern for the political situation in Hungary and sympathy for Albert Apponyi’s frustration and worry. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-12-13

Theodore Roosevelt states that Dupont B. Lyon’s removal from his position as a U.S. marshal for political reasons is an outrage and Roosevelt will write to Senator Joseph L. Bristow about preventing Lyon’s successor being confirmed.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-12-13

President Roosevelt chastises Edwin Emerson for repeating gossip about a Guatemalan statesman claiming to have bought political influence in the United States through campaign contributions. Roosevelt has previously denied this claim, and says that unless Emerson can find someone who is willing to back the statement up he has no business repeating it. Roosevelt highlights several false statements that Emerson has made about Guatemalan Minister of Foreign Affairs Juan Barrios, and states that to the best of his knowledge there is no truth to anything which Emerson has shared, and that Emerson shares the responsibility for these statements by repeating them.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-24

President Roosevelt is pleased that William Allen White liked his message. He had originally written more strongly about judges, and believes that while there are few judges who are actually corrupt, there are many who are not fit to remain on the bench.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-30

President Roosevelt thanks George H. Boke for the letter in which Boke provides a description not only of Francis J. Heney, but also of the fight against corruption which Heney has led.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-03

President Roosevelt expresses shock and sympathy for Rebecca W. Heney following the assassination attempt on her husband, Francis J. Heney. Roosevelt admires Heney’s dedication to exposing corruption regardless of the prominence of the offenders and the dangerous nature of the work.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-14

A statement issued by President Roosevelt refutes a false article in The Sun which states that he overruled then-Secretary of the Interior Ethan Allen Hitchcock’s recommendations regarding pipeline permits for the Prairie Oil and Gas Company, to the benefit of the Standard Oil Company. Roosevelt asserts that this article is patently false, and that a so-called report detailing this incident is a falsehood. Rather, the permits were granted based on legislature, and Roosevelt believes that he has never ignored his Interior Secretaries’ recommendations.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-16

President Roosevelt thinks that Oklahoma Governor Charles Nathaniel Haskell is “one of the most corrupt blackguards” to hold a position of power in American politics. He asks Attorney General Bonaparte if he can assign a detail to consult with the Interior Department to try to bring Haskell to justice.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-02

President Roosevelt calls on prominent men to address corruption and evil in all classes and parts of the community. He believes that people need to be loyal to America as a country, rather than their union, caste, or class. Roosevelt provides an example widespread political corruption in San Francisco and urges the recipients of the letter to combat class consciousness and encourage good citizenship.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-06