Your TR Source
President Roosevelt agrees with Abram M. Tillman and would like to see as few office holders as possible in the delegation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-12-16
President Roosevelt offers advice on entering political life and compares elective and appointive positions.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-07-02
President Roosevelt did not support John R. DeBarry because he distrusts public officials who use their political influence to prevent transfers.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-12-04
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt advises Meredith Nicholson to gather as many people as he can to express their protests to President William McKinley. Roosevelt believes sending a letter to McKinley’s secretary, John Addison Porter, via a congressman or senator, would be most effective.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-08-21
Peder O. Evensen believes President William H. Taft and Secretary of State Philander C. Knox need to “press the peace plan to European nations”; otherwise, they “shall forget their promises.” He is certain that war between European nations will occur. Evensen comments on the “standpatters” and their dishonorable reliance on the nation having money rather than armaments.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-07-30
Anna Roosevelt Cowles congratulates her brother, Theodore Roosevelt, on the recent birth of a grandchild, and hopes that the news from Roosevelt’s son, Ted Roosevelt and Eleanor Butler Roosevelt, is still good. She appreciated getting Roosevelt’s recent letter, and tells him of the efforts of their joint nephew, Theodore Douglas Robinson, to get into politics. Cowles hopes to be able to visit Roosevelt sometime before winter.
Theodore Roosevelt’s first grandchild, Grace Green Roosevelt, was born three days prior to this letter, on August 17, 1911.
Ernest Harvier reports to Theodore Roosevelt that he told John Purroy Mitchel that he believed a public official without organized political support could not hope to accomplish anything in New York City politics. He believes that the subway situation shows this belief to be correct.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-07-26
Alexander Konta writes of the “scantiness, unreliability and confusion of the records of the past” and modern technologies being used for commercial rather than historical value. He proposes the Modern Historic Records Association be created in an effort to combine efforts at the local, state, and national level to preserve the historic record, including the voices of men of importance. He hopes that Theodore Roosevelt might look kindly on this idea and will consider joining in the planning of such an undertaking.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-07-14
Monroe G. Haight shares his opinions about Mormons in Idaho with Theodore Roosevelt. He feels that many Idaho residents want their politicians to take an anti-Mormon stand, and that doing so may help some politicians into office. Haight hopes Roosevelt can take advantage of this and further the cause of good citizenship.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-07-01
William C. Willitts details his admiration for all of Theodore Roosevelt’s roles, and he sends him a poem he wrote and dedicated to Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-06-17
Robert S. Waddell shares his low opinion of President William H. Taft with Theodore Roosevelt, especially in relation to Taft’s stance on Powder Trust cases. He believes, from talking with many people across the United States, that if Taft is nominated as the Republican presidential candidate, he will be defeated, and urges Roosevelt to not tie his support too tightly to Taft.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-06-07
Richard B. Hall expresses his excitement to learn that Theodore Roosevelt is back “on deck” in terms of Congress. Hall has been concerned with many of the decisions made by politicians recently, especially in terms of trust-busting and giving power back to the people, and is relieved to learn that Roosevelt will be included in decision making again.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-05-19
George Field Grassie inquires if Theodore Roosevelt has ever thought of forcing citizens to vote in elections by levying a tax on eligible voters. Grassie explains his plan would help motivate citizens to vote for honest politicians and would eliminate current unethical voting practices politicians use. Grassie mentions he had previously proposed this plan in the Wisconsin legislature and it was not found to be unconstitutional.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-05-09
Edward W. Burt tells Theodore Roosevelt of his efforts in local politics. His opponents, in being forced to “indulge in personal abuse instead of answering facts and arguments,” have compared Burt to Roosevelt–a fact which Burt is proud of.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-03-13
J. M. Conover asks Theodore Roosevelt for advice on preparing “for a clean political career.” He inquires if a college course in political science is preferable to one in law and if a statesman must even be a lawyer. Conover apologies for any impudence.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-02-20
Senator Borah does not want Theodore Roosevelt to feel that some views are representative of the views of all progressives.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-08-08
Secretary of State Root writes President Roosevelt that he, Roosevelt, William Jennings Bryan, and William Randolph Hearst are all the same.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-28
J. Sloat Fassett writes to William Loeb about New York state politics. Fassett thinks that Governor Frank Wayland Higgins and Lieutenant Governor Benjamin B. Odell are about to lose their positions and finds Charles Evans Hughes a good choice for Governor. Fassett thinks Edgar Truman Brackett is not much without his partner and is a “vindictive, bitter man.” Hughes polls well and is gaining attention from the media, including William Randolph Hearst. Fassett wishes that Roosevelt could offer advice impartially, as he finds state Republican Party leader Timothy L. Woodruff ineffectual.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-14
Governor Higgins writes to President Roosevelt acknowledging receipt of letters from Roosevelt and Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock. Higgins repeats what Hitchcock wrote in his letter and expresses disappointment that Hitchcock referred to businessman Theodore N. Barnsdall as the political friend of Higgins. Higgins goes on to mention that local residents do not favor Hitchcock’s policies regarding oil development in the southwest.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-27
Timothy L. Woodruff writes to President Roosevelt regarding a previous letter and his opinion of political endorsements in New York. Woofruff believes James Wolcott Wadsworth will handily win the vote for Speaker of the New York State Assembly.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-12-29